Next recruit up



  • @Kcmatt7

    Can’t argue with any of what you posted. The issue is that if Romar gets fired and they can’t keep Porter, UW is even worse next season. Fultz is gone to the NBA, and if there’s no Porter, they have zero firepower either coming back or coming in.

    Washington is bad this season. If they fire Romar, they will be worse next year. If they keep him, they might be better next year. Like I say, if they keep him, they can just fire him next year. If they fire him now, they are basically punting on next season, too.



  • I saw Coach Roberts went and watched Duval last night along with two other 2018 PF prospects. Hopefully the coaches can pull the upset and get Duval away from Duke.



  • @chsguy2008 I suppose we go all on him now, right? I have been reading that he is a heavy lean to Duke but I honestly haven’t been following his recruitment one bit until yesterday.



  • @justanotherfan Yea I mean I see what you are saying. Money wise, it makes sense to keep Romar too. People will show up at the beginning of the year to watch Porter. Plus they would get 3 guys that are probably not OAD in the program. If you fire Romar after this year the odds of UW keeping those 3 good recruits is a lot higher than if you fire Romar now.

    Tough decision. Also depends on who is out there. Can you land a young guy looking for a P5 job that you will have for 10 years? If not I guess no harm in keeping Romar… UW fans really want Brandon Roy to be their next head coach. And, it really might not be a bad move. I’m just not sure he is actually ready for a big job like that.



  • @JayHawkFanToo

    It didn’t work but I know that’s the point and I absolutely agree. Romar shouldn’t have the job at Washington but I think we all know if he’s still there that it has everything to do with 1 recruit…



  • Some names coming to surface - -OR mentioned again : David Duke - - Trevon, Mark Smith, - - Keane, - - Jermaine Couisnard, - – OR they mentioned going the Juco route. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • No Duke players listed above josh or frank in the draft according to cbs. Just saying…



  • @jayballer54

    I feel confident we won’t be going to the Juco route. Spring time always brings out some options. I would take Smith if they targeted him and then find ourselves a grad transfer after the season ends.



  • @BeddieKU23 Yeah I agree with you. I would rather go the grad transfer route than JUCO route. Plus, with the grad transfer route Self can definitely sell PT to those 2018 guards.



  • @BeddieKU23 you could be right. - -I just saw these names throwed out by our little buddy Matt Scott, from the shiver. My Opinion of him has lessened a little over the last 12 months but hey everyone is human I reckon. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @Kcmatt7

    Just as important is the fact that if that class falls apart, they lose the other two Seattle guys (HS teammates Davis and Nowell). They can’t afford to lose Porter and two kids that grew up in Seattle. That would be a disaster for the program.

    I still think Romar gets fired next year, or the year after, but you can’t give away a once in a lifetime chance to turn the program around by getting Porter (and keeping a couple of local kids) in the fold.



  • Here in WA state, everyone feels that Romar is on the ropes! They’re not happy. He’ll be gone in a year or two if next season is a bust.



  • @justanotherfan said:

    @Kcmatt7

    Just as important is the fact that if that class falls apart, they lose the other two Seattle guys (HS teammates Davis and Nowell). They can’t afford to lose Porter and two kids that grew up in Seattle. That would be a disaster for the program.

    I still think Romar gets fired next year, or the year after, but you can’t give away a once in a lifetime chance to turn the program around by getting Porter (and keeping a couple of local kids) in the fold.

    We offered Davis as well…



  • @Kcmatt7 Sorry, I’m behind, but who is Blake Harris? - I mean ya he plays at Washington, but is he someone we had recruited before of - -just askin. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer54 said:

    @Kcmatt7 Sorry, I’m behind, but who is Blake Harris? - I mean ya he plays at Washington, but is he someone we had recruited before of - -just askin. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

    Hes apart of Washington’s recruiting class. He’s from NC and having seen him play i think he’s a bit underrated. We have not recruited him to my knowledge but if there is a change at Washington maybe he looks around and I’m hoping that KU would look at him



  • @Hawk8086 No I don’t think he has - I was kind of being a little smart you know what when I said that lol, another successful Coach for K-State. - man their boards are going off the charts though about possible hires - -Brad Underwood, Greg Marshall, Archie Marshal , Doug Gotleib they are ready for squeaky to go. - -Local radio sports talk show was saying at Wednsday’s game talk about ya it was a 6:00 start but the octagon was dead place not full only 80-85 % of student section was there – They said it was almost like they didn’t care if they made the tourney or not, like if we do we do - more interested in getting Bruce OUT - - EOCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY





