Next recruit up



  • 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.



  • gotta love the all out references. Like are they sitting outside his house?



  • @BeddieKU23 said:

    gotta love the all out references. Like are they sitting outside his house?

    😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭

    Dying.



  • @BShark Well never say never, but I have to agree well with Duval, our chances of getting him are like California having a blizzard in the valley in the middle of July. I don’t know very much on the MJ Walker so I can’t say. I only know well at least everything I’ve read and heard Duval is all in on Duke.- -He is taking his Arizona visit this weekend , don’t know why? - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer54

    Walker’s recruitment has been a very strange one for a 5 star. Many believe he won’t leave the south. Also I know we and heck even I am weary about Scott after how he handled the Young situation but he said that Cunliffe took Walker’s potential spot.



  • @BeddieKU23 you didn’t know that lol? - - Norm has sit his mobile travel trailor right outside his house, changed his mailing address. you know I’m just messin around, seriously I’m sure they are giving it all they have, just seems like kind of senseless at this point - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • Bill Self instead of coaching tonight’s game against TCU has taken a red-eye flight to IMG Academy where a reporter spotted him camping in a tent outside of 5 star recruit Trevon Duval room. When approached about why he was letting assistant coaches Townsend, Roberts and Howard coach tonight’s game he calmly responded " we need a dang point guard for next year". You have it, the “all out”



  • @BeddieKU23

    I can imagine “Snacks” sitting in his car in front of Duval’s home. stake out style, with a gigantic box of candy on the passenger seat watching the pounds pile up



  • @BShark If I were any good at photoshop I would put Coach Self and Snacks faces on this pic! LOL AAA.jpg



  • @Statmachine

    That’s great!



  • @mayjay said:

    @JayHawkFanToo I assume your body fat is about 2% and you eat kale for a snack?

    Why not just point at him and say, “Hey! Look at Fattie!”?

    This constant barage of ridicule by “fans” here against a KU assistant coach is disgraceful. Even if you haven’t personally been the one perpetuating it, why throw this crap into a thread that is about his job?

    All bow to the board policeman aka Lord Mayjay, always Mr. Holier than Thou. Its gotten to the point where these gross overreactions to poster’s comments are way worse than the original comment itself. Anybody else getting really tired of this?



  • @RockkChalkk Yes, asking people to be polite is worse than insults. I apologize if I ruin your day by hoping for civility.



  • @Statmachine

    Now that’s funny.

    Question for anyone: If there is a miracle and Self gets Duval to come to KU is it the most talented starting line-up he has had? Projecting a line-up of Duval, Newman, Vick, Preston, Doke.



  • @mayjay

    Chill dude…

    You do know his nickname is “snacks” right? You do know why, right? Excuse me for being politically incorrect.



  • @JayHawkFanToo I have asked before, with no one answering, if that was his actual nickname or if it is only used here on this board. If it is real, I said I would withdraw my objection.

    A google search shows a 2013 article referring to his players at UI giving him the nickname. I apologize and am deleting my comment.



  • @mayjay

    No problem…it is Hump day and we are all pumped up in anticipation to clinching #13… 😃



  • @JayHawkFanToo Yeah, I was also just sensitive about being told by Doc to eat kale…it is a scary thought. Sorry again.



  • @mayjay

    I was told the same thing and starting March 1st I am going on a diet with a 20 pound weight loss as the target. I am trying to enjoy my last few days of care-free eating.



  • @mayjay oh, not sure what kale is - -but doesn’t sound like something I would like to eat ROCK CAHLK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer54 Think of it as a combination of the most tasteless leafy green you ever ate with the texture of shedded reptile skin.



  • Kale is delicious in this soup! I don’t think you will lose weight but its Kale

    http://www.food.com/recipe/olive-garden-copycat-zuppa-toscana-38298 AAA.jpg



  • I highly recommend making this soup if you have never tried it! Its SOOOOOOO good!



  • @mayjay Oh HELL NO ewwwwww, - -LOL – ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @Statmachine

    I will vouch for that…but the way they prepare it you will probably not lose any weight.



  • Darien Jackson of Overland Park committed to Tulsa



  • @BeddieKU23

    Weird. Did KSU pass on him or did he pass on KSU…



  • @BShark

    Wouldn’t be surprised if he turned them down. Uncertainty at coach, Stokes only a Soph and they have 3 other young guards coming in next year. Maybe wanted to get out of state. It’s a good fit for him, he wasn’t KU material but he’ll do okay there



  • @BeddieKU23

    He probably wasn’t, but we might end up with worse at the end of the bench (if it gets filled).



  • @BShark

    You could be right. Was he ever on our radar? Sometimes Self just processes the local talents when they don’t meet certain criteria. He loves athletic guards and Jackson is not one of those.



  • It’s been quiet on the recruiting scoop lately.

    Duval went to Arizona over the weekend, Baylor tonight. His father seems to be high on KU after their visit from his interview. Can take that with a grain of salt…