The Kansas Jayhawks are hoping to defend their title after a National Championship run in 2021-22, and they just received a major boost to their chances at doing that. Star forward Jalen Wilson has announced his decision to return to the Jayhawks and withdraw from the 2022 NBA Draft, according to ESPN's NCAA insider Jeff Goodman.
BREAKING: Kansas forward Jalen Wilson will withdraw and return to KU for next season, source told @Stadium.
Huge news for the defending champions.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 1, 2022
Wilson will be one of two starters set to return to Lawrence after their National Championship in 2021-22, joining fellow returnee Dajuan Harris.
Last season as a redshirt sophomore, Wilson averaged 11.1 points per game for Kansas. He was the Jayhawks' third-leading scorer behind Ochai Agbaji (18.8) and Christian Braun (14.1). Additionally, Wilson led the Jayhawks with his 7.4 rebounds per game.
Article Continues BelowWilson was a solid shooter from within the arc, knocking down 56.9% of his 2-point opportunities. He struggled from deep, however, converting at a 26.3% clip from 3-point territory, averaging 3.1 attempts per game.
Heading into the pre-draft process, it was widely assumed that Wilson would return to school. However, he's seen his stock rise considerably, even earning a Combine invite. Despite that, Wilson made the decision to return to Kansas and get another year of experience under his belt. While he was an effective shooter during the pre-draft camp, his struggles from 3-point range at Kansas are difficult to ignore, and are certainly something he'll look to improve upon in his return to college ball.
The decision for Wilson to return to Kansas for another go-around was probably a wise one on the part of the 21-year-old, as he'll get the chance to be the first option on the Jayhawks' offense with Agbaji and Braun set for the draft (barring a late change of heart) and showcase his capabilities as a volume scorer in 2022-23.