Former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson was the highest-profile player in the transfer portal this year, and he embraced it all the way until the end.
After delaying his announcement earlier in the week, Dickinson finally revealed in a cinematic video Thursday that he will join Kansas next season. The decision isn’t much of a surprise, with Kansas known to have been a prime contender for Dickinson along with Kentucky and Maryland, but the movie-style announcement video is something to behold.
The video, tweeted by Dickinson, begins with the former Wolverines big man receiving a call with the person on the other end saying, “What’s the hold up? You got players, coaches… you got the whole world waiting.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s time,” Dickinson responds.
— Hunter Dickinson (@H_Dickinson24) May 4, 2023
The rest of the video follows Dickinson on his journey to tell Kansas coach Bill Self his decision, with sentimental music playing over his walk from the parking lot into his meeting with a thrilled Self.
The music continues playing over a graphic that shows Dickinson wearing a photoshopped Kansas jersey.
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Fans had mixed reactions to the over-produced video, which ended a recruitment period that lasted more than a month.
That Hunter Dickinson announcement is awkward. Empty ballroom with Bill Self waiting? I’m sure that was candid, Self just wondering who was going to walk in, would it be a yes or a no?!? The suspense saved the video. Also Kansas is loaded.
— Aaron Matas (@AaronMatas) May 4, 2023
Cringe level red. https://t.co/xB2fKS2FJB
— Tony Patelis (@TonyPatelis) May 4, 2023
— 𝕋𝔸🧢 (@TDA3397) May 4, 2023
Lmao this man really thinks he’s lebron 😭
— Uncle Don (@DS23__) May 4, 2023
As far as announcements go, Dickinson’s certainly counts as unique. He didn’t just announce the decision in a video, he acted out a full scene in what amounts to a short film. Dickinson’s decision was originally expected on Tuesday but was delayed two days, and we might now know why.
Dickinson averaged more than 18 points per game in each of his last two seasons, so Kansas is getting one of the nation’s premier big men once the dust settles.