Jalen Wilson, Kevin McCullar Jr. treasured spending this KU basketball season together

Jordan Guskey, Topeka Capital-Journal

March 18, 2023 at 10:08 PM·4 min read

DES MOINES, Iowa — When Kevin McCullar Jr. decided to enter the transfer portal last year, he didn’t know what to expect.

McCullar had just spent his first four years as a college basketball player at Texas Tech. He didn’t know what would happen next. He didn’t know how things would be after he chose his new home.

But fast forward to Saturday, and McCullar had nothing but positive things to say about choosing to spend his last year in college playing for the Kansas Jayhawks. Speaking in the locker room after 1-seed Kansas’ 72-71, season-ending loss in the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament against 8-seed Arkansas, he rattled off his appreciation for head coach Bill Self, the coaching staff, his teammates and the fans. And the fact that he was able to spend this season playing alongside Jalen Wilson, someone he cares so much about, made it that much more special.

“That’s my brother for life,” said McCullar, a redshirt senior guard. “I’m just thankful to be able to — just thankful to play my last year with him.”

Wilson, a redshirt junior forward, added: “It was everything, man. Kevin is my brother. When we talked about coming to school together, obviously we had more and better expectations than this, but he’s great, man. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves for what he does for this team. He took us to an entirely different level and he’s everything that I needed. … And I love him.”

Kansas' Jalen Wilson drives to the basket against Arkansas' Nick Smith Jr. during a NCAA tournament game Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Without McCullar and Wilson, this season may not have seen the Jayhawks (28-8) enjoy the success they did. The road to the Big 12 Conference regular season championship they won becomes that much more difficult. The same goes for their ability to reach the Big 12 tournament title game and have a chance in the NCAA tournament to go to another Sweet 16.

McCullar fit what Self and company needed. He was a defensive weapon to pair along with redshirt junior guard Dajuan Harris Jr. who also gave the Jayhawks another scoring option. On a team that skewed so much younger than last year’s national championship squad, his veteran presence was vital.

Wilson was the leader, started every game possible and became just the 11th Kansas player ever to score at least 700 points in a season. With Ochai Agbaji and others moving on to the professional ranks after last season, someone needed to step and that’s exactly what Wilson did. The unanimous, first-team All-American put together a season that will ensure that one day he will see his jersey retired in Lawrence inside Allen Fieldhouse.

The two were critical in Kansas having a chance against Arkansas (22-13), even though the Jayhawks ultimately came up short. Wilson finished with 20 points, four rebounds and an assist. McCullar, who ended up fouling out late, finished with 13 points, five rebounds and a couple blocks.

“They’re studs,” Kansas assistant coach Norm Roberts said about McCullar and Wilson. “Those two guys, they’re always together and they really played off of each other really well. Kevin coming in and joining our family and just embracing everything, has really been terrific. So, Kevin gave everything he could today and we just came up a little short.”

Arkansas' Davonte Davis attempts a shot over Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. during a NCAA tournament game Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa.

McCullar settled on the experience as a whole, when asked if there were any memories the two made together this season that stand out above the rest. The two are roommates, he explained, so they’re always together on and off the court. And just because this season is over doesn’t mean they won’t see each other as they embark on their professional careers.

McCullar and Wilson are both potential NBA draft picks. They are both in the pool of players who could end up participating in this summer’s NBA combine. And that all means they could see a lot of each other as they embark on the next stages of their lives, too.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Jalen Wilson, Kevin McCullar Jr. treasured playing at Kansas together