  • @BeddieKU23 Oh, ok cool thanks for the help - -I knew I could count on someone filling me in thanks - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • I don’t think they will fire Romar after this season, - -I think they will give him a little more rope see how he does with this class that’s coming in next year, then if he stinks it up - more then likely - -ya - -EOCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer54 Romar has had a lot of OAD’s over the past few year, probably 3rd most behind UK and Duke and UW has consistently been bottom half of the PAC 12. There’s no reason to bring him back because there’s enough evidence to Romar will fail again. UW is 9-17 this year with a guy who will be a top 3 pick this year and possible #1 overall pick in Fultz. Romar has veen washed up for awhile now.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 Dam, guess I’m having a brain fade - -forgot about Fultz, just getting old lol - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • Mark Smith soaring up the rankings. #78 on Rivals now. Big time late riser. Bulky for a guard but smart and crafty. Players like this are good program glue guys. I’d love to see the staff offer before Duval declares but that seems unlikely.



  • @DanR I was literally thinking the same thing



  • Might end up being too late to offer Smith, as he is picking up more B1G offers.



  • anyone see duval’s blog post., SMH at this kid. Comments about Kansas not shouting his name at the game but Duke did. Yippeeee that fans didn’t bend over backwards for you when the game was more important



  • @BeddieKU23 said:

    anyone see duval’s blog post., SMH at this kid. Comments about Kansas not shouting his name at the game but Duke did. Yippeeee that fans didn’t bend over backwards for you when the game was more important

    Yeah, staff should be off of him but they really want an elite guard. He is more likely to go to Seton Hall than KU imo.



  • @BShark

    Oh yeah there’s no risk chasing him because that’s what he wants. That’s what he and his father have always wanted. He’s a great talent but I’ve always believed he doesn’t have the type of character Self wants from a OAD. I just don’t think he cares where he goes as long as it showcases his game



  • @BeddieKU23

    Agree. I just hope going after him doesn’t hurt the pursuit of other, more realistic late guard signees.



  • @BShark

    It probably does have an impact. Mark Smith is a perfect example of that. He’s a big PG, more combo guard in certain situations. Unless KU picks up on him I see him going with a team that has prioritized him. We clearly need 2 more ball handlers for next season unless there’s a miracle and Devonte returns



  • Graham is around 40 in several mocks. If he goes off during the next 3-4 weeks he could play himself into the first round—POSSIBLY. But I still think there is better than 50% odds that he comes back to Kansas.

    What would be terrible would be to lose both Svi and Graham.

    That would leave Malik Newman and Vick and Cunliffe to carry the load.



  • @Blown And the freshman Garrett.

    I’d hate to see more KU players leave early for the D-league. Sucks



  • @dylans thanks, could not recall if Garrett was coming in this year, or next year. We can hope he has the ability to step in and make an immediate impact.



  • @Blown

    Yupp that is why the stakes were so going after high the last PG target.

    I know Devonte hasn’t said publicly he’s going pro but there was plenty of smoke from around the program that he was. And it seemed to be backed further when Self’s main goal for the entire recruiting cycle was to get a top point guard.

    He struck out on Thornton who transferred from Duke-USC, Sexton -Alabama, Troy Brown-Oregon. We also tried unsuccessfully to get involved with Quade Green- Kentucky, Matt Coleman- Texas, Tremont Waters- Georgetown, Nick Weatherspoon- Miss St, Deajon Davis- Washington. That’s 9 PG/Combo Guards in the top 50 that KU has not landed for one reason or another. All of them besides the OU kid decided before Frank Mason blew up and had such a great season.

    What we can hope is that his season has a great impact on the 2018 kids like Dotson, Grimes & Lewis that the staff has already targeted…

    That would leave Malik Newman and Vick and Cunliffe to carry the load.

    Newman being the only hope of being a ball-handler/facilitator. Garrett would get some major PT at that point as well.

    It’s clear Self will get guards if Devonte does leave. We just don’t know what will be available when Devonte makes that decision. And we will have no clue what level of impact those guards will be at.



  • @BeddieKU23

    I have to think prospects knew that Mason would be a 4 year player and the big question was really Devonte and to a lesser extent Malik. I would guess prospects thought they would have to play behind Devonte and Malik and perhaps that lead them to a different school…we still don’t know what Devonte will do and I am sure it is affecting recruiting. KU spent, or maybe we can now say wasted, a lot of time on Young and I would have thought KU was the logical place but then, maybe he knows Devonte is coming back and that swayed his decision. Time will tell…



  • @JayHawkFanToo

    Good point, the uncertainty surrounding what Graham is doing definitely affected these top kids decisions. They all want to start immediately and not play behind someone.

    It just blows my mind that if kids really payed attention to KU’s offense this year we are playing 5 guards big minutes. If your good enough you will play.

