Rylan Griffen, a transfer guard from Alabama, has finalized his decision to join the Kansas Jayhawks for the upcoming college basketball season. According to a report by Joe Tipton of On, Griffen will be under the tutelage of coach Bill Self at Kansas.
Griffen played a pivotal role in Alabama’s remarkable Final Four run this past season, starting in every available game and contributing an average of 11.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Notably, he maintained a shooting accuracy of around 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Having spent two seasons at Alabama, Griffen was part of the esteemed 2022 recruiting class alongside NBA Draft picks Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney. He gained experience as a reserve during Alabama’s successful 2023 campaign, which saw the team clinch the SEC regular-season title, the SEC Tournament championship, and advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Rylan Griffen #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the second half against the Clemson Tigers in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Crypto.com Arena on March 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Griffen’s addition further strengthens an already impressive roster for Kansas, which includes notable transfers such as Zeke Mayo from South Dakota State and Riley Kugel from Florida. With two years of eligibility remaining, Griffen is poised to make significant contributions to the Jayhawks’ program.
Griffen is among six Alabama players who have entered the transfer portal since the conclusion of the season. Alabama, in turn, has secured commitments from transfers such as Houston Mallette from Pepperdine, Chris Youngblood from South Florida, and Aden Holloway from Auburn. With two vacant roster spots, Alabama aims to reinforce its lineup with both guard and rim protector acquisitions as it awaits NBA Draft decisions from players like Mark Sears and Grant Nelson.