USA TODAY
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote, paving way for election
Germany is expected to hold a snap election in February next year. Political turmoil at the heart of Europe is also taking place in France.
Associated Press
Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace
A strained relationship with family, for example, can make this time of year pretty lonely. The holidays are expensive, and financial woes can cause major stress. Anxiety about holiday anything can fuel depression and worsen existing mental health concerns.
Reuters
Women held as sex slaves in Sudan's South Kordofan, Human Rights Watch says
Women from Sudan's South Kordofan state have been repeatedly raped and some held as sex slaves by fighters from the warring Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, Human Rights Watch said in a report published on Monday. The RSF did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has regularly denied accusations of systematic abuses during a 20-month-old war with Sudan's army that has devastated the country and displaced more than 12 million people.
AFP
SoftBank CEO set to announce $100 bn US investment
The head of Japan's SoftBank is set to announce plans on Monday to invest $100 billion in the United States over the next four years, a spokesperson for US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team told AFP. SoftBank's billionaire chief executive Masayoshi Son and Trump are expected to jointly announce the planned investment at the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida later in the day, according to US media reports.The announcement from Son, 67, would be around double the amoun
Associated Press
Syria's ousted leader Bashar Assad says he wanted to keep fighting but Russians evacuated him
Ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad said in a statement Monday he wanted to stay in the country after rebels captured the capital Damascus a week ago, but the Russian military evacuated him from their base in western Syria after it came under attack. The comments are the first by Assad since he was overthrown by jihadi-led insurgent groups just over a week ago. Assad said in a statement on his Facebook page that he left Damascus on the morning of Dec. 8, hours after insurgents stormed the capital.
The Conversation
After wildfires, ranchers face 2-year delay to graze cattle on federal land – is it doing more harm than good?
That delay can tip ranchers’ finances into the red. While the land needs time to recover, studies raise questions about whether two years is really necessary.
USA TODAY
Rare tornado rips through shopping center in Scotts Valley, California: See video
"It was a miracle no one was killed in this event," Scotts Valley Vice Mayor Derek Timm said to a news station Sunday.
Politico
New York City mayor’s campaign denied millions in public matching funds
The decision deals a body blow to the beleaguered mayor’s reelection effort.
Reuters
Cameroon's Biya warns of disaster for Central Africa financial stability
Cameroon's President Paul Biya warned on Monday of "disastrous consequences" for the countries of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa if urgent action is not taken to address their deteriorating net external reserves. Between them, they have struggled to emerge from the impact of the COVID pandemic and other external global shocks, leaving them short of foreign exchange or other assets to cover import bills and debt repayments.
CNN
Supreme Court bats away bribery appeal from former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin
The Supreme Court declined Monday to review federal bribery charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, a Democrat who resigned two years ago after prosecutors said he sought campaign contributions in exchange for a state grant.
Reuters
US hits North Korea and Russia with new sanctions, Treasury says
The United States hit North Korea and Russia on Monday with new sanctions that the Treasury Department said targeted Pyongyang's financial activities and military support to Moscow. The sanctions, which list North Korean banks, generals and other officials as well as Russian oil shipping companies, are the latest U.S. measure aimed at disrupting North Korea's support to Russia's war in Ukraine. The North Korean banks targeted include Golden Triangle Bank and Korea Mandal Credit Bank, the Treasury Department said in a statement.
Reuters
Putin says large number of volunteers is turning the tide of Ukraine war in Russia's favour
President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the large number of men signing up for the Russian military voluntarily was turning the tide of the Ukraine war in Moscow's favour and said he hoped his army would keep advancing. Putin, who said Russian forces had pushed the Ukrainian army out of nearly 200 settlements this year and held the initiative along the entire frontline, made the comments in a speech at the Defence Ministry at a time when his army is advancing at the fastest pace since 2022, according to open source maps. "I would like to point out at once that the past year was a landmark year in achieving the goals of the special military operation (in Ukraine)," Putin told top generals.
AFP
Israeli strikes leave Syrian ammo dump a smoking ruin
A Syrian bunker complex outside the port of Tartus was ablaze and rocked by explosions Monday just hours after what a war monitor and locals said was an intense wave of Israeli air strikes.- Tunnel bunkers - The Observatory said: "Israel is continuing its intensification of air strikes on Syrian territory, including to completely destroy tunnels under the mountains".
Time
How to Make Being Single During the Holidays Actually Fun
Your singledom gives you freedom to celebrate the holiday season however you want to, writes Myisha Battle.
CNN
Palestinian grandfather whose tribute to slain granddaughter went viral is killed by Israeli fire in Gaza
A Palestinian grandfather in Gaza whose tribute to his slain granddaughter went viral last year was killed by Israeli fire on Monday, his family and a hospital said.
Reuters
Canadian finance minister's resignation letter to PM Trudeau
Canada's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland unexpectedly resigned on Monday, saying she was no longer on the same page with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the best path forward for Canada. Following is the full text of her resignation letter. It has been the honour of my life to serve in government, working for Canada and Canadians.
AFP
EU sanctions Chinese firms, N. Korea minister over Ukraine war
The EU on Monday for the first time imposed fully-fledged sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on Chinese firms for supplying Russia's military for the war on Ukraine.But until now the bloc has imposed bans on European firms doing business with the Chinese companies -- rather than the tougher sanctions now being applied.
AFP
Putin says troops have upper hand in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed his army's accelerating advance in Ukraine and praised 2024 as a "landmark" year in the course of Moscow's military offensive on its Western-backed neighbour. He said Russia's army had seized 189 Ukrainian settlements this year and called 2024 a "landmark year in the achievement of the goals of the special military operation", using Moscow's official language for its campaign.
CBS News
Huge Israeli strikes methodically destroy Syria's military infrastructure
Weapons of war accumulated by the toppled Assad regime over half of a century are being systemically obliterated by massive Israeli airstrikes.
USA TODAY
Supreme Court stays out of Peter Navarro's fight to keep emails from first Trump administration
Peter Navarro, a trade advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, does not want to give the National Archives all his work-related emails from the first Trump administration.

Latest Stories