Kansas basketball barnstorming tour this spring to be headlined by star KU players

Jalen Wilson, Gradey Dick, Dajuan Harris and Kevin McCullar headline the Kansas men’s basketball players who are slated to participate in the annual barnstorming tour this spring.

Mass St. Collective has partnered with G1 Sports to plan out a 3-day, 3-city tour with 14 players from KU’s 2022-23 team that won the Big 12 regular season championship.

The tour kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 14 at Dodge City Community College, then shifts to Wichita for a 3 p.m. stop at Friends University on Saturday, April 15 before finishing up with a 2 p.m. show time on Sunday, April 16, at Pittsburg State University that will include former Jayhawk great Jeff Boschee, who is the head men’s basketball coach at PSU.

“It’s a true testament to the high value that this event brings, not just for the fans in attendance, but for the players that this is something that they wanted to be involved in,” said Dan Beckler, president of Mass St. Collective.

“There’s a lot of KU fans here in Wichita and this is a cool opportunity to bring the Jayhawks down here and let fans interact with these players like never before. They’ve probably gone to a game at Allen Fieldhouse, watched and then gone home. We’re going to have a lot of interactive, fun activities for fans to come out and meet these guys.”

Four different tiers of tickets are being sold to the event: General admission tickets begin at $20, while an exclusive barnstorming tour poster can be added for a $35 package. No player autographs will be available for general admission tickets. Reserved seating is $100 and includes the poster and access to player autographs, while VIP tickets are $150 that include a 45-minute private meet-and-greet with players before the event, the poster and access to player autographs.

Because of the new NCAA rules that allow current players to profit off their name, image and likeness, Mass St. Collective is able to sign players to NIL contracts that allow for the players to earn the money generated from the barnstorming tour. Instead of graduating seniors being the only ones able to participate, every KU player is eligible.

Other players who have signed contracts with Mass St. Collective are K.J. Adams, Joseph Yesufu, Ernest Udeh, M.J. Rice, Zuby Ejiofor, Kyle Cuffe, Wilder Evers, Charlie McCarthy, Michael Jankovich and Dillon Wilhite. The players in attendance could vary depending on unforeseen circumstances, while KU coaches will not be in attendance.

The event will feature an emcee to energize the crowd and lead a question-and-answer session between the fans and players. That will be followed by a skills challenge that will feature fans and sponsors competing alongside and against KU players like Wilson, Dick and McCullar. An autograph session for those with the proper tickets will take place after the event.

The barnstorming tour is also looking for potential sponsors. Those interested should contact Mass St. Collective.