Jayhawk fans can cross Stanford standout Harrison Ingram off the list of possible transfers to join the men’s basketball program.
The former Pac-12 freshman of the year announced on Saturday that he is transferring to the University of North Carolina. The forward who averaged 10.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in his sophomore season had scheduled a visit to KU, but ended up choosing the Tar Heels.
KU, thus far, has garnered one player from the transfer portal, but head coach Bill Self has said the program needs several more to sign.
“We need to sign at least three, possibly four that are difference-maker type players for us,” Self said last week.
KU has signed Towson guard Nick Timberlake, a big 6-foot-4, 205 pound combo guard who hit on more than 41% of his three-point attempts last season.
KU is still in the running for what many consider the top player in the transfer portal, Hunter Dickinson, a Michigan big man who averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game for the Wolverines last season. However, KU has new competition for Dickinson. Fellow blue blood program Kentucky is now in the running for Dickinson, as he announced an official visit to check out the Wildcats’ program.
Self has said the transfer portal is more important this year to the Jayhawks than it was last year. KU has more players leaving the program this offseason than it has in past year, and a quick look at the statistics show why KU has to be in serious reloading mode.
With the departures of Jalen Wilson, Gradey Dick, Joe Yesufu and the expected departure of Kevin McCullar Jr., the Jayhawks will be looking to replace 206 of their 251 3-point makes (82%) from last season.
In addition to the outside shooting, Self also has said the Jayhawks need to get bigger, which is why they have Dickinson circled on their wish list.
But KU also is looking for more wing help, especially if McCullar does end up leaving the program. With Ingram off the board, there is some speculation that KU now will be looking for Texas Tech transfer Jaylon Tyson to fill that role. Tyson averaged 10.7 points a game last season for the Red Raiders, and hit more than 40% of his three-point attempts, while also being a solid defender.
However, Tyson also is drawing strong interest from the University of California and Auburn, among other schools.
