Big Ten Roundup: Hunter Dickinson Chooses Kansas; 22 Commits in Final 247Sports Top 150
Hunter Dickinson announced his highly-anticipated transfer decision on Thursday, shifting the landscape of the 2023-24 college basketball season.
Dickinson chose Kansas over a long line of schools, including Kentucky, Villanova, Maryland and Georgetown, putting coach Bill Self's Jayhawks in the conversation for the preseason No. 1 team.
The 7-foot-1 center was an All-American as freshman in 2020-21, and he's one of the most talented transfers in college basketball history. Following a Sweet 16 run in 2021-22, Dickinson averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 2022-23, but Michigan went 18-16 and missed the NCAA Tournament. He has two years of remaining eligibility.
Transferring to Kansas, it's clear that Dickinson wanted to play for a national championship contender. Not only does Dickinson boost the Jayhawks' chances of winning a second national title in three seasons, but he joins a roster with both experience and incoming talent.
All-American forward Jalen Wilson and sharpshooting freshman Gradey Dick are gone from the 2022-23 roster, but Kansas returns national champion point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and forward KJ Adams, the Big 12's Most Improved Player. Kansas is still waiting on a decision from its third-leading scorer, Kevin McCullar, who declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility.
Kansas' four-man recruiting class ranks No. 6 in the class of 2023, according to the 247Sports Composite, headlined by five-star point guard Elmarko Jackson. Combo guard Chris Johnson is ranked No. 50 overall, followed by four-star small forward Marcus Adams Jr. and four-star shooting guard Jamari McDowell. 2023 five-star recruit Mackenzie Mgbako recently visited Kansas, and he's also considering St. John's, Indiana and Louisville.
Kansas has done well in the transfer portal, too, landing Texas guard Arterio Morris, a five-star recruit in the class of 2022, and Towson guard transfer Nick Timberlake, who averaged 17.7 points on 41.6 percent 3-point shooting last season.
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) celebrates a 3-point basket against Michigan State during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
22 Big Ten commits in final 247Sports rankings
Recruiting site 247Sports released its final top 150 rankings for the men's college basketball class of 2023. While some recruits remain uncommitted – including the No. 1 player Ron Holland, who recently decommitted from Texas – the Big Ten landed 22 commits in the top 150.
Michigan State commit Xavier Booker from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, Ind. is the Big Ten's top-ranked incoming recruit, and the Spartans lead the conference with four commits in the top 150, including three within the top 50.
Here's the full list of Big Ten commits in the final 247Sports Top 150:
- No. 11, C Xavier Booker, Michigan State
- No. 25, SF DeShawn Harris-Smith, Maryland
- No. 30, PG Jeremy Fears, Michigan State
- No. 31, CG Taison Chatman, Ohio State
- No. 41, PF Coen Carr, Michigan State
- No. 46, PF Devin Royal, Ohio State
- No. 54, SF Scotty Middleton, Ohio State
- No. 55, PF Amani Hansberry, Illinois
- No. 57, SF Myles Colvin, Purdue
- No. 61, SF Gavin Griffiths, Rutgers
- No. 68, SF Jamie Kaiser, Maryland
- No. 77, SG Cameron Christie, Minnesota
- No. 93, SF Pryce Sandfort, Iowa
- No. 114, C Gus Yalden, Wisconsin
- No. 116, SF Gehrig Normand, Michigan State
- No. 119, CG Jakai Newton, Indiana
- No. 123, PG Gabe Cupps, Indiana
- No. 132, SG George Washington III, Michigan
- No. 134, CG Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Illinois
- No. 141, PG Brock Harding, Iowa
- No. 144, PF Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
- No. 150, PF Owen Freeman, Iowa
