Gradey Dick discusses 2023 NBA Draft and KU basketball barnstorming tour in Wichita
Wichita native Gradey Dick will soon turn his attention to preparing for the 2023 NBA Draft, which he is projected as a potential lottery pick.
But the 6-foot-8 sharpshooter is looking forward to one final memory as a Kansas men’s basketball player, as Dick and 13 of his teammates from this past season are set to kick off a three-day, three-city tour around the state for KU’s annual barnstorming tour.
The tour kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Dodge City Community College, then shifts to Wichita for a 3 p.m. stop at Friends University on Saturday before finishing up with a 2 p.m. show at Pittsburg State on Sunday. Tickets begin at $20 for general admission, but reserved seating ($100) or VIP ($150) tickets are required for access to player autographs.
“A lot of guys are doing their own thing right now, so this is kind of like our last time where our team is actually going to be all together,” Dick said. “We had a really special group this year, so I’m excited to get back with them. We’re excited to get out there and interact with fans and tour the state. I think everybody still being on board with it shows how important community is to Jayhawks. We’re all one big family here.”
KU stars like Dick, Jalen Wilson, Dajuan Harris, Kevin McCullar and K.J. Adams are all scheduled to be in attendance for the event hosted by Mass St. Collective and G1 Sports. KU finished this past season with a 28-8 record, which included a Big 12 regular season championship and a second-round exit in the NCAA tournament.
Because of the new NCAA rules that allow current players to profit off their name, images and likeness, Mass St. Collective is able to sign players to NIL contracts that allow for the players to earn money generated from the barnstorming tour. Instead of graduating seniors being the only ones able to participate, now every KU player is eligible to appear.
Dick declared for the NBA Draft two weeks ago, a decision he said wasn’t a difficult one after discussing it with his parents.
“It was a no-brainer for me and my family to make that next step,” said Dick, who averaged 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds and made 40.3% of his three-pointers. “But at the same time, it’s always tough when you spend your whole life wanting to play for your dream college. It was just a huge blessing that I was able to do this for a year and play for a legendary coach like Bill Self. I just decided that for me, personally, in my basketball career, I needed to take that next step.”
While Dick is looking forward to all three stops on the barnstorming tour, he is particularly excited about interacting with fans in Wichita. The event will feature players answering questions from fans and also competing in skills competitions with fans and sponsors.
Dick began his high school career at Wichita Collegiate School and developed into a McDonald’s All-American and the national Gatorade Player of the Year at Sunrise Christian Academy.
“My biggest thing has always been wanting to make everyone in Wichita proud,” Dick said. “I’ve grown up there my whole life and seeing how everyone there just wants the best for everyone, that motivates me to do the same. They were there for me, so I always want to do my best to be there for them.”
Dick said he is still in the process of determining where he is going to set up his training camp ahead of the NBA Combine. He expects to make that decision shortly after the barnstorming tour and then spend the next few months working out and training from there.
He has already pegged as one of the top prospects in the draft because of his combination of size and shooting ability. Dick said he is looking forward to showing NBA teams he is much more than just a sharpshooter at the combine, which is held May 16-18 in Chicago.
“I’m looking forward to going through this pre-draft process and for scouts to come watch me play in person and see my overall game,” Dick said. “I know my shooting is probably the first thing people talk about, but I want to show my versatility and other parts of my game. I can get to the rim, finish at tough angles and put the ball on the ground and show some ball-handling. I’m looking forward to just allowing my versatility to shine.”
This story was originally published April 13, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
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