In this Hearings newsletter:

1. Breaking down the Hunter Dickinson visit

2. Quick update on Primo Spears and Arterio Morris

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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.

How I’m Feeling after Hunter Dickinson’s Visit to Kansas

I could easily tell you Hunter Dickinson’s visit to Kansas went “great” and that he and his family enjoyed their time on campus. It’ll sound like every visit recap you’ve ever read. We’re not gonna do that here.

Instead, let’s take a step back and look at the big picture of how KU is recruiting right now. I think this is much more indicative of where things stand (even if it may require wearing a tinfoil hat at times).

What we know:

• Dickinson planned to visit Kansas from Thursday-Saturday. His flight got delayed Thursday, so it became a Friday-Saturday trip. I’m Hearing KU was not happy about the delay.

• KU took Dickinson on a campus tour, including stops at the Greek houses that hung signs out their windows for the Big Man. It won’t make a difference, but his family loved it. Dickinson went out Friday night and even stopped at the famous “Boom Boom Room” in the basement of The Hawk. He was “mobbed” everywhere he went.

• Once Dickinson left Lawrence on Saturday, KU’s coaching staff spread across the country to visit different high school hoops events.

• Also on Saturday, North Carolina landed Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram. Here’s what I last wrote about Ingram.

This all leads me to some thoughts:

How I’m Feeling:

• Kentucky looms, but Kansas doesn’t plan on getting beat for Hunter Dickinson if it comes down to NIL compensation… Let’s start there and then go a little deeper…

• If you’re building a team around Dajuan Harris and Dickinson, you prioritize shooting and defense with every open roster spot.

• Harrison Ingram is a Jalen Wilson archetype. He’s a top-tier player if he’s going to UNC, but he isn’t a great shooter. And it’s clear Kansas didn’t prioritize him.

  • “[UNC] showed me the most love out of all the schools,” Ingram said to Eric Bossi of 247Sports.

    • I’d heard (and published) KU wanted Texas Tech transfer Jaylon Tyson over Ingram on the wing. Tyson is a more-proven shooter and defender. He grades out much better than Ingram in both categories via Synergy. Take a look:

• I’ve Heard Kansas wants Tyson to visit, but I haven’t Heard any set date (yet).

• Combine Kansas prioritizing shooting and defense over playmaking with the third scholarship, and you can start to see “Plan A” when it comes to building a team.

  • Plan A = Put as many shooters as you can around Harris and Dickinson.

    • Keep in mind KU already landed a commitment from three-point threat Nick Timberlake.

      • Plan B = Bring in a scoring wing and another guard with Timberlake. Let Udeh and KJ play the 5.

• Chatter around KU has been silent since the Dickinson visit. This as a good thing. If you like where you stand, you go quiet. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself if you’re holding the best hand at the table.

• Also, the staff hit different high school events once Dickinson left. If KU didn’t feel good about where it stands, I’d think the focus would remain on the portal. Maybe this point is a stretch because these trips are pre-planned, but…

• I view KU’s staff as acting with confidence right now. Everything I see makes me think they are confident in landing an elite big. Maybe it’s Dickinson, maybe it’s someone else we don’t know about yet.

• In other words: I like KU’s chances right now in fielding an elite roster around a good big man.

Primo Spears and Arterio Morris

• Quick context: Kansas currently has two open scholarship spots remaining. If Hunter Dickinson commits, there’s only one spot left. That’s where things get tricky between Jaylon Tyson, Arterio Morris, and Primo Spears.

• I’ve gotten some questions asking if KU is still recruiting Texas transfer PG Arterio Morris. I am Hearing the answer is yes. KU is still recruiting Morris, and I tweeted as much over the weekend.

  • Morris visited DePaul this weekend and is expected also travel to UCF.

  • Former Georgetown PG Primo Spears is visiting Tuesday this week. It’s been silent around Spears and KU, but I haven’t Heard the visit was called off or anything like that. As of now, it appears Spears will be in Lawrence this week.

  • I’ve Heard Spears’ interest in Kansas is high, but he’s seen as a Florida State lean. He hasn’t been the priority with KU’s staff (at this point). If he makes the visit, that could soon change.

Recruiting is fluid. These things change rapidly. I'll continue to share what I'm Hearing. You can support The Hearings by forwarding this to anyone who would like it. Thank you for spreading the scoop 💪

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