By Jack Ritter
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Phog.net) – Five former Kansas Basketball players just wrapped up their 10-day stints in the NBA Summer League, with two Jayhawks playing particularly well given their opportunities. Following the end of the 2024-25 NCAA season, KU had a small handful of players graduate and pursue professional opportunities.
However, as the 2025 NBA Draft came and went in late June, KU saw none of its players go drafted for the first time this decade. As a result, players were able to ink deals with teams as undrafted free agents or agree to play for a Summer League team. Hunter Dickinson signed a two-way deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, while Zeke Mayo and Dajuan Harris agreed to play for the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets Summer League squads, respectively.
The trio of 2025 KU seniors joined two KU draft picks with more professional experience, Indiana Pacer Johnny Furphy and New York Knick Kevin McCullar, both of whom played and progressed well in the Summer League.
JOHNNY FURPHY — INDIANA PACERS
Furphy played in his second Summer League to date this offseason, with three solid performances under his belt and one viral moment. His athletic dunk over the Chicago Bulls’ Noa Essengue was one of the most-watched moments from the NBA Summer League. On the play, Furphy took a rebound from the opposing baseline, made a behind-the-back dribble to get past his man and rose up in the paint for a dunk that made the entire Pacers bench rise out of their seats.
The slam came in Furphy’s final game in Summer League play, which proved to be his best outing. He finished with 15 points (5 of 9 shooting, 1 of 3 from 3), two assists, two steals and two blocks. The 30-minute performance capped off a three-game run in which Furphy averaged 11.3 points on 52% shooting, 1.0 3s per game (25% shooting), 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game.
As a rookie, Furphy appeared in 50 games last season in the Pacers’ runner-up campaign. He averaged just 7.8 minutes per contest last season, as he continues to develop his body for professional play. Of KU’s five Summer League players, Furphy is the youngest by two years, and it will take some time to acclimate to the league.
KEVIN MCCULLAR — NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks saw enough of McCullar in just two games in the Summer League — but in a good way. The 2024 draft pick led the Knicks in average scoring after his 13 and 30-point outings. His second game, McCullar shot the ball at a 67% clip, going 10 of 15 from the field and 1 of 5 from deep. In the game, McCullar showed off something KU fans are familiar with in his own game: getting to the line. McCullar drew several fouls, and went 9 of 10 at the charity stripe. He also recorded four rebounds, two steals, one assist and eight fouls in the game.
McCullar is poised for what could be his first full season of play since KU’s 2022-23 season. He missed time during the Knicks’ 2024-25 season while recovering from injuries that took place in the closing months of the Jayhawks’ 2023-24 season. McCullar spent most of the last year playing in the NBA G League, while also appearing in four Knicks games, three just before the end of the season.
HUNTER DICKINSON — NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
Dickinson was the lone Jayhawk to ink a deal with a team following the 2025 NBA Draft. He will look to compete as a two-way player in 2025-26, bouncing between the New Orleans Pelicans and their G League affiliate team. He appeared in the most games in the Summer League of any KU alum, playing about 17 minutes per outing in four contests.
Like McCullar and Furphy, Dickinson closed his Summer League games with his best performance coming last. In 18 minutes, Dickinson scored 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. It was a well-rounded game for Dickinson, which followed scoring performances of 8, 2 and 5 points.
ZEKE MAYO — WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Mayo has a busy summer schedule. He finished up with the Wizards — playing in two games — before heading home to play in the 2025 TBT for KU’s alumni team, JHX. Mayo struggled to produce during his few opportunities on the floor. He attempted just one field goal across both games in addition to two-game totals of just two rebounds, two steals and one assist.
As Mayo plays for the JHX squad, it’s currently unknown what other professional opportunities he will pursue.
DAJUAN HARRIS —CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Like Mayo, Harris also struggled to attempt more than one basket across two games in the Summer League. He played in less than eight minutes over the two contests, recording one rebound, one assist and one block.
Harris’ Hornets team did win the Summer League title on Sunday night.
Right now, Harris’ next steps are unclear.
