Bill RE: Next Season



  • @drgnslayr

    Agreed. Once the demon of expectations was released, and he has just been allowed to work at getting better a little all the time, his young age has become time on his side, instead of time in his face. And he has gradually improved and the Ukrainean Cranium is soaking up the game like a sponge and the Steve Austin body rebuilding is slowly becoming more and more natural to him. It was hard for me to let go of that skinny, floppy, Pete Maravich kind of player he seemed to arrive as, but I have to say that if he can just find the gun sight he left somewhere around the Crimean, that this guy could with incremental progress become a real force still!





  • So Vanderbilt popped for UK the other day. This makes 3 post commits for them.

    Adebayo will be drafted and Willis is a SR. That leaves approximately 1 million post players still on their roster. I am thinking someone will transfer. Wynyard is the most likely candidate. 6’10’’ 250 pound beast buried on their bench. I could see it being Gabriel as well. Humphries seems like a program back-up big for them but he is only playing 11 minutes a game. 5 star Killeya-Jones is buried on their bench as well. If it happens, I’d bet KU would inquire about any of them.



  • @BShark

    Gabriel isn’t going anywhere in my opinion. He just needs time to develop, when he puts it all together he will be a tantalizing hybrid forward type. Look for him to be a monster next year.

    I agree on Wynyard and I think Humphries is a transfer candidate as well. I think Cal would rather role with his 3 freshman + Jones & Gabriel. Funny that they have stockpiled bigs when they are likely to lose their entire backcourt again



  • @BeddieKU23

    I like Gabriel too, I was just thinking since Cal is bringing in two other hybrid forwards then maybe. I think they’d be crazy to do it, maybe Gabriel can play the 3 for them next year.

    And yeah they only have for sure on the roster next year: Green, Alexander. Now I don’t think Briscoe should go pro but reports are he wants to. Doesn’t look like they will get Hami and I still believe Duke gets Knox (who is a wing and not a guard anyway). Really interesting situation. Will Cal have to comb to JUCO and/or grad tranfer ranks? Not sure what else he can do, maybe get Quickley to reclassify? You just can’t roll out there with only two actual guards.



  • @BShark

    Good points! Gabriel is certainly versatile to guard multiple positions so there is some chance he could be a long 3, especially if his jump-shot was falling consistently. I’m thinking either Washington or Vanderbilt will be a 3 because they both are so athletic and can play inside/out.

    I don’t think Cal is nearly done recruiting. New names will emerge, some kids will back out of commitments after coaching changes etc. KU and UK will most likely be after any hot name that emerges this spring.



  • Sima ended up at Oklahoma St…

    Also Cunliffe visits Georgetown before his KU visit. And reportedly Seattle is involved, can’t imagine really in it… Hopefully he don’t commit to Georgetown before his visit



  • @BeddieKU23 said:

    I don’t think Cal is nearly done recruiting. New names will emerge, some kids will back out of commitments after coaching changes etc. KU and UK will most likely be after any hot name that emerges this spring.

    Fair. There are always decommits.

    @BeddieKU23 said:

    Sima ended up at Oklahoma St…

    Also Cunliffe visits Georgetown before his KU visit. And reportedly Seattle is involved, can’t imagine really in it… Hopefully he don’t commit to Georgetown before his visit

    Nice, more talent in the B12.

    We know Georgetown will sell the kid hard. With KU on the table though, hopefully he will at least visit KU first.

    Seattle would only be if he REALLY wanted to be back at home you’d think. Maybe just a courtesy to be mentioned but who knows. Not a ton of options considering wherever he goes has to have an open scholarship and he can’t really shoot (you can succeed with a non-shooter or two in college and considering his athleticism I think he would be a good pick-up in spite of this).



  • @BShark Agreed. At this point it seems like Bragg may need to come back to KU next season, especially if KU doesnt do well in March.

    My impression of Preston is almost a Point Forward. Im no scout but from what Ive seen, the kid has handles like a guard. Bragg, Doke and Preston next season in the post!? Yes please!



  • Former Georgetown forward Isaac Copeland, an AAU and prep school teammate of Kansas guard Devonté Graham, has Kansas on his list of possible transfer destinations.

    Copeland, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound junior who recently announced plans to leave the Big East school, has a list of KU, Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Illinois, North Carolina State, Nebraska, Texas, and UConn, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports and fanragsports.com.

    Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article123048329.html#storylink=cpy



  • Would take. He was solid for them last year and with a year off for more development would be a nice part of a post rotation at KU. Get Copeland and Cunliffe and that’s more nice talent on the bench.

    Lol at the article mentioning Naz Reid. Though, I’d love to get him. Just not happening.



  • @BShark

    If given a choice between Copeland and Cunliffe, it’s Cunliffe. Copeland coming off back surgery I would look elsewhere.



  • Vip article up on 247 about Cunliffe visit. Um yeah, probably gonna pick KU.



  • “No more visits.” “Decision in no more than 3 days.”

    Lol



  • @BShark My manager buddy just texted me and said that it sounded like Cunliffe is coming



  • Copeland ended up at Nebraska



  • @BeddieKU23

    Didn’t seem like KU was too interested. I wonder who Self will go after.



  • Chris Smith is reclassifying to 2017. Will announce his officials soon. KU has been involved.





  • @BShark Athletic and has a good looking stroke. Wouldn’t be upset



  • @Kcmatt7 who is he? Sorry



  • @Crimsonorblue22 I had a heck of a time finding him. He is a wing from Ft. Worth, TX I believe.