    In the scenario where Graham/Newman/Vick/Svi/Cunliffe are all on the team next year that would be unattractive to a top player who doesn’t want to fight/compete for minutes.



  • @BeddieKU23 said:

    @Blown

    Yupp that is why the stakes were so going after high the last PG target.

    I know Devonte hasn’t said publicly he’s going pro but there was plenty of smoke from around the program that he was. And it seemed to be backed further when Self’s main goal for the entire recruiting cycle was to get a top point guard.

    He struck out on Thornton who transferred from Duke-USC, Sexton -Alabama, Troy Brown-Oregon. We also tried unsuccessfully to get involved with Quade Green- Kentucky, Matt Coleman- Texas, Tremont Waters- Georgetown, Nick Weatherspoon- Miss St, Deajon Davis- Washington. That’s 9 PG/Combo Guards in the top 50 that KU has not landed for one reason or another. All of them besides the OU kid decided before Frank Mason blew up and had such a great season.

    What we can hope is that his season has a great impact on the 2018 kids like Dotson, Grimes & Lewis that the staff has already targeted…

    That would leave Malik Newman and Vick and Cunliffe to carry the load.

    Newman being the only hope of being a ball-handler/facilitator. Garrett would get some major PT at that point as well.

    It’s clear Self will get guards if Devonte does leave. We just don’t know what will be available when Devonte makes that decision. And we will have no clue what level of impact those guards will be at.

    I wouldn’t classify Brown any more of a possible PG than Garrett. Don’t think he belongs mentioned with those others. Also fwiw I believe that Thornton/Newman as well as Garrett/Brown were pretty much either/ors for the staff. Of course there was no assurance that we get Brown anyway (Nike was an issue), which is why the staff taking Garrett was smart. But anyway, both struggle to shoot. Though Garrett is improving more in this regard. Brown is a complete non-shooter. From what I’ve seen his stroke looks good, it just does not go in consistently.

    Jmo on the rest here.

    Sexton - clear miss, to a shitty program. KU was involved early. This one stings. Green - no mutual interest, can’t be helped. Coleman - Tricky one. No 100% sure of KU’s interest. He was waiting for the Duke offer that never came. So if KU presses early they probably don’t get a commit anyway. Maybe he picks KU late over Texas. Hindsight says maybe go this route but recruiting Coleman could have hurt with other targets. Tremont Waters - Like Coleman maybe if KU is more serious they land him. Nick Weatherrspoon - Don’t think he was interested in KU. Davis - no idea actually, didn’t follow his recruitment at all but listing his name for completion sake.



  • @BShark

    I was just basically listing any guard that KU was either recruiting or interested in at one point. I could have added Chaundee Brown, while not a PG was another huge miss for the staff. And then to think that for all OAD SF’s we’ve gotten how many were scared away by Svi’s position on the team. I mean we are talking about 10-20 guards/wings that avoided coming to KU so far because these kids couldn’t be guaranteed a starting spot next year.

    Obviously KU has done well getting Newman & Cunliffe, prolific scorers.

    Preston if eligible is one of the most intriguing talents we’ve ever landed.

    Garrett is a sure-fire fan favorite while he’s here and I still feel he’ll have the ball in his hand at times. I see a lot of people taking Ryan’s word that he’ll be recruited to play the wing because he’s saying so when he’s never seen him play a single game!

    Crazy that our insiders don’t even know our own players coming in. I can’t take that kind of un-knowledgeable opinion serious. He’s saying the same thing about Mark Smith who without a doubt is playing the PG position and doing a heck of a job playing it this year. That’s how he’s gotten all the way into the top 100.

    I’m sure Self will find us a DITR as you’ve mentioned.



  • I just looked through a handful of mock drafts and I don’t see Devonte on any of them. What am I missing? Is Devonte planning to go the Wayne Selden route of going to the NBA without knowing whether or not his name is going to be called on draft night?

    These are real questions, not sarcasm. I truly don’t understand why guys leave early when they may be floating around the NBDL for a few years. B Mac, T Rob, Wiggins, Oubre, Josh Jackson…I 100% get it. You are literally going to be a millionaire over night. Go get paid while you can. This is your one chance in life but for Selden last year and Devonte this year I don’t really get why you test the waters.



  • @joeloveshawks

    Your right but we don’t know what kids are thinking these days. Devonte is old for his class, might want to start his career regardless of how the season ends. There have been rumors that he told the staff he was planning to leave. None of that has substantiated but I believe those rumors started floating sometime after he ended last season on a high note, he performed well at Summer Camps and started receiving buzz from the media. Then you had Self out in full force recruiting top ranked point guards since last season ended. Just seems like there has been some writing on the wall…



  • @BeddieKU23

    Agree Chaundee was a tough miss but then the staff landed Cunliffe so it’s not as big of a deal. I feel Chaundee fit Self’s old rigid system much better as a wing, and Cunliffe doesn’t have great basketball skills yet. But with the ways Self has been coaching lately, I feel like he can get good output from Cunliffe. I am not sure Cunliffe wants to do it, but he is an intriguing small ball 4 option.

