KU Secures First Transfer Commitment from Utah’s Dawes
Kansas has landed its first transfer-portal commitment of the offseason. Utah forward Keanu Dawes will join the Jayhawks, agent Brandon Grier confirmed to Filmogaz.com on Thursday morning.
Player background and college career
Dawes was born in Salt Lake City and raised in Houston. He stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 225 pounds.
He began his collegiate career at Rice, starting 23 of 32 games as a freshman. That season he averaged 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per game.
He then transferred to Utah and spent two seasons with the Runnin’ Utes. Those years coincided with Utah’s first two seasons in the Big 12 and occurred under two different coaching staffs.
2025-26 season numbers
During the 2025-26 campaign, Dawes averaged 12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds. He recorded 10 double-doubles over the season.
He shot 54.6 percent from the field overall. Dawes attempted 3.2 three-pointers per game, converting 31.7 percent.
His production increased each collegiate season. In 2024-25 under Craig Smith, his field-goal percentage rose to 61.4 percent despite limited starts.
Notable performances
Dawes had a 22-point, 12-rebound showing in a loss at Kansas on Feb. 7. That game was one of his double-doubles that season.
He set his career-high with 23 points against BYU on Jan. 24. He has also grabbed as many as 15 rebounds in a game on two occasions.
Fit at Kansas
KU secures its first transfer-portal commitment with Utah’s Keanu Dawes as a veteran frontcourt option. He brings size, athleticism and interior scoring.
Dawes visited Kansas beginning on Tuesday. He had faced the Jayhawks earlier in the season and impressed in that meeting.
His addition bolsters a frontcourt that includes returners Kohl Rosario and Corbin Allen. He will join incoming freshmen Davion Adkins, Luke Barnett, Taylen Kinney and Trent Perry.
Other transfer targets and recent visitors
- Former Utah teammate Terrence Brown visited Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
- Kentucky’s late interest reportedly shifted after they landed Washington transfer guard Zoom Diallo.
- Other reported KU visitors included DeSean Goode (Robert Morris).
- Terrence Hill Jr. (VCU) also visited earlier in the week.
- Center Anton Bonke (Charlotte) made a recent stop on campus.
The commitment gives Kansas an experienced interior piece as the program builds its new roster. Filmogaz.com will follow further developments as KU continues to recruit in the transfer portal.
