NBA Draft: Kevin McCullar Withdraws from Draft, Will Return to Kansas

Kansas standout Kevin McCullar announced on Wednesday that he would be withdrawing from the 2023 NBA Draft and returning to Kansas for his sixth and final season.

Heralded as one of the best defenders in the draft, McCullar will return to a Jayhawk squad that should have a solid claim to the preseason No. 1 ranking.

In his fourth year, and first with Kansas, McCullar averaged 10.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.7 blocks per game.

At 6-foot-6, McCullar has a good physical profile than should immediately translate to the NBA. Defensively he’ll be able to disrupt, use his quick hands and coordination to guard even the most potent of scorers.

Offensively in the league, McCullar lacks true on-ball skills, so will need to rely on cutting and spot-up shooting to thrive. If he can hone those skills in his final collegiate season, he could be a valuable wing down the line.

The biggest improvement points for McCullar in heading back to college will be his overall efficiency and 3-point shooting, both of which would make him even more of an immediate contributor should he opt to enter next year.

He’s been extremely consistent in his shooting throughout his college career, hovering from 28 to 31 percent in each season. If he could raise that to a respectable number, he’d be a much more potent addition to an NBA team.

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