‘Knocking on the doorstep’: New KU Jayhawk Kevin McCullar on decision to exit NBA Draft
Kevin McCullar, who removed his name from the 2022 NBA Draft pool just hours before June 1 deadline allowing him to retain his collegiate eligibility, heard encouraging words about his future in the pros during workouts and interviews with several teams.
“They told me I’d be an NBA player for a very long time if I keep playing the way I play,” McCullar, Kansas’ 6-foot-6, 210-pound senior guard/small forward transfer from Texas Tech said Tuesday. He was speaking with media members at Bill Self’s summer basketball camp for youths at Allen Fieldhouse.
“It felt good knowing I’m right there to my ultimate goal and my dream since I was a little kid, just knocking on the doorstep. But now I’m here at Kansas and ready to try to run it back,” McCullar added, referring to help lead KU to a repeat national title during the 2022-23 season.
McCullar — he worked out for various teams at the NBA G League Combine as well as individually for the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks during the testing the waters process — admittedly was tempted to begin his pro career after playing the last three seasons and redshirting one year at Texas Tech.
As positive as the scouts were in their assessment of McCullar, they advised the 21-year-old San Antonio, Texas native to seriously consider returning to college to work on some things in preparation for the 2023 NBA Draft.
“The main thing every team was telling me was just my size for my position (is ideal for guard/small forward) and just how versatile I am. I play on both ends of the floor,” said McCullar, who is known for his defense.
“Really just how I contribute and make winning plays. Everybody’s looking for a lockdown defender in the NBA right now. I’m kind of in a perfect time frame of when I’m trying to get to the NBA. So on that that end of the court, locking down, and they’re just really just saying that they want to see me get in there and knock down shots and improve my numbers on that (offensive) end. It was good for me to get in front of them and show them I can shoot the ball. And so they’re just looking forward to me now coming back here to Kansas and having more opportunities to be able to knock down shots and a better fit for me all around.”
He elected to enter the transfer portal and ultimately chose KU over runnerup Gonzaga.
A starter, McCullar averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds a game last season for the (27-10) Texas Tech Red Raiders. He hit 40.2% of his shots and was 28-of-90 from three for 31.1%. He made 72.5% of his free throws and dished 89 assists to 57 turnovers. His 41 steals ranked second on the team.
“Passing, guarding, playing the right way, making winning plays, even shooting the ball,” McCullar said of things scouts want him to work on in 2022-23 at KU.
“They know when I was open, catch and shoot I was shooting 42% (at Tech). A lot of my shots last year came contested, not really created for. They are looking to see that and just staying healthy is the main thing.”
McCullar — he averaged 29.8 minutes a game in 29 games last season — missed some time because of a nagging ankle sprain. He resprained the ankle at the NBA G League Combine but is now healthy enough to practice. In fact he said he and the KU team had a “good workout” on Tuesday.
“It’s definitely luck,” he said of staying healthy, also, “taking care of my body, eating right, getting with the trainer and coach Self who have a great plan for me in place. I’m looking forward to it.”
KU coach Self this week spoke glowingly of McCullar, who figures to vie for a starting spot for the Jayhawks.
“To me he’s the perfect fit if you want to play interchangeable parts on the perimeter,” Self said. “If you have point guard skill and are big enough to play the 2, 3, 4 type deal you may have something special going on. We thought he fit us as well as anybody possibly could that was in the portal from a style standpoint.”
McCullar, whose KU roommate will his “best friend,” fellow Texan Jalen Wilson (who is slated to arrive on campus Wednesday), said he’s known for a while now that Self has great respect for the former Red Raider.
“J-Wil would tell me that on the scouting report (Iast season) Coach Self said, ‘This guy makes them go,’ so that was good to hear as well,” McCullar said. “Getting on the phone with him (Self) finally when I did enter the portal, just hearing how excited he was, just his enthusiasm and stuff like that was good. He has a great plan in place for me and for all of our guys here to win a lot of games so it’s going to be good.”
McCullar says he plans on being a leader at KU with the likes of Wilson and junior point guard Dajuan Harris.
“Every team I’ve been on I’ve kind of sat in that leadership role,” McCullar said. “We (he, Wilson, Harris) have been in college for a while now. We know the ins and outs of the Big 12. You know every night is going to be a battle. Just helping the younger guys come along as well. Just helping them get adjusted and make winning plays.”
KU freshman Gradey Dick said he’s already had several valuable conversations with McCullar.
“I love Kevin. The whole team is close but he’s one of the closest I’ve been with since I’ve been here (the past week for summer school session) because his room is right across from mine and plus we’re kind of the newer guys. He’s been a great mentor to me because he’s played at this level much longer,” Dick said Tuesday.
McCullar said bonding with players is one of the reasons he reported to summer school at KU.
“Just to get work in and start building that team chemistry,” he said, adding, “You know, I’m ready to work. I’m ready to get out here and learn from one of the best coaches ever — Coach Self.”