    Seems to be off the grid and not on AAU circuit like some of these other guys. Chris Smith is also one of the probably top 10 most common names on Earth so he was hard to find just in general…

    Bet he ends up at UK. Been there twice. Most recently January 3rd.

    Wouldn’t make sense to me to get another wing commit right after the Cunfliffe news. Not one that is reclassifying.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 @Kcmatt7

    Yeah I should have posted his 247 profile. Would be a good get.

    UK has a lot of wings already for next year (Diallo (committed after Smith’s visit), Vanderbilt plus PJ Washington is a combo forward and Gabriel might still be around), not sure who is driving this reclassification. You would think it’s a bigger school but UK and KU both signed a wing recently.



  • @BShark

    Diallo is there for only 3-4 months and then gone. I wonder how it is going to affect team chemistry at UK…



  • @JayHawkFanToo I think their entry and exit turnstiles are spinning so much it shouldn’t affect anything.



  • @JayHawkFanToo

    Did he come out and say that? I haven’t really been paying much attention to the situation since KU wasn’t in it.



  • Norm was watching Trae Young tonight.



  • @BShark I haven’t seen that



  • @BShark

    His HS class graduated last year and he was doing post HS work and becomes elegible for the draft at the end of the season. The only question was whether he was going to enroll somewhere to play the second half of the season or wait for the draft; I guess he chose the first.



  • @JayHawkFanToo

    The rumours had been he was going to work out/not play this semester and play next year in college.

    @Crimsonorblue22 said:

    @BShark I haven’t seen that

    I’d say the staff wants him just a little bit. 😄





  • @BShark

    was going to post about him, you beat me to the punch. He visited for the KU/UK game unofficially last year. Has an offer. From the same school as Andrew Wiggins. I have a feeling we have a good chance with him.



  • @BShark

    2018 kid if I remember correctly right? That is Elliott



  • @BeddieKU23 said:

    @BShark

    2018 kid if I remember correctly right? That is Elliott

    2017 originally. Planning to do a prep year but I would bet if KU wants him in the fold now he would go back to 2017.



  • @BShark

    Interesting, can’t say I like him more then Smith or Fitzgerald at this point. Then again Smith is the only one out there with an offer so this visit could be nothing or the start of something



  • @BeddieKU23

    Probably still have to fill two scholarships in addition to Trae (if we land Trae).

    I hope we get Smith for sure. Lots of potential.



  • @BShark

    We land Smith and Trae, great class if all the pieces get to campus. Just getting Trae is hitting the lottery in my opinion. I admit I’m higher on Trae then some might be, I just expect him to be a really good player at KU if he does sign here. I don’t think we’ve seen Self invest as much time into one player as he has with this one. It helps that he’s close enough to get too on off-game days but when a whole staff follows one player for over a year it means something.

    I expect we will try and sign close to the max scholarships this year if we lose what is expected after this year. Can’t see us going into next year with 10 players like we did this year. Some seasons it can work like 2012, this season may be another example if no other injuries pop up.



  • Trae could be Steph good in time. Jmo.

    And I agree any good finish to this class starts with landing Trae.



  • @BShark

    Agree with the Steph comparison. His shooting is unreal at this stage. He doesn’t have the ideal size or athletic ability but I think he makes up for it with his shooting and basketball IQ. Has a chance to be one of the best College Players in time. Hudy might be the most important person in his life going forward. Can see her doing wonders with him



  • @JayHawkFanToo Diallo came out and said he plans to redshirt the rest of this season and then play next year.

    He isn’t draft ready. He would be a borderline 1st round pick and could fall to the 2nd in a deep draft class.

    Diallo can’t shoot. NBA wants to see him shoot before they just take him. Plus next year is a weaker class. He would do better to wait one more year and show he can shoot at least 30% from 3 at UK.



  • @BShark Yea I don’t know how him reclassifying factors into all of this. But UK is losing a ton. There will be minutes to be had for them next season. If Briscoe leaves (and I think he does) then they only have 3 perimeter players for next season. So a reach like this for next seasons class would seam to be a last resort move by Cal.



  • @Kcmatt7

    This is what I thought thanks for confirming.

    And yep, def needs to work on his shot. He will def be better served by being with college coaches to work on that compared to HS.



  • @Kcmatt7 said:

    @BShark Yea I don’t know how him reclassifying factors into all of this. But UK is losing a ton. There will be minutes to be had for them next season. If Briscoe leaves (and I think he does) then they only have 3 perimeter players for next season. So a reach like this for next seasons class would seam to be a last resort move by Cal.

    It’s crazy the amount of studs Cal has signed up but he is still struggling to complete a guard rotation. They might have to play really big with Vanderbilt as a wing. If UK suddenly offers soon I think they have to be considered the favourite.



  • Anyone hear anything on Andre Rafus? He just named us in his final 3 on his twitter a couple days ago. He has an offer. I just don’t know if he has a conditional one or what.



  • @Kcmatt7

    Might not qualify, has basketball skill problems. I hope Self isn’t in a position where he offers. I believe he claims a KU offer that he does not have.



  • @BShark Idk. Verbal commits website shows an offer… Usually is right.



  • @Kcmatt7

    Going off of what I’ve read from people that know a lot more than me (mainly Matt Scott and Ryan Noel/Bham).



  • @BShark The more I watch the more it wouldn’t be a horrible get. He has a decent stroke and is really long. He could be a force on defense in a couple of years.



  • @Kcmatt7

    Okay long term college player if he qualifies, Chris Smith is a lot better if KU can get him.

    Fwiw CB trending back to 100% TCU.



  • @BShark Yea I mean you are probably right that it is more the player recruiting KU than KU recruiting the player.


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