Bill Self calls Hunter Dickinson the ‘most skilled and most talented’ center he’s had

Hunter Dickinson, the newly named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, talked in-depth about KU’s basketball culture at Big 12 Media Day.

Dickinson transferred to Kansas in May after three seasons with Michigan.

“I think we had a good culture at Michigan. ... Culture is one of those words that gets thrown around if you ask any coach in the country; they’re going to say they have a great culture,” Dickinson said Wednesday at T-Mobile Center. “Here at Kansas, I think it starts with Coach Q (director of basketball operations Fred Quartlebaum), he’s the head man of everything; he’s the culture guy.

“He kind of puts it on us. He doesn’t force us to do anything, but he kind of leaves it up to us. Being here just goes to show you why Kansas wins the big games. It’s because guys really buy into it.”

Dickinson was a high-volume offensive player last season at Michigan, posting a usage rate of 27.5%. For reference, Kansas star Jalen Wilson had a usage rate of 29.7% last year.

It’s possible Dickinson’s offensive production could dip some given the talent level of his new teammates.

“I can just go out there and some possessions, I don’t have to score,” Dickinson said. “I don’t have to be as involved in the offense. You got a guy right here (point guard Dajuan Harris) who’s been running offenses that have led to a national championship. It makes it really easy on me.”

He is, however, hoping to showcase his long-range offensive game.

Dickinson hopes to shoot three 3-pointers a game at a high percentage but added “that it won’t be to a detriment to the team.”

Although Dickinson is a senior and relishes his leadership role, he’s still got plenty to learn.

“I think of that Drake verse of being the rookie or the vet (‘I’m the rookie and the vet’) where it’s like … I’m a senior and I feel so old, but I’m still learning,” he said. “There’s some terminology like ‘being in the gap,’ everybody knows that ... but there is some terminology that is different (and) I’m still learning that stuff.

Adjustment period or not, Self had high praise for Dickinson.

“I think the thing that you’ll be surprised about Hunter is just what a great teammate and how unselfish he is, and certainly he’s loved by his brothers in the locker room,” Self said. “He is, I would say, the most skilled and most talented offensive player that I’ve had from a center-type standpoint offensively.”

That said ...

“There’s a lot of things he’s got to get a lot better at defensively — guarding ball screens and protecting the rim or the paint and a lot of other things,” Self said. “He’s got to become much better to become whole.

“But from a shooting, aggressiveness, passing, playing out of doubles, he probably is as advanced as anybody I’ve ever been around, and he is without question the most equipped to have a big year for a first-year player.”