KU basketball’s Jalen Wilson shares experience at 2023 NBA Draft Combine

William Purnell/USA TODAY Sports

Now that the week-long 2023 NBA Draft Combine has concluded, the three Kansas Jayhawks who have entered their names in the June 22 showcase event are about to enter the final stage of the evaluation process.

That is … participating in individual workouts in the practice gyms of interested franchises that have picks in the two-round, 58-pick event in Brooklyn, New York. Philadelphia and Chicago each have forfeited a second-round pick because of past transgressions involving free agency.

“This is something I’ve been dreaming of my whole life. It’s not too far away,” former KU forward Jalen Wilson said of the actual draft. He was speaking Thursday during media availability at the combine at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

“I’m super excited to get to see some teams, get to working out and show different parts of my game that maybe they haven’t seen or maybe want to see more of, just to get to more competing,” added Wilson, a native of Denton, Texas who measured at 6-5 1/2 without shoes. He was listed 6-8 while wearing shoes at KU.

Wilson joined former KU teammates Kevin McCullar and Gradey Dick at the Combine. Currently, ESPN.com projects Dick will be selected No. 9 overall by Utah, Wilson No. 7 in the second round by Oklahoma City and McCullar No. 24 in the second round by Sacramento.

“It’s been great. It’s been an awesome process. It’s always great to compete, play at a high level with a lot of high-level guys,” Wilson said of taking part in 5-on-5 scrimmages in Chicago as well as individual drills and measurements. “It’s been fun. That’s the most important thing.

“I thought it was all great as far as meeting with teams, getting great feedback, learning a lot from different teams.”

Wilson — he turns 23 in November — spent four seasons at KU. He’s a bit older than some of the draft candidates. McCullar turns 23 in March; Dick turns 20 in November.

“Maturity … my experiences at Kansas have helped me out a lot,” said Wilson, the Big 12 Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American. “Obviously winning a national championship gives me a lot of different looks at the game as far as how to compete. We were down 15 and found a way to come back (in the 2022 title game). Just being able to be called a winner is something special and something I hold pride in. ... It’s definitely a blessing.”

Wilson averaged 20.1 points and 8.3 rebounds a game last season for the Big 12 regular-season champion Jayhawks. In KU’s 2021-22 NCAA title season, he averaged 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds. Wilson went from a 26.3% three-point shooter in 2021-22 to 33.7% this past campaign.

During the two 5-on-5 games at the Combine, he scored 12 points total on 2-of-12 shooting, 1-for-5 from three.

“Understanding what my team needed from me … coming back to school, coach (Bill Self) said that’s what I’d have to do for us to be successful,” Wilson said of picking up his scoring and rebounding and being a team leader. ‘I’m a guy that does anything to win. If Coach is asking me to score and be aggressive and lead the team, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I had fun with it (in college) and it was all a great experience.”

Kevin McCullar update

McCullar, who could return to play a second season — a super-senior season — at KU if he drops out of the draft by 11:59 p.m., May 31, spoke to 247sports.com about his current status after completion of the combine.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” the 6-6 guard told Isaac Trotter. “It’s been good for me here. Had my pro day. Kinda meeting with teams and gathering feedback. I’m doing what’s best for me.”

At KU’s postseason awards banquet, McCullar said: “I’m going through the NBA Draft process, see where that takes me. (I’m) leaving the door open (as far as possible return to college).

“It’s going to be fun,” he added of the pre-draft process, “going out, competing, working out and getting in front of people, getting some feedback.”

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