By Michael Swain, 247Sports.com
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas basketball’s Ernest Udeh Jr. has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, he announced on Thursday morning. His departure means KU will only return two scholarship players from last year’s KU team. Udeh departs after his freshman season with the program and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Udeh saw his playing time fluctuate during his freshman season at KU but he finished the year as KU’s first big man off the bench. He started the season as KU’s first big man off the bench but things shifted when KU traveled to Battle 4 Atlantis. Udeh didn’t play against Wisconsin and only played double digit minutes once in between the Thanksgiving tournament and late January. But when he returned to the rotation, he held his place through the end of the season.
In the end, Udeh averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in 8.3 minutes per game.
Udeh was a McDonald’s All American coming out of Dr. Phillips in Orlando. He picked the Jayhawks over 20 other programs that offered him a scholarship. He was the No. 7-ranked center in the 2022 class per the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports staff.
Coming out of high school, 247Sports compared Udeh’s skill set to that of Thomas Bryant. He received the following scouting report.
“Has a tremendous physique at 6-10, including a 7-2 wing span. Is a quality athlete for a center, plays with energy and runs rim to rim. Excels at snatching and finishing lob passes. Is also a dangerous offensive rebounder with his pursuit of positioning and good hands. Not a polished offensive player. Has limited shooting range. Tends to play upright and needs to refine his footwork. Does have a go-to right handed jump hook. Not a ball handler and is mechanical in his passing but tends to make the correct read. Is a quality rim protector on defense. Is engaged on that end. Controls space as a rebounder.”
