[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Kevin McCullar Jr.
Frame: 6’5″, 205 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Kansas Jayhawks
2024 Draft Age: 23
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com

Offense

McCullar has shown improvement every season, and before his knee injury, he was having a career year as the focal point of the Jayhawks backcourt. His increased confidence in his catch-and-shoot game and overall offensive growth have made him one of the more well-rounded, NBA-ready players in this draft cycle. While he won’t immediately wow you on the stat sheet, McCullar can step into a rotation when called upon early and contribute.

His IQ and ability to find open spaces on the court will serve him well, as he is not a ball-dependent player. Most of the Jayhawks offense was built around motion and backdoor cutting from the wing positions. McCullar succeeded in these reads and threw down some thunderous dunks. When the backdoor cut isn’t there, and he has an open look from beyond the arc, his confidence has improved dramatically this year in shooting the three. Though he hit only 33 percent, he connected on 39 threes over a 26-game period.

In the long term, McCullar projects to be that prototypical 3-and-D wing teams now covet. He does an above-average job connecting his teammates (4.1 assists per game) and is willing to take on the challenge of different positions when the team needs it. His coachability is another major factor teams have taken note of and valued. His shooting splits also showed promise at 45 percent from the field, 33 from long range and 80 percent from the free throw line. McCullar is a great positional rebounder who gets putbacks or allows the team to find second-chance scoring opportunities.

Defense

McCullar will earn his money on the defensive side of the ball in the long term. He can defend three positions solidly, using his strength and length to disrupt passing lanes (1.5 steals per game). Though McCullar has been foul-prone, if he can reduce those whistles, he will have an even greater chance to shine defensively. It will be interesting to see if his injury hampered his ability, as he was one of the nation’s best perimeter defenders before going down.

McCullar takes pride in his defense, and his efforts never cease. His motor is constant and he makes his assignments work for a shot. Earlier in the year, he held potential lottery selection Dalton Knecht to sub-25 percent shooting from the floor and only 13 points. His footwork and quickness allow him to fight through screens and body up the offense when needed. McCullar is also a very solid 205 pounds and knows how to use his strength to absorb contact when bigger players are attempting to screen him out of action and free up their teammates.

Using his IQ and recognition, McCullar is a solid weak-side shot blocker. He’s an intelligent defender who frequently makes the right reads and fights through contact and screens to ensure he is where he needs to be. This led to McCullar’s recognition on the Big 12 All-Defense.

Looking Ahead

As the league continues to trend towards versatile, two-way players, McCullar will undoubtedly hear his name called somewhere in the late first or early second round. As his budding offensive game grows, he will fulfill that 3-and-D role on a roster.

McCullar’s game is similar to Mario Elie, known for his defense and toughness; Elie was a superb role player in his era. If McCullar can have that mentality and keep his body in shape, he may be the one who helps a franchise reach great heights. His defensive acumen already translates to the NBA level, and his slashing ability offensively will make defenders play him a bit more honestly so he can continue to bring up his three-point shooting percentages.