Kevin McCullar to declare for 2023 NBA Draft

Kansas star Kevin McCullar plans to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft, he said Thursday. He just wrapped up his first season with the Jayhawks.

It sounds like he’s just testing the waters, according to 247sports’ Michael Swain, and plans to head to New Jersey to start training.

“We’ll see where it takes me,” McCullar said.

McCullar transferred to Kansas from Texas Tech and was one of the anchors of the Jayhawks’ defense this year. He was named to the Big 12 All-Defense Team after averaging 2.0 steals per game, second on the team only to Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Dajuan Harris. He was also a big part of the offense, averaging 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Kansas head coach Bill Self discussed McCullar’s future on Wednesday, confirming he plans to test the draft waters and see what happens.

“There’s no question Kevin McCullar could help himself by staying,” Self said, via the Kansas City Star’s Shreyas Laddha. “I think in his mind he was a five-year guy. For him to come back, it makes it his sixth year. I’ve talked with Kev and he knows. I’ve talked to his mother and father and they know. I’ve talked to people close in his camp, they know.

“Kevin will make the decision when the time is right, but he’s certainly going to go through the process and see what they say.”

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.

The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.