Hearings on Transfer Portal Targets 🎯

EVERYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BASED UPON WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE I TRUST. PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR FACT OR FOR ACTUAL JOURNALISM, WHICH HAS VERIFICATION STANDARDS THAT I HAVE NOT ADHERED TO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT.

In this Hearings newsletter:

1. What happened with MJ Rice 👋

2. Transfer Portal Targets 🎯

3. Scoops Madness Update 👑

Thank you so much for all of your support. Please keep telling your KU friends subscribe if you find this valuable. It’s a major help.

Transfer Portal Targets

First, Bill Self is actively recruiting and working the Transfer Portal. I’m Hearing he’s taken some recruiting trips to Texas while spending time in Florida. All evidence points to Self back on the sidelines next season.

Beyond that, the following is a combination of what’s been publicly reported with some Hearings sprinkled in. I really don’t consider this to be scoopage, more of trying to put everything in one place.

Assuming Kyle Cuffe and Gradey Dick aren’t on the team next year, KU has four transfer slots open. Ideally, the Jayhawks take one guard, two wings, and one big. Of course, this is all subject to change depending on who else enters the portal.

Here are possible transfer portal targets for KU (This isn’t definitive. More players will enter the portal and change this list):

• Khalif Battle | Temple | Guard | Redshirt Junior: Battle is a scoring guard coming off his redshirt sophomore season. He’d start next to Dajuan Harris next year. I think he’s one of KU’s top targets right now.

• Graham Ike | Wyoming | Big | Senior (?): Post-focused scoring and rebounding big. Not much of a rim protector. He didn’t play for Wyoming this season with a foot injury, so I’m guessing he’d get a medical redshirt if he wanted it. Would give him at least two more years to play. Likely a top target as well.

• TJ Bamba | Washington State | Guard | Senior: Like Battle, Bamba is a proven scoring guard who would start next to Harris. He’s also exploring entering the NBA Draft.

• Jamille Reynolds | Temple | Big | Junior: KU fans were surprised to see an in-home visit with Reynolds, reported Tuesday. I assume this is because his numbers at first glance aren’t exciting (10 pts and 5 rebs per game). His advanced stats will tell a much better story, which I’ll get into if the Reynolds conversation moves forward.

• Nick Timberlake | Towson | Guard | Super Senior: The sharp-shooting guard scored more than 30 points in February action three times. He’s now in the portal for a sixth year of college hoops, and big-time schools are calling.

Spencer Jones and Harrison Ingram | Stanford | Wings: I don’t love discussing guys who aren’t in the portal yet… it’s the easiest way to be wrong about something. Still, both Jones and Ingram have been mentioned a lot with KU targets, so here we are. Jones would be a fifth-year senior out of Bishop Miege high school in KC, and I see why the long, sharp-shooting wing would be enticing.

Ingram is a former five-star KU recruited out of high school. My Bay Area friends have a difficult time seeing Ingram as a starter at KU, and the Jayhawks need to fill that wing spot with impact-ready guys. I have no idea where these two would fall on KU’s radar.

(The tweet below from portal guru Andrew Slater seems to acknowledge the Stanford players. The Mississippi player was likely Matt Murrell, who is now staying at Ole Miss with Chris Beard. Also, give BShark5 a follow. He’s been all over the portal).

Additional Players Who Have Reportedly Heard from Kansas

• DJ Horne, Arizona State (guard)

• Kadin Shedrick, Virginia (big)

• Kowacie Reeves, Florida (wing)

• Walter Clayton, Iona (guard)

Why MJ Rice Ultimately Hit The Portal

The news on Rice is finally official, or close to it. If you’ve been reading The Hearings this shouldn’t be a shocker.

I’ve heard Rice indicated an intent to leave as soon as the season ended. But the decision wasn’t simple, as multiple conflicting interests were at play.

• The staff would’ve taken him back, but I’m not so sure Rice felt the same way about them. He had a tough year, which I don’t think is a shock to anyone.

• It will be unlikely that Rice lands the same kind of guaranteed NIL money that KU’s collective can offer. I’d have to think that made Rice think twice about leaving, but I never got strong indication that he was returning.

• Rice’s dad was involved with his year at KU and the decision. I’m sure it’s hard to handle watching your 5-star son struggle for playing time. His involvement obviously had a role in the decision.Leave a comment

Scoops Madness Update

Again, this is the coolest thing. We raised $3,320 for the NIL Collective supporting KU in basically 24 hours. Thank you so much for your support.

Here are the leaders heading into the Final Four.