One of the most coveted college basketball players in the transfer portal has made his decision, as Michigan center Hunter Dickinson announced on Thursday he is transferring to Kansas.
Dickinson was reportedly in the middle of a bidding war, as he drew out his transfer recruitment and picked the Jayhawks over the likes of Kentucky, Villanova, Georgetown and Maryland. He will now join Nicolas Timberlake (Towson) and Arterio Morris (Texas) in KU’s 2023 transfer class.
RELATED: Kansas student-athletes share NIL experiences during event hosted by Mass Street Collective
Dickinson posted a video on Twitter dissecting his decision and giving Kansas coach Bill Self the good news at the end.
“I just wanted to tell you that I’m gonna come play with you next year at Kansas,” Dickinson said to Self in the video.
— Hunter Dickinson (@H_Dickinson24) May 4, 2023
Noted UK basketball reporter, Matt Jones said on Twitter on Wednesday that the Wildcats would not enter a preemptive bidding war and Kentucky was not willing to offer Dickinson an upfront NIL deal.
“Hearing things arent looking great for UK and Hunter Dickinson.” Jones wrote on Twitter. “Kentucky hasn’t given up but UK BB isn’t “guaranteeing” NIL money as other schools in the process are. UK’s policy is more “look what these other guys have made” and feeling is Dickinson may go with school guarantee.”
Hearing things arent looking great for UK and Hunter Dickinson. Kentucky hasn’t given up but UK BB isn’t “guaranteeing” NIL money as other schools in the process are
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) May 3, 2023
UK’s policy is more “look what these other guys have made” and feeling is Dickinson may go with school guarantee
Jones tweeted this on Wednesday and the next day Dickinson announced his decision to join the Kansas basketball program.
RELATED: Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self sounds off on NIL, calls it ‘legalized cheating’
The intention of NIL was to be a bonus to potential student-athletes and not effectively “pay-for-play.” But until the NCAA makes clear guidelines, some collectives will draw up NIL contracts before a player enrolls on campus.
Dickinson is coming off a season in which he averaged 18.5 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the field.
