How Kansas men's basketball's roster looks next season after transfer portal, recruiting
LAWRENCE — The weeks that have followed the end of Kansas men’s basketball’s season have shown how different the team's roster will look next season.
Two guards, in junior Joseph Yesufu and sophomore Bobby Pettiford Jr., and two forwards, in super-senior Cam Martin and sophomore Zach Clemence, entered the transfer portal the first week — although Clemence is back with the team now. Freshman guard MJ Rice joined them the second week. And freshman forward Zuby Ejiofor, redshirt freshman guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. and freshman center Ernest Udeh Jr. all later made the same decision, as the Jayhawks started to earn commitments from transfers and other players decided to turn pro or choose another avenue.
Here’s a look at what we know so far:
Ernest Udeh Jr. decided to enter the transfer portal
Once again, a KU basketball player is exploring his options to transfer. Ernest Udeh Jr. has decided to continue his collegiate career elsewhere. https://t.co/gYv9RGEVL8
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) May 11, 2023
Ernest Udeh Jr. ended up committing to TCU.
Zuby Ejiofor decided to enter the transfer portal
Once again, a KU men’s basketball player will enter the transfer portal. Zuby Ejiofor is the latest from this past seasons’ team to choose to depart. https://t.co/ogtenZFPoT
— CJOnline (@CJOnline) May 5, 2023
Zuby Ejiofor ended up committing to St. John's.
Kyle Cuffe Jr. decided to enter the transfer portal
Kyle Cuffe Jr. spent two seasons with the Kansas men’s basketball program, but wasn’t able to have much of a role. He is now leaving the team. https://t.co/1ADpWj1RCu
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) May 3, 2023
Kyle Cuffe Jr. ended up committing to Syracuse.
MJ Rice decided to enter the transfer portal
MJ Rice is set to become Kansas basketball’s fifth player to enter the transfer portal since its 2022-23 season came to an end earlier this month. https://t.co/2njoINaihD
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) March 29, 2023
MJ Rice ended up committing to NC State.
Joseph Yesufu decided to enter the transfer portal
Joseph Yesufu became the fourth Kansas men’s basketball player to enter the transfer portal since the 2022-23 season ended. https://t.co/z8FATgscuG
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) March 23, 2023
Yesufu ended up committing to Washington State.
Bobby Pettiford Jr. decided to enter the transfer portal
Bobby Pettiford Jr. became the second KU basketball player to say he’ll transfer after the 2022-23 season. Pettiford confirmed the news Wednesday. https://t.co/FQbDW3KujU
— CJOnline (@CJOnline) March 22, 2023
Bobby Pettiford Jr. ended up committing to East Carolina.
Cam Martin decided to enter the transfer portal
It appears Cam Martin will not be returning to Kansas men’s basketball for one more year. He said he has entered the transfer portal. https://t.co/lUHqePgJg7
— CJOnline (@CJOnline) March 20, 2023
Cam Martin ended up committing to Boise State.
Zach Clemence entered the transfer portal, but decided to return
Zach Clemence intended to transfer away from KU earlier this year, and even committed to another school. But he’ll be back with the Jayhawks anyway. https://t.co/4wpb4FxHh2
— CJOnline (@CJOnline) June 21, 2023
Gradey Dick declared for the NBA draft
KU basketball star Gradey Dick, at 6-foot-8 and 205 pounds, is one of the top prospects in this year's draft class. https://t.co/IVCh6BqR7F
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) March 31, 2023
Jalen Wilson declared for the NBA draft
Jalen Wilson became the second Kansas men’s basketball player to declare for the NBA draft this year. He joins Gradey Dick. https://t.co/U7amQRFeNj
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) April 5, 2023
Kevin McCullar Jr. declared for the NBA draft, but decided to return
Bill Self had said that he wanted Kevin McCullar Jr. back, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen. McCullar is returning to KU men’s basketball. https://t.co/afmUePsBBC
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) May 24, 2023
With Gradey Dick and Jalen Wilson both turning pro, who are the potential scholarship returners for next season’s KU basketball roster?
Dajuan Harris Jr., a guard who’ll be coming off his redshirt junior season.
KJ Adams Jr., a forward who’ll be coming off his sophomore season.
Kevin McCullar Jr., a guard who'll be coming off his redshirt senior season.
Zach Clemence, a forward who'll be coming off his sophomore season.
RELATED: Mass St. Collective, G1 Sports reveal Barnstorming Tour dates with KU basketball players
Chris Johnson decides he no longer wants to join Kansas as a freshman
Kansas basketball incoming freshman guard Chris Johnson has asked the Jayhawks for a release from his letter of intent. https://t.co/elZzXgAHj7
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) June 3, 2023
Chris Johnson ended up committing to Texas.
Marcus Adams Jr. decides he wants to play elsewhere as well
Marcus Adams Jr. had been preparing to play his freshman season of college basketball at Kansas, but ultimately decided to depart and play elsewhere. https://t.co/AR2CwyNtYO
— CJOnline (@CJOnline) July 19, 2023
Marcus Adams Jr. ended up committing to Gonzaga.
Johnny Furphy commits to Kansas
Johnny Furphy, an international prospect, told 247Sports that he has committed to Kansas basketball and will reclassify to the 2023 recruiting class. https://t.co/2p0ski3Xqi
— CJOnline (@CJOnline) August 3, 2023
Who’s set to join KU next season as an incoming freshman?
Elmarko Jackson, a 247Sports Composite five-star point guard.
Jamari McDowell, a 247Sports Composite four-star shooting guard.
Johnny Furphy, a 247Sports Composite small forward
Should no one else transfer and there be no other changes, that would put Kansas at seven scholarship players for next season's team.
More: Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson leave Kansas State basketball with lasting legacy
How many recruits could Kansas add, then, through the transfer portal or through other freshmen?
Five, as long as the reduction of three scholarships over three years — due to self-imposed sanctions from the ongoing NCAA infractions case concerning the program — is distributed evenly. That would put Kansas at 12 scholarships next season and the two that follow, instead of 13 each year.
Nicolas Timberlake became the first transfer to commit to Kansas
KU basketball earned a commitment from one of the most highly sought-after players in the transfer portal. Nicolas Timberlake chose the Jayhawks. https://t.co/mVaSBS0KHm
— CJOnline (@CJOnline) April 19, 2023
Arterio Morris became the second transfer to commit to Kansas
Arterio Morris is set to become the latest addition to the Kansas men’s basketball roster. The transfer from Texas announced his commitment Friday. https://t.co/hFXLxaRDxT
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) April 28, 2023
Hunter Dickinson became the third transfer to commit to Kansas
Hunter Dickinson was the top available player in the transfer portal, and the Jayhawks have earned his commitment. Dickinson chose Kansas. https://t.co/1RWEX9aGd9
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) May 4, 2023
Parker Braun became the fourth transfer to commit to Kansas
Christian Braun helped Kansas basketball win a national title, and now his brother Parker is transferring in to try to help the Jayhawks win another. https://t.co/DptbkPDw5v
— CJOnline Sports (@CJOnlinesports) May 16, 2023
Kansas adds a walk-on
allow us to introduce @JCross_4 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Stgt0NgxJQ
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) June 2, 2023
Kansas adds a second walk-on
from manager → to walk-on 😎
introducing @patrickrcassidy 👇 pic.twitter.com/kGvjS5q8Bv— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) June 5, 2023
Kansas adds a third walk-on
welcome to Kansas, Chris Carter 🙌 pic.twitter.com/RqEmkIi6IT
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) July 6, 2023
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KU basketball's roster after transfer portal announcements, recruits
