'Time to move on': Former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson transfers to Kansas

As soon as Hunter Dickinson’s name appeared in the NCAA transfer portal, his phone was ringing off the hook.

Dickinson, the 7-foot-1 center who led Michigan in scoring and rebounding the past three seasons, was being contacted by coaches across the nation, from Hall of Famers at blueblood programs to colleges who weren’t heavily involved in his recruitment coming out of DeMatha Catholic.

“The whole process has been really crazy. It’s like high school all over again,” Dickinson said in early April on a Barstool Sports podcast that he co-hosts. “Just endless calls and endless coaches reaching out. … Definitely a lot of stress. It’s been overwhelming.”

After taking a handful of visits over the past few weeks, all the speculation and social media guessing came to an end Thursday when Dickinson announced he’s heading to Kansas to play for coach Bill Self.

Since entering the transfer portal on March 31 — and becoming arguably the most accomplished player to do so — Dickinson traveled to some of college basketball’s most historic programs. The Alexandria, Virginia, native took unofficial visits to Georgetown and Maryland, a pair of schools that are close to home, and official visits to Kansas, Kentucky and Villanova.

"Kansas was really cool. Just going to there and Kentucky, it's just so different than being at Michigan, because at Michigan obviously everything is focused around football,” Dickinson said of his visit on the "Roundball" podcast this week. “But walking by the facilities and stuff, just how much basketball is so dominant there. And it was really just cool to see in the facilities, the dorms. Then talking with Coach Self for a while and meeting the staff, meeting two of the players, it was real cool. And then going to (Allen Fieldhouse). The fieldhouse was crazy. It just looks like it's going to be loud as hell in there."

Dickinson has been one of the top players in the Big Ten and best centers in the country over the past three seasons. As a freshman, he helped lead Michigan to a Big Ten regular-season title, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a trip to the Elite Eight. He earned consensus second-team All-American honors and was an All-Big Ten first-team selection after averaging 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, while shooting a career-best 59.8% from the field.

During his sophomore season, he averaged a career-high 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds to power Michigan to the Sweet 16. This past season as a junior, he earned All-Big Ten first-team honors for a second time after putting up 18.5 points and nine rebounds, while shooting a career-high 42.1% from 3-point range on 57 attempts.

However, Dickinson hasn’t made public what he's looking for in a program and why he left the Wolverines (he hasn’t responded to multiple messages from The Detroit News). He had been quiet throughout his recruitment and explained on the "Roundball" podcast this week how difficult the decision-making process has been.

"If I knew where I was going, I would have happily made the decision sooner," Dickinson said. "I really am struggling trying to pick a school. The good thing about all this is, all my options, I feel like if I went there, I would succeed. But it's just trying to figure out which one out of them is the best and the one I'm most comfortable at."

He posted a farewell message to Michigan on Wednesday night, thanking the coaching staff, his former teammates and fans while ruling out a return to Ann Arbor. He started the social media post by saying entering the portal was “the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

“The thought of potentially leaving the place I love and called home for three years, was and is extraordinarily difficult to process. After conversations with my family and a lot of time in thought, I realized entering the portal was the best decision for myself and my future,” Dickinson wrote in the post. “I’ve grown and learned so much in my three years at Michigan, and if I could do it all over again out of high school there is not doubt in my mind I would make the same choice. That being said, it’s time for me to move on.

“After I get my degree in the summer, I will always think of myself as a Michigan man. I know the decision to transfer came as a shock, and I hope that with time you can come to understand why I chose to do it.”

It’s safe to say it had nothing to do with playing time or his role, given Dickinson started 89 of 94 games with the Wolverines and averaged 17.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in 30.6 minutes for his career. Name, Image and Likeness earnings and contending for a national title in 2023-24, on the other hand, were likely factors.

Dickinson has been critical of Michigan’s NIL efforts in the past and could be looking to go to a program where he can maximize his NIL opportunities. Then there’s this past season’s results — an 18-16 record and no NCAA Tournament — and how the Wolverines’ roster was shaping up for next season. With Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin and Joey Baker all pursuing pro careers, Dickinson was looking at headlining a returning cast that was rather lackluster.

Dickinson, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, will leave Michigan ranked in the top 15 in program history in career double-doubles (31; sixth), rebounds (787; ninth) and points (1,617; 12^th) and as one of eight Wolverines to record at least 1,500 points and 750 rebounds.

jhawkins@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @jamesbhawkins