Yesterday, Kansas head coach Bill Self sat down with the media to address a variety of topics. One of his more overlooked comments, however, came when he reflected on past national champions.
“I’ll tell you this—teams that win now, I guarantee you they’ve got somebody on their roster who ends up doing something no one expected. Look at Connecticut last year. We were battling with them for Nicolas Timberlake. We got him, and they took Cam Spencer. I mean, that kind of stuff happens all the time in our business. Sometimes it’s just good luck—or bad luck. I just hope we get a little lucky.”
In that quote, Self wasn’t criticizing Timberlake—far from it. Instead, he was highlighting the unpredictable nature of the transfer portal and how success sometimes hinges on the unexpected. As Self recalled, Kansas landed Timberlake, while UConn pivoted and brought in Cam Spencer, who went on to average 14 points on 48% shooting during the Huskies’ 2024 national title run.
It’s a reminder that, in today’s game, winning a championship often involves more than just planning—it takes a little fortune too.
So, which of Kansas’ incoming transfers could be the surprise contributor next season?
Truthfully, it might be any of the three. Jayden Dawson, Tre White, and Melvin Council Jr. each bring a different skill set to Lawrence.
Council, a 6’4” guard, attacks the rim with control and can stop on a dime for smooth pull-up jumpers. Dawson, meanwhile, is a dynamic shooter who knocked down over 40% of his threes last season. Then there’s White, whose journey through USC, Louisville, and Illinois has armed him with a deep understanding of the game.
“People talk about how he’s been at a few different schools,” Self said of White. “But the positive is that he’s been coached in three different systems by three different guys. That’s raised his IQ. He’s a really bright player—and a really good basketball player. He’s been a very pleasant surprise.”
Dawson’s shooting could have the biggest immediate impact on the box score, but Council’s ability to get to the rim and White’s veteran presence could prove equally valuable over the course of the season. If all three hit their stride, Kansas might just find the kind of unexpected spark that Self knows makes all the difference.
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