For the Kansas basketball squad in 2023–24, 3-point shooting was a major problem. The Jayhawks’ field goal percentage was a pitiful 33.2%, which was the lowest since Kansas Bill Self was in charge. They also finished in the worst 10th percentile in the NCAA in terms of threes made per game (5.7).
This problem has been partly rectified by acquiring South Dakota State transfer and Lawrence native Zeke Mayo, a lifetime 38.8% 3-point shooter at the NCAA level. However, KU is losing about half of its production from long-range with Kevin McCullar graduating and Johnny Furphy presumably joining the draft.
Self has targeted guards who can shoot the ball since the season came to a close, and a recent player the Jayhawks contacted is the cream of the crop of 3-and-D wings. According to several sources, Kansas holds interest in the best 3-point shooter in the NCAA last year.
Kansas among many schools to target best 3-point shooter in the NCAA
Kansas is fending off premier programs such as Kentucky, UConn, and Duke for the talents of Dayton transfer Koby Brea. The 6-foot-6, 175-pound guard led the NCAA in 3-point shooting last season, connecting on an astounding 49.8% of his attempts from downtown. No other player came close to him in that category.
Despite starting four of the Flyers’ 33 games and averaging 29.1 minutes per contest, Brea managed to sink 100 of his 201 3-pointers while posting averages of 11.1 points and 3.8 rebounds. His jump shot has limitless range, and he shot an otherworldly 55% on threes from the corner.
He entered the portal as a graduate transfer, and many schools are interested in him. Kansas continues to close in on commitments from guards Rylan Griffen and AJ Storr, but Brea might be someone to add to that list sooner or later.
It goes without saying that very few, if any, players can shoot the ball as well as Brea. The sharpshooting wing, who is a New York native, is a player Jayhawk fans should monitor. He would flourish as a role player off the bench for KU.
