Is Kansas' Hunter Dickinson eligible for 2025 NBA draft?
Kansas star center Hunter Dickinson continues to lead the program behind solid outings. His presence was a major reason the Jayhawks were ranked No. 1 on the AP preseason poll.
The 7-foot-1 center has helped Bill Self to open the 2024-25 behind a 7-0 record, defeating teams like the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils. Kansas holds the top spot in week five of college basketball, so let’s explore Dickinson’s potential to enter the NBA next season.
Is Hunter Dickinson eligible for the 2025 NBA draft?
Yes, Hunter Dickinson is eligible for the 2025 NBA draft. According to draft eligibility rules, a player must be at least 19 before he can declare for the draft. Dickinson turned 24 on Nov. 25.
Moreover, another criteria is that a player is automatically qualified to declare when he has fulfilled four years of college. Hunter Dickinson is in the middle of his super senior year. The center opted into his COVID eligibility this summer, allowing him to play a fifth year of college basketball.
Dickinson’s biggest assets are his post-production, length and ability to shoot the ball. However, holes in his defensive abilities and 3-point shooting have prevented his stock from making to the top.
It's a major reason why he wasn't mentioned among six centers in ESPN’s 2025 mock draft released in the second week of college basketball season. Bleacher Reports’ 2-round 2025 mock draft also didn't mention Dickinson. It had 10 players who can play the center position.
Hunter Dickinson opens up on his ejection against Duke
As Kansas and Duke Blue Devils battled in the Terry’s Chocolate Vegas Showdown on Nov. 26, Hunter Dickinson was handed a flagrant-2 in the middle of second half. While battling for a rebound, the center initiated contact with his foot to Maliq Brown’s face.
Hunter Dickinson addressed the incident on Monday. The center initially said that the referee’s decision to send him to locker room was too harsh. Nevertheless, he admitted being in the wrong, accepting the flagrant-2.
"I think the thing that probably got it a flagrant two was the slow (motion),” Dickinson said. "I feel like if you watched it in real time and just at normal speed, I feel like it was a flagrant one. I feel like a flagrant two needs to be a little bit more malicious intent for that to occur.
"But, I mean, I put myself in that position and the refs made the call. So, if you’re going to put yourself in that position you can’t really be too picky and choosy with it."
Desite not having their best player for nearly a quarter in the close game, Kansas defeated Cooper Flagg and Duke 75-72.