Big 12 Basketball Transfer Portal Thoughts: Hunter Dickinson’s Kansas Fit, More to Come for K-State

Posted on May 5, 2023

The transfer portal is running full speed in both Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball as the window to declare for the portal closes soon.

Each week I’ll have some thoughts on what’s going on in the transfer portal from a Big 12 perspective, at least until things settle down. Which, frankly, could be never.

The Hunter Dickinson Fit

I’m not sure any single player milked the transfer portal for more attention than former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson. But, he ended up selecting Kansas, and the Jayhawks have a clear need for a player of his skill and make-up.

Kansas didn’t have a true center last season. The Jayhawks made it work with K.J. Adams as a ‘small five,” but Dickinson, at 7-foot-1, brings height that has been successful in the Jayhawks’ offensive and defensive schemes. That’s something the Jayhawks need.

Dickinson averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds last season. Kansas can play through him down low. He can also hit the 3-pointer, shooting 42.1 percent last season. He averaged nearly two assists, so he does have some passing ability down low, too.

He fills perhaps Kansas’ biggest need this offseason. The addition of guard Arterio Morris from Texas earlier this week gives the Jayhawks a guard to play off of point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. Towson guard Nicolas Timberlake shot 40 percent or better from the 3-point line each of the past two seasons.

Plus, Kyle Cuffe Jr.’s move to the transfer portal gives Kansas the chance to add another piece for next season.

Tech Women Done in Portal

The Texas Tech women have a full roster for 2023-24 and coach Krista Gerlich and her staff did a solid job in the portal.

Tech grabbed two UTEP transfers — forward Elina Arike and guard Jazion Jackson. Arike led the Miners with 11.9 points and grabbed nearly six rebounds. Jackson was their second-leading scorer at 11.6 points. She also grabbed 5.8 rebounds and dished out 2.3 assists. She also shot a career-best 36 percent from the 3-point line.

So the Lady Raiders snagged UTEP’s top two offensive players.

Tech also took in forward Jordyn Merritt, a former Florida forward who averaged 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds last season. And, Jada Wynn transferred in from Colorado. Wynn averaged just 3.4 points as a freshman.

The Lady Raiders took in about 30 points from players that can make an impact right away. Wynn needs development but could be a long-term answer in the backcourt. All in all, the Lady Raiders did solid work this offseason.

More to Come for Kansas State?

The Wildcats snagged a guard in Markquis Nowell’s image when North Texas’ Tylor Perry committed to join the team this week. He averaged 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season, was one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation and led the Mean Green to the NIT crown.

So … where are the rest of the transfers that should be coming to Manhattan after an Elite Eight run?

There are a couple of factors. First, the Wildcats aren’t losing much in the transfer portal. Only Ismael Massoud and Peyton Ackerman are in the portal from last year’s team. Second, while Kansas State is losing a lot of players from last year’s team, the Wildcats have a hefty recruiting class coming in next season taking up three scholarships that coach Jerome Tang might offer to a transfer.

There is also the question of whether Keyontae Johnson returns. He’s testing the NBA Draft waters but has left open the possibility of returning.

The fact is the Wildcats don’t have a lot of wiggle room at the moment. And with the portal declaration window set to close, the Wildcats’ roster is already close to set.

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard

Big 12 Basketball Transfer Portal

(as of May 4)

Men

Outgoing — Baylor: G Dale Bonner (to Ohio State),G L.J. Cryer (to Houston), F Zach Loveday, G Jordan Turner (from Louisiana Tech); Iowa State: G Eli King (to North Dakota), G Caleb Grill (to Missouri), G Jeremiah Williams; Kansas: F Cam Martin (to Boise State), F Zach Clemence (to UC Santa Barbara), G Kyle Cuffe Jr., G Bobby Pettiford Jr. (to East Carolina), G M.J. Rice (to NC State), G Joseph Yesufu (to Washington State); Kansas State: G Peyton Ackerman, F Ismael Massoud, G Anthony Thomas; Oklahoma: G Joe Bamisile (to VCU), G Bijan Cortes (to Wichita State), F Jacob Groves (to Virginia), F Jalen Hill (to UNLV), G C.J. Noland (to Saint Louis), G Benny Schroder (to George Washington); Oklahoma State: G Avery Anderson III (to TCU), F Kalib Boone (to UNLV), F Moussa Cisse, G Chris Harris Jr., G Woody Newton (to George Mason), F Tyreek Smith (to SMU). TCU: F Souleymane Doumbia (to Sam Houston), G P.J. Haggerty (to Tulsa), F Eddie Lampkin (to Colorado), G Michael Niemann (to Division II Rollins), G Shahada Wells (to McNeese State); Texas: G Rowan Brumbaugh (to Georgetown), G Arterio Morris (to Kansas); Texas Tech: F Fardaws Aimaq (to Cal), F KJ Allen (to Portland State), F Daniel Batcho (to Louisiana Tech), G Ethan Duncan (to Lubbock Christian), G Elijah Fisher, F Robert Jennings (returning to Texas Tech), G Jaylon Tyson, G Corey Williams Jr.; West Virginia: F Jimmy Bell Jr., G Josiah Davis,F Jamel King (to Kennesaw State). Cincinnati: G Jeremiah Davenport (to Arkansas), F Jarrett Hensley; Houston: G Tramon Mark (to Arkansas), C Kiyron Powell (to Southern Indiana), G Mylik Wilson; UCF: G P.J. Edwards (to Bowling Green), G Tyem Freeman (to Kent State), F Brandon Suggs (to New Mexico State), C Lahat Thioune (to South Dakota), G Jayhlon Young (to Memphis).

