Will Jayhawks freshman Gradey Dick enter the 2023 NBA Draft after one season at Kansas?
Kansas freshman wing Gradey Dick, who has been mentioned as a likely first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was asked about his future plans following the Jayhawks’ 72-71 season-ending NCAA Tournament loss to Arkansas on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena.
“That’s really the last thing on my mind right now. I’ve really got no opinion on that,” Dick said after scoring seven points on 3-of-9 shooting (1-of-3 from three-point range) with seven rebounds while playing 36 minutes in what could be his final college game.
“I’m really just trying to take all this in, how much it stung, being with these guys,” Dick said.
If Wichita native Dick does leave KU, he will obviously miss KU.
“This team is the most special team I’ve been on maybe ever,” Dick said. “In my first year in college I got to play for a Hall of Fame coach (Bill Self). It was special. I’ve got to cherish that.
“Nobody wants to go through that,” Dick added of KU’s second-round tourney loss. A win would have meant a Sweet 16 appearance in Las Vegas. “At the end of the day you put your heart and soul in it. With everyone trying to win a championship it will sting when you come up short.”
Several players were asked about their futures in this day and age of the transfer portal.
Senior Cam Martin, a medical redshirt who redshirted his first season at KU after transferring in from Missouri Southern, said “no comment on that,” when asked his future plans. It’s possible he could return to KU or play one season at another school.
“I’m not done playing basketball. I’ll talk to the coaches in a couple weeks and go from there,” Martin said.
Kyle Cuffe, a freshman guard from New York who redshirted this season because of injury after redshirting as a true freshman, also had “no comment” on the future.
“We just lost. Right now I’m focused on my team and helping get them through this,” Cuffe said.
Freshman forward Zuby Ejiofor, who did not make the rotation his first season at a collegian said he definitely wants to return to KU.
“Yes sir,” he said when asked if he wanted to come back.
Sophomore guard Bobby Pettiford expects to be back in Lawrence for his junior year.
“I expect to improve on everything, my whole game, definitely shooting the ball to play alongside Juan (Harris),” Pettiford said.
Junior guard Joseph Yesufu, who hit a three in eight minutes versus Arkansas, said he is planning on returning to KU.
“Definitely. We’ve got to make a run next year, definitely,” Yesufu stated.
Freshman big man Ernest Udeh also spoke enthusiastically of next season, indicating he was ready to get to work on his game. He scored eight points in a first-round win over Howard, but did not score and had a single rebound in six foul-plagued minutes versus Arkansas.
Senior Kevin McCullar, who indicated in going through KU Senior Day festivities that this would be his last year at KU, on Saturday said: “It’s been an honor to put on this jersey. It’s been a special team to be part of.”
McCullar is not expected to return to college for a final super-senior season. He entered the NBA Draft last offseason but elected to return to college and transfer from Texas Tech to KU.
Sophomore forward Zach Clemence was not asked about his plans. He did not make the rotation in his second season at KU.
