Transfer Player Spotlight: Riley Kugel (Kansas)
One of the most disappointing seasons in the SEC this past season belongs to Riley Kugel. He was a preseason first team all-SEC player but ended up taking a step back from his freshman year instead of the leap everyone was expecting. Kugel averaged just 9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists this season. This did not stop some of the top programs in the country including UConn, Houston, Kansas, and Arizona being interested in him in the transfer portal. Kugel eventually decided to commit to being a Jayhawk in hopes of Bill Self helping him reach his full potential. His ceiling is as high as almost anyone in the nation if it all clicks for him.
His offensive game showed great flashes in his freshman season but ultimately consistency has been the problem for Kugel. One of Kansas’s biggest problems last season was their lack of three-point shooting. Kansas’s system prioritizes high low concepts and the pick and roll rather than three-point shooting but in today’s game teams need to at least make a good percentage of their three which Kansas did not do. Kugel can provide some of that three-point shooting that Kansas needs. He only shot 31% from three last season but he shot 38% the year before. Kansas’s ball movement should allow him to get more open looks and have a percentage closer to his first-year total. That is the part of the offense that will determine his success at Kansas. The Jayhawks were the best passing team in the nation last season, but that is not Kugel’s skill set. He tends to force passes that he does not need too and does not look for others as much as he should. Especially in the pick and roll Kugel really is just looking for his own shot which is the opposite of Kansas’s philosophy. One of the signatures of Kansas’s offense is hitting the roller especially pocket passes in the short roll position. Kugel was not asked to do that in Florida’s system, so the question is can Kansas make Kugel a more complete offensive player. The other progression Kugel must make on offense is finishing around the rim and inside the three-point arc. He is very explosive and athletic but lacks truly great finishing around the rim. Which could take his game to the next level. If Kugel uses his athleticism more when he is finishing around the rim, he could have a monster season for Kansas.
While Riley Kugel has shown a lot of promise on offense, defense is where Kugel has a chance to really stand out. Kugel’s athleticism is what really stands out when you watch him on the defensive side of the ball. He made some incredible chase down blocks and his quickness really helps him in one-on-one defense. Probably the most impressive part about his defensive game though is his hands. He averaged over a steal a game this season and is very active with his hands. Kansas’s defense was of the worst groups their program has had in years. Bill Self would love to his defense back up to that elite level and Kugel can be an important part of that attempt. The one glaring issue in Kugel’s defense is his ability to fight through screens. He gets absolutely murdered on screens, especially off the ball which can create open shots. Teams are going to be just as physical in the Big 12 and Kugel has to learn how to deal with the physicality on screens to truly become the lock down defender he can be. The floor for Kugel is a good defender who can make threes on offense. However, if his offensive game rounds out to fit Kansas’s offense and he improves as finisher Kugel could live up to all the preseason hype he had coming into this past season.