Incoming — Baylor: G Jayden Nunn (from VCU); Iowa State: G Keshon Gilbert (from UNLV), G Curtis Jones (from Buffalo), G Jackson Paveletzke (from Wofford); Kansas: F Hunter Dickinson (from Michigan), G Arterio Morris (from Texas), G Nicolas Timberlake (from Towson); Kansas State: G Tylor Perry (from North Texas); Oklahoma: G Le’Tre Darthard (from Utah Valley), F John Hugley IV (from Pitt), G Javian McCollum (from Siena), G Rivaldo Soares (from Oregon); Oklahoma State: C Mike Marsh (from Jacksonville), G Javon Small (from East Carolina); TCU: G Avery Anderson III (to TCU), F Essam Mostafa (from Coastal Carolina),G Jameer Nelson Jr. (from Delaware), G Trey Tennyson (from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi); Texas: G Max Abmas (from Oral Roberts), F Ze’Rik Onyema (from UTEP), C Kadin Shedrick (from Virginia), G Chendall Weaver (from UT-Arlington); Texas Tech: F KyeRon Lindsay (from Georgia), G Chance McMillian (from Grand Canyon), F Darrion Williams (from Nevada); West Virginia: G RaeQuan Battle (from Montana State), G Kerr Kriisa (from Arizona), C Jesse Edwards (from Syracuse), F Jose Perez (from Manhattan), G Omar Silverio (from Manhattan). Cincinnati: G C.J. Fredrick (from Kentucky), G Simas Lukosius (from Butler), F Jamille Reynolds (from Temple); Houston: G L.J. Cryer (from Baylor), G Damian Dunn (from Temple).

Notes: Perez transferred to WVU in November but didn’t get a waiver to play in 2022-23. Silverio transferred in March and needs a waiver.

Women

Outgoing — Baylor: F Kendra Gillispie (to Arkansas State), G Jaden Owens, F Erika Porter; Houston: G/F Paris Netherly; Houston: G/F Paris Netherly; Iowa State: G Lexi Donarski (to North Carolina), G Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw (to Montana), G Denae Fritz (to Baylor), F Morgan Kane (to D-II Nova Southeastern), F Maggie Vick; Kansas: F Ioanna Chatzileonti (to Oklahoma State), F Katrine Jessen (to Missouri State), G Sanna Strom, G Bella Swedlund (to Toledo), G Mia Vuksic (to San Francisco); Kansas State: G Mimi Gatewood, C Taylor Lauterbach (to Virginia); Oklahoma: G Kaley Perkins (to Kent State), C Emma Svoboda; Oklahoma State: F Taylen Collins (to Auburn), G/F Macie James (to UNLV), G Lexy Keys (to Oklahoma), G Neferatali Notoa (was not listed on OSU’s 2022-23 roster), F Makyra Tramble (to Oral Roberts); TCU: G/F Evie Goetz (to Louisiana Tech), G Roxane Makolo; Texas: G Kyndall Hunter (to Texas A&M), F Femme Masudi (to New Mexico State); Texas Tech: F Lana Wenger; West Virginia: F Isis Beh (to Arizona), G/F Wynter Rogers (to Arkansas State), G/F Savannah Samuel (to Boston College); BYU: G Amanda Barcello (to Utah Valley), F Alyssa Blanck (to Utah), F Lauren Gustin (returning to BYU), G Sophia Lee (to Sacramento State); UCF: G/F Tiana Abrams (to Northern Colorado), F Destiny Thomas (to Georgia); Cincinnati: G Lojain Elfatairy, G Dais’Ja Trotter (to Illinois-Chicago); Houston: G De’Myla Brown, G Kendall Brown, G/F Paris Netherly, G Tiara Young (to SMU).

Incoming — Baylor: F Madison Bartley (from Belmont), G Yaya Felder (from Ohio), G Jada Walker (from Kentucky), G Denae Fritz (from Iowa State); Iowa State: G Hannah Belanger (from D-II Truman State), C Isnelle Natabou (from Sacramento State); Kansas State: G Zyanna Walker (from Louisville); Oklahoma: G Lexy Keys (from Oklahoma State), G/F Payton Verhulst (from Louisville); Oklahoma State: F Ioanna Chatzileonti (from Kansas), G Kennedy Fauntleroy (from Georgetown), F Hannah Gusters (from LSU), G/F Rylee Langerman (from Arkansas), G Quincy Noble (from North Texas); TCU: G Madison Conner (from Arizona), G Agnes Emma-Nnopu (from Stanford), G Una Jovanovic (from Cal State Fullerton), F Sedona Prince (from Oregon); Texas Tech: F Elina Arike (from UTEP), G Jazion Jackson (from UTEP), F Jordyn Merritt (from Florida), G Jada Wynn (from Colorado); West Virginia: G Lauren Fields (from Arizona), G Jordan Harrison (from Stephen F. Austin), G Zya Nugent (from Stephen F. Austin); BYU: G/F Jennah Isai (from Oregon); Cincinnati: G/F Aicha Dia (from Penn State), C Destiny Thomas (from Memphis); Houston: G N’Yah Boyd (from UTEP), G Gia Cooke (from Maryland), F Maliyah Johnson (from Pitt), C Peyton McFarland (from Utah); UCF: G Ashley Foster (from Georgia State), G Kaitlin Peterson (from Indiana), G Timia Ware (from LSU).