    You are pretty much right Graham and Svi being up in the air has hurt recruiting. We think they are gone, which leaves the very thin line-up of Newman, Vick, Garrett and then Cunliffe at semester. If they are both back however, that’s 6 guards and there isn’t room for much more pt if any. That said with the way the staff is gunning for a PG, they sure are recruiting like Graham is gonzo.

    Preston intrigues me. The talent is there for sure. Funny how things could work out, I doubt he ends up committing to KU if Ayton goes as planned. While Ayton is a great talent I think 2 years of Preston might end up being better (two years is a stretch here but the 2018 draft class is a lot weaker so maybe it works out).

    Garrett imo will never be THE pg but he will definitely handle the ball some.

    Of course Smith is a PG, what else is he? LOL. He is an unconventional PG I suppose though, in that his body type is bulky. Decent shooter and good bbiq though.

    Once Duval is out of the picture (in my mind he should be already but we know how the staff operates) I’d love to see them press for Smith. Smith’s 247 page was updated recently. He has a lot of good offers.

    Another interesting guard is Jermaine Couisnard. Can absolutely shoot it and score it. Now, he would definitely instigate a freak out if he committed. No profile I could find on Rivals, Scout or ESPN. Not many highlights of him out there.

    @joeloveshawks

    If he goes, it’s likely he ends up in the dleague or Europe. His clock to get paid is ticking and it’s not like another year assures he gets drafted in the NBA, so I do understand if he goes.



  • @BShark Who cares if he doesn’t want to play the 4. He can’t transfer again for 2 years. Put him at the 4 and space the floor. At least next season.



  • @BShark Also, Devonte should definitely get his degree. I’m just saying, with that baby face he could get into broadcasting and do it for a long long time…



  • Other than being able to be called to the League on a moments notices, not much advantage to the D League since the guys that get called are the ones that are already under contract and are sent there to get some playing time, like Diallo. The salaries suck, the accommodations are marginal and the locations not desirable.

    At KU he gets to live in style, has access to great facilities and coaching. top competition and exposure he can only dream in the D League…plus he gets to complete his degree, something that might serve him well the rest of his life.



  • @joeloveshawks Devonte is the # 40 pick - - - -going to Houston from Portland according to Draft Express. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @BShark

    If we target Couisnard we should be freaking out. Not someone I would look at athletically or trying to figure out how he would figure in playing for next years team. If he’s a signee just to fill the roster I’m still not happy with it.

    Your right we softened losing on Brown by getting Cunliffe. Cunliffe if he puts it together has a great chance to fit into the role Svi is currently having. Cunliffe is a better athlete but must mature.

    Yeah Smith is a big type of PG, reminds of Marcus Smart in body type or De’Andre Kane of ISU a few years ago. Those big types can be very very effective. Garrett is very long and lanky and is the same way, can handle the ball but on height alone is probably a better natural fit playing SG/SF…

    Preston is going to be one of those players that shows tremendous flashes with plenty of freshman moments. I just don’t think you teach effort in 1 off-season. He’s going to be a work in progress in that way but if he fits into the team and becomes a team player he’ll remind us why he’s a top 20 player more often then not. 6’10 kids who can shoot and handle the ball like him just don’t grow on trees.



  • @BeddieKU23

    I would assume to fill out the roster and yeah, athletically he is not a guy that historically sees play under Self. Lucas wasn’t either though…but this is another level (or two) down from Lucas. I’d much rather land Smith of course.

    Let’s just hope Cunliffe turns out better for KU than previous kids from his HS have in Lawrence…

    I have no doubts Preston will drive us and Self nuts, but then yeah he will do something ridiculous in a good way.



  • @JayHawkFanToo Everything you say makes sense and points to why a player should go back to school…but I think sometimes these guys are just tired of being a student and want to make money playing bball…if not the NBA…overseas is the backup plan.



  • @jayballer54 I had not seen that one. Thanks for sharing. I hope for his sake that a pick like that is close to reality.



  • Kansas is going “all out” for 5 star #1 PG Trevon Duval. Also heavily pursuing 5 star SG M.J. Walker



  • @Statmachine said:

    Kansas is going “all out” for 5 star #1 PG Trevon Duval. Also heavily pursuing 5 star SG M.J. Walker

    Not getting either one.