Hunter Dickinson transfer commitment improves Kansas' odds to win 2024 NCAA Tournament by 45 percent

The top-ranked college basketball transfer available on the market per sister site 247Sports was former Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson, a former Big Ten Freshman of the Year and two-time first-team all-league pick. This morning, he picked Kansas over Villanova, Maryland, Kentucky, Georgetown and Syracuse. The odds for Bill Self's Jayhawks to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament dropped from +1600 to +1100, with money flowing in on Kansas almost immediately.

The 7-foot-1 lefty Dickinson was the only Wolverine to play and start in all 34 games last season as a junior, leading Michigan in points (18.5) and rebounds (9.0) for a third straight season. Michigan had a hugely disappointing season despite his efforts, missing the NCAA Tournament thanks to a terrible loss to Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament. In 2021, Dickinson was named a second-team All-American and led Michigan to the Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.

In 94 games with the Wolverines overall, he averaged 17.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks and shot 57% from the field. He had the sixth-most double-doubles in program history and was the 31st Wolverine with more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Dickinson will be playing for a Hall-of-Fame coach in Self who has utilized big men well for his entire career.

So why wouldn't a player like Dickinson declare for the NBA Draft? Dickinson is not considered much of a pro prospect and might have gone undrafted. Thus, he will surely make more money at Kansas with name, image and likeness royalties than he would as a professional next season.

I'd expect an updated Top 25 And 1 rankings from CBS Sports' Gary Parrish following the Dickinson news. He had UConn at No. 1 in his latest update and Kansas at No. 7, but the Jayhawks absolutely will move up. Self also brings back Dajuan Harris, one of the nation's best point guards, and fellow starter K.J. Adams from last season's Big 12 championship team while adding a typically loaded recruiting class.

Self had already earned a big win on the transfer recruiting trail in landing Towson's Nick Timberlake. The 6-foot-4 guard was the leading scorer on a 21-12 team this past season, averaging 17.7 points per game on 45.5% shooting. Timberlake was a two-time first-team All-CAA pick. Kansas also remains in the mix for top-10 recruit Mackenzie Mgbako, who recently decommitted from Duke.

Kansas hasn't released its 2023-24 schedule yet but will face expected fellow preseason top 10 team Michigan State on Nov. 14 in Chicago at the Champions Classic and take on defending national champion UConn in the Big East-Big 12 Battle on Dec. 1 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Who wins the Kentucky Derby? And which massive longshot is a must back? Join SportsLine right now to get Jody Demling's Kentucky Derby picks and see which huge longshot contends, all from the expert who's nailed 10 Derby-Oaks doubles.