Kansas/Oklahoma January 13th Scouting Report

WHO: Kansas University vs. Oklahoma University

WHEN: January 13th, 2024 -- Lawrence, Kansas

RESULT: Kansas 78-66

I've been meaning to check out Kevin McCullar -- a 5th-year senior who's soared up boards compared to last year's cycle. Oklahoma offered a nice test with a few prospects more in the 2025/2026 discussions -- specifically Otega Oweh and Milos Uzan.

Kevin McCullar

• 21 points (5-12 shooting, 1-5 from 3, 10-11 from the free throw line), 4 assists (1 turnover), 4 rebounds, 1 steals, 2 fouls in 39 minutes

Offense: Evaluators will point to his shooting. He struggled shooting in this game, but his mechanics are fine and repeatable. Kansas has entrusted him with a lot of on-ball responsibilities, allowing him to show how comfortable with the ball in his hands. He runs with the offense with good pace -- controlling the flow of the offense, especially in transition. With his size (6'7"), he can see reads over the top of defenders. Inside the arc, he's a smart baseline cutter, and he seeks out mismatches in the post -- parlaying his physicality into trips to the free throw line.

Defense: McCullar defends like a cornerback -- covering so much space on the floor and imposing his presence at any level of the floor. He keeps his arms out and active, while moving his feet quickly, to ensure he can close lanes for the opposing offense. His screen navigation is so good, as he recovers on his man instead of crashing on the screen. His awareness is sharp, as he's a timely help defender that can protect the rim from the weak-side or jump into passing lanes to generate turnovers. With how he crashes the glass, he's also a grab-and-go weapon that could ignite transition offense.

What I'm monitoring: How a jumper will shape his NBA role. I'm buying McCullar being a good rotation player at the next level. At 6'7" with a 6'9" wingspan, he's a versatile defender capable of covering positions 1-4 -- while serving as a chaos agent with his point-of-attack defense and event creation. Offensively, he's complementary player that can handle pinches of playmaking and find scoring opportunities when cutting or attacking closeouts. His jumper is the swing factor for his ceiling -- he's currently shooting a career-best 36.8% on 4.3 attempts per game, and 41.8% on catch-and-shoot 3's, per Synergy Sports. If it translates, he can step in and immediately become a two-way wing that makes winning plays on both sides of the ball.

Other Notes

• Milos Uzan. I came away impressed with Uzan's cadence -- though his handle is a bit loose, he probes downhill with "jail" dribbles to bide time for the look he wants. He makes solid reads as an initiator as well. Defensively, his screen navigation technique is sound, weaving around off-ball screens to recover on his man.

• Otega Oweh: Oweh's shooting form is kind of strange, and his free throw mechanics aren't encouraging for progression. May need a bit of an overhaul there. His finishing around the rim is really crafty -- capable of getting to the tin efficiently in multiple angles. Defensively, he possesses good size, and his help is pretty sharp. Showed in this game, he's a grab-and-go rebounder that can make plays for himself or his teammates in transition.

• Hunter Dickinson: Dickinson is pretty restricted to within 12 feet out. He's a post-heavy big man with a soft touch around the rim. He imposes his will defensively with his size, accumulating 5 blocks. I wonder what he can do with more space. Kansas rarely uses him in delay actions, but his passing sizes are pretty sweet, and his size is ideal for screening. He's slow-footed and defends with a high stance, so I don't know how he'd do defending at the level. Nonetheless, players of his archetype have received G League -- even 2-way -- looks even in today's NBA. Dickinson should see similar opportunities.

• KJ Adams: Adams has good tools. He leverages his physicality on both ends of the floor to absorb contact. His verticality contesting the rim is sound. He has good chemistry with Dickinson as a playmaker. However, he's a rather limited creator and a non-shooter, emulating more of a traditional 4.

• Javian McCollum: McCollum is your classic undersized, score-first college point guard. He's a shifty, quick-trigger scorer -- capable of slithering his way downhill, or into off-the-dribble 3's. He's a bit turnover prone as a lead initiator. Defensively, he's a relative non-factor who has to be hidden away more often than not.