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No. 1 basketball transfer Hunter Dickinson commits to Kansas – 247Sports
Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson, the No. 1 overall player in the college basketball transfer portal, has made his decision and will play for Kansas.
“This decision might even have been harder than the first one coming out of high school, having all these coaches hit you up again,” Dickinson said Thursday in a video published at 10:19 a.m. ET on Twitter. “Then again, it was also kind of easier in a sense, been going through it and stuff. But I’m just really glad it’s over now.”
The 7-foot-1, 260-pound center entered the portal March 31. He ultimately made this decision between of handful of programs, including Georgetown, Kentucky, Maryland, Villanova and a return to Michigan.
“Kansas was really cool,” Dickinson said this week on his podcast, when asked about visiting the Jayhawks. “Just going to there and Kentucky, it’s just so different than being at Michigan — because at Michigan, obviously, everything is focused around football. But walking by the facilities and stuff, just (seeing) how much basketball is so dominant there (at Kansas). And it was really just cool to see in the facilities, the dorms. Then talking with (Jayhawks head) coach (Bill) Self for a while and meeting the staff, meeting two of the players, it was real cool. And then going to (Allen Fieldhouse), the Fieldhouse was crazy — it just looks like it’s going to be loud as hell in there.”
With the Jayhawks, Dickinson joins fellow standout transfers Arterio Morris, a former five-star recruit, and ex-Towson star Nick Timberlake. Their portal class pairs with the No. 6 overall 2023 recruiting class made up of Elmarko Jackson, Chris Johnson, Marcus Adams Jr., and Jamari McDowell.
Dickinson was the top target in this offseason’s portal — so far, at least — and brings a long list of accolades to Kansas.
In his three years at Michigan, Dickinson controlled the paint but has been working to expand and develop his game. This past season, he attempted a career-high 57 attempts from 3 (1.7 attempts per game) and shot 42.1% from behind the arc.
Dickinson earned a spot on the the All-Big Ten First Team after averaging 18.5 points, nine-rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 blocks, shooting 56% from the field as a junior in 2022-23.
Dickinson is undoubtedly a major impact transfer that should be an All-Big 12 player and possibly even a First Team All-American. The Alexandria, Virginia, native and Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha product is a 2021 Consensus Second Team All-American, three-time All-Big Ten selection and was the 2020-21 Big Ten Rookie of the Year.
By all accounts, Dickinson has out-performed his No. 52 overall ranking upon exiting high school in the 2020 recruiting class. He took his talents to Michigan as the nation’s No. 11 center and No. 2 player in Maryland on 247Sports. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite was slightly higher on Dickinson, ranking him as the No. 43 overall prospect and No. 10 center.
Overall, Dickinson is a dominant paint presence on the offensive end of the floor with elite hands and touch. He scores with various moves over either shoulder.
Get the latest football and basketball transfer portal news from 247Sports.
“Today is bittersweet,” Michigan head coach Juwan Howard said in a statement March 31, when Dickinson entered the portal. “While Hunter Dickinson’s departure is unfortunate, there are so many reasons to be thankful for and celebrate. This young man has accomplished so much in his three seasons. Statistics aside, Hunter helped us to a Big Ten title, back-to-back Sweet 16s, as well as a memorable Elite Eight run. These are memories that will last a lifetime. What I love most is he was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree, twice. That says so much about his character and maturity. As much as I tried to instill in him, he was a guide and inspiration for me. We wish Hunter and his family all the best in the future.”
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