NCAA Basketball: Takeaways from Hunter Dickinson picking Kansas Jayhawks

Impact at Kansas

Last season, the Jayhawks won 28 games, won another Big 12 regular season title, and secured a top-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but their run at a repeat of their national championship ended early in the second round. With Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar, and Jalen Wilson (among others) all not returning, it’s clear that Bill Self’s roster needed a massive reboot and Dickinson certainly brings that to Lawrence.

First and foremost, Dickinson stands at 7’1 and makes major contributions in the paint. None of Kansas’s starters from last season were taller than 6’8, meaning the offense is going to run a bit differently next season. The Jayhawks are leaning heavily on star point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and pairing him with Dickinson could create a lethal offense. Self can run the type of offense he’s been much more familiar with a dominant big and a craft ball handler running the show.

The Jayhawks likely sit as one of the favorites for next season and certainly look like the preseason #1 if the poll was taken today. With a Top 10 recruiting class and a number of solid pieces already in place, Kansas takes an even bigger step into prominence by adding Dickinson in the mix. Dickinson put up 18 a game in a pair of seasons in a Big Ten full of dynamic frontcourt weapons; he’ll be a force in the Big 12 as well. This Kansas roster got scary good this week.