Portal kombat

Hello there! It’s good to back back after a week off for some R&R. It wasn’t really R&R — my son turned 11 and I spent most of the week under the weather — but hey, I wasn’t getting up early to edit or write the Daily. There was plenty to write about, too. Nobody else took any time off.

So let’s get to it.

1. Big returns, big additions for 2 blue bloods

Kansas and North Carolina already were viewed as Top 10 teams for next season. The last few days bolstered both squads.

But my favorite part was the symmetry as the programs returned a NPOY candidate and added a sharpshooter to the roster.

First, All-American guard RJ Davis announced last week that he’d return to Chapel Hill for a fifth season. The 6-foot senior averaged 21.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.5 apg and shot 39.8% from deep en route to ACC POY honors and a first-team AA nod. (This was just a day after sophomore guard Seth Trimble said he’d be back at UNC.)

Davis’ move wasn’t entirely unexpected, but still a welcome bit of news for Hubert Davis’ squad, as Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman discussed.

Also important was North Carolina’s Sunday night news: Belmont wing Cade Tyson will play for the Heels.

The 6-7 sophomore hit 46.5% of his 3-pointers this season, and averaged 16.2 ppg. He likely won’t reach that some production, but his ability to stretch a defense — he’s one of the five best shooters in the portal — will be crucial for a UNC squad that still has three open scholarships and needed a player who could knock down shots. (The Heels reportedly are the leaders for Kentucky forward Adou Thiero as well.)

While UNC stretched out its news over a few days, Kansas got it all in one massive dose on Friday.

Alabama sophomore Rylan Griffen committed to the Jayhawks on Friday morning, while a few hours later senior big man Hunter Dickinson responded passed on a video announcement this season in favor of a tweet signaling his return.

That gives Kansas not only its All-Big 12 center back for another season (the 7-2 center averaged 17.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg in his debut season with KU), but a player who can do what he could’ve used this season: a teammate who can consistently hit outside shots.

Griffen’s a 39.2% shooter beyond the arc (up from 30.1% as a freshman) and has the size (6-6) and skill to keep defenses from sagging on Dickinson.

"I chose Kansas because Coach [Bill] Self and the coaching staff are going to push me to be the best player I can be," Griffen told ESPN. "I think I fit in because they said they needed shooting. I think I can help them in that area. I think I can help them with perimeter defense and help get stops and help carry on the same winning culture they've always had."

That’s three confirmed transfers for Kansas as Griffen joins Zeke Mayo and AJ Storr as newcomers. (Florida guard Riley Kugel still hasn’t been announced for next year). The Jayhawks will earn plenty of attention as the No. 1 team. We’ll see how other contenders shape up as the portal starts to close.

2. Rosters taking shape after portal moves

KU and UNC weren’t the only ones busy over the last week. Here are the other notable additions over the last week or so.

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