Hunter Dickinson’s big comeback to Kansas has been marred by an injury. But Jayhawks coach Bill Self is confident that before the season begins in earnest, the preseason AP All-American pick will be ready to go. Having aggravated his foot injury at the “Late Night in the Phog” event last Friday, he missed practice this Thursday and will also miss Friday’s charity exhibition against Arkansas.

But one of Kansas’ main ingredients, Dickinson is returning to college one last time to help his team before the NBA snatches him away. But who exactly is the 7-foot Jayhawks’ star?

Sports genes make Hunter Dickinson who he is today

Born to Kathy Ryan and Tim Dickinson on Nov. 25, 2000, Hunter Dickinson grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, with two brothers, Ben and Grant. His mom was a multi-sport athlete at the Immaculata Academy and later also played volleyball at Niagara University. Ryan also played on the Erie Community College’s nationally ranked team. His dad was similarly athletic in his college days and played baseball at Hilbert and Buffalo State, later pursuing a career in law enforcement.

No wonder Hunter grew up fond of sports, going to school in Maryland and helping the DeMatha Catholic High School capture their first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship since 2011. Dickinson was a senior then and was also named to the First Team All-WCAC. Averaging 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game as a junior, his numbers only got better as a senior with 18.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 blocks per game.

Part of the 2020 class, Dickinson was ranked as the second-best player from Maryland and first committed to Michigan. In his debut game against the Bowling Green, he scored 11 points with 8 rebounds with 73.3% shots taken from the floor. Later named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week when he recorded his first double-double in college, Dickinson only improved as a sophomore.

Averaging 18.6 points with 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per match, the center went on to score a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds as a junior in a game against Purdue. Hunter Dickinson also became the 57th Wolverine to record a career 1,000 points and then later shocked the basketball world by moving to Kansas.

In his first year with the Jayhawks, the 7-footer averaged 17.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game last year across 33 starts. It resulted in him being recognized as the preseason Big 12 Conference player of the year, and foregoing an NBA Draft, Hunter Dickinson has returned to the Sunflower State to make magic once again. No wonder NIL deals work in his favor!

Hunter Dickinson’s move to Kansas wasn’t as surprising when you consider his NIL numbers

For someone as high profile as Hunter Dickinson was at Michigan, one would expect him to be rolling in NIL deals. And yet, he revealed on the Roundball Podcast, a show he co-hosts with Barstool Sports’ Marty Mush and former Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon, that playing for the Wolverines wasn’t as lucrative as one might think.

“The people hating on me would leave their job right now for a $10,000 [a year] increase,” Dickinson said. “At Michigan, I got less than six figures for the year.” He went on to say that he still had love for his first school but Kansas was still the best option.

On3 now lists his NIL value at $2 million, with two of his biggest deals being with Keurig and Skims. Other brands Dickinson has collaborated with include Adidas, Cameo, Engage, Outback Steakhouse, and Minsky’s Pizza. With one of his biggest motivations for moving schools fulfilled, Dickinson is ready to play his last year better than ever before.

As coach Bill Self told ESPN last year in June, “He is the most prepared-to-produce player we’ve ever recruited. No one has ever arrived here better prepared to produce or receive accolades.” With his minor injury scare aside, Hunter Dickinson is ready to prove his NIL worth in full.