NIL Had Impact on Hunter Dickinson’s Transfer to Kansas
New Kansas center Hunter Dickinson talked on the Roundball podcast about his decision to transfer to the Jayhawks from the Michigan Wolverines.
It would appear that NIL (or Name, Image and Likeness) likely had something to do with it. Dickinson implied as much.
He talked on the podcast about the factors in his decision. When NIL came up, Dickinson said that he didn’t make much at Michigan last season and implied that a boost in earnings factored in the decision.
“The people hating on me would leave their job right now for a $10,000 increase,” Dickinson said. “I got, at Michigan, less than six figures. I got less than six figures at Michigan for the year.”
It’s not clear how much money Dickinson might have made at Michigan on NIL. But Kansas, like other major athletic programs, has NIL collectives Dickinson can tap into, including the Mass St. Collective.
The 7-1, 260 pound center out of Alexandria, Va., became one of the top transfer targets once he declared for the portal last month. At Michigan last season Dickinson averaged 18.5 points, nine rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game for the Wolverines, but UM managed just a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten with an 18-16 overall record.
Dickinson fills a big need for the Jayhawks, who played without a true center last season. He announced his transfer to Kansas on social media.
Kansas is coming off a disappointing finish to an otherwise great season. After winning the Big 12 Regular Season title, the Jayhawks would fall to Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, ending the No. 1 seed’s season at 28-8.
Kansas played the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament without coach Bill Self, who was out after a heart procedure the night before Kansas played its first Big 12 Tournament game.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
