Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar commits to Kansas, remains in NBA draft process for now

LAWRENCE — Kansas men’s basketball has picked up a commitment from Kevin McCullar, one of the top available potential transfers.

McCullar, who is coming off of a redshirt junior season at Texas Tech, announced the news himself on social media Thursday. It’s a commitment that comes with the understanding that McCullar has yet to remove himself from the NBA draft process, and the Jayhawks have their own current players who have decisions to make as well. But, considering everything, it’s still a significant recruiting win for Kansas coach Bill Self and his staff.

“I am forever grateful for the experience to attend Texas Tech University and play the game I love,” McCullar, who has until June 1 to withdraw from the draft, wrote in an Instagram post. “My family has deep roots to Texas Tech and it has shaped me into the man I am today. I am so thankful for that and would not change anything about my time there! Thank you to the community and fans that have supported me every day. We have had some great experiences together! It has been an honor to wear the Texas Tech jersey and be part of the Lubbock community.”

►RELATED: Kansas men’s basketball will face Seton Hall on Dec. 1 at home in Big 12-Big East Battle

►RELATED: How Kansas basketball's Jalen Wilson, David McCormack tested at NBA G League Elite Camp

McCullar continued: “As I look to the next chapter of my career, if I decide to withdraw from the NBA draft, I am thrilled to say that I will be playing for the University of Kansas and coach Self! At this stage of my life, KU offers me an opportunity to continue to improve my game while still being close to my family. I am extremely thankful and excited for this opportunity, to represent such a historic basketball program. It’s an honor of a lifetime!”

McCullar, who Texas Tech lists as having San Antonio as his hometown, recently participated in the 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp alongside Jayhawks in Jalen Wilson and David McCormack. McCullar, like McCormack, did not receive an invitation to the NBA’s combine as Wilson did. However, according to Stock Risers, the potential newcomer to Lawrence has had interest from NBA teams and worked out for the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.

McCullar was listed as a 6-foot-6 and 210-pound guard by the Red Raiders, and measured at 6-foot-5.5 without shoes and 6-foot-7 with shoes at the G League Elite Camp. He also weighed in at 200.4 pounds at the camp. During the one scrimmage he participated in, he finished with four points, seven rebounds and one assist.

This past season at Texas Tech, he averaged 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game through 29 appearances — which included 24 starts. He earned recognition as a semifinalist in 2022 for the Naismith defensive player of the year honor. And he was an All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention talent as well, even though he wasn't fully healthy at times and that potentially affected just how much of a threat the versatile wing could have been offensively.

Whose spot McCullar is filling, at this point, is unclear. But McCormack and Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji are committed to the draft and embarking on their professional careers, and therefore if either Wilson or Christian Braun remain in the draft there would be a spot for McCullar. Braun, Wilson and Agbaji were all invited to the combine.

“Even with our team right now, we could have anywhere from 10-to-13 on scholarship as of today,” said Self, speaking on ESPN2 during the broadcast Thursday of the combine, discussing recruiting potential transfers while players are pursuing the NBA draft process. “And the guys in the portal are going to wait and see what the guys on our team are going to do before they make a decision on what they want to do. And will they make a decision before those guys make a decision? I mean, it’s just an inexact science.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas basketball lands commitment from transfer Kevin McCullar