Crootin Thread III, Wherein Some Players Probably Commit to KU



  • Blake Harris ended up at Mizzou. I take back anything nice I said about the kid for that decision



  • Duke insiders have started to mention Duke with Devon Dotson. They think he’s moved up their board… It’s still likely that Duke is going to land Tre Jones (Tyus lil brother) and Garland so it may be nothing more then talk, but the recent talk of Dotson on their board is gaining more traction. If Duke enters the picture, hard to imagine we have any chance after that.

    They also feel confident with Grimes even though mostly everything out there is KU has a good chance there. Not sure whether these guys are just sunshine pumping or what.



  • @BeddieKU23 said:

    Blake Harris ended up at Mizzou. I take back anything nice I said about the kid for that decision

    Ha.

    When I first read about this when it came across twitter I was thinking really you can’t do better than this? I’m not sure why anyone thinks Martin will win much of anything at MU. We are talking about a coach that went 23-11 with Jaylen Brown, Ivan Rabb, JR Jabari Bird plus a couple other experienced guards.



  • @BShark

    It makes sense following Porter for his one year. I don’t think he landed somewhere where he’d start with Phillips back but he should play a bunch with the transfers to Hughes and Walton. Martin is a great salesman apparently.



  • @BeddieKU23 how many guys are going w/porter and Harris?



  • @Crimsonorblue22

    Could be at least a few more. Looks like they have 2 more spots open at the moment.

    Tilmon seems likely as long as Illinois doesn’t try and prohibit him from going there. That could happen with all the talk of Martin visiting his school and recruiting him while he’s still signed to Missouri.

    Knox seems like a longshot, more likely Duke or UNC.



  • @BeddieKU23

    Same story at all his stops so far. Good crootin, bad basketball.



  • Updated OP removing Harris and moved Mark Smith to “Nope”. He visited MSU recently and reportedly loved it, plus they really need him. Only actually removing players once they commit though.



  • @BShark @BeddieKU23 Knowing you have DG back, do you test the waters with… Waters? Isn’t he likely not to qualify academically his first year?



  • @Kcmatt7

    Waters has academic issues? That is the first I’ve seen of that.

    Some rumors out there were that his dad was an issue (helicopter type). I think the majority that has been reported on Waters is KU is not recruiting him even though he visited in the fall. Waters probably wants a situation where he can start given his ranking which is unlikely at KU.

    Has the staff even reached out to another 2017 point guard this spring? It seems like the 5 that are left for Duval are not upsetting him in any way by recruiting other point guards. Maybe there’s some behind the scenes contact with some potential targets but it does seem like nobody wants to lose out on landing Duval by recruiting others.

    I honestly think KU will try and get a graduate transfer point guard (after the Duval announcement) that’s looking to win in his last year. We have potentially 4-5 guard/wings but no backup to Devonte. All the current options have a lot of question marks. Someone who could provide a steady 6-10 minutes a game would really help this team out. Another benefit to getting a graduate transfer guard is he doesn’t hurt 2018 recruiting for elite level guards. The Italy trip would also benefit said transfer as they integrate into the team.



  • @BShark

    Smith landing at MSU would be a good situation for both. They need someone like him. I think he fits the Michigan St mold well



  • Kevin Knox visited Columbia and MU is going strong after Tilmon. If both sign with MU, it’s class will challenge U.K. The entire saga at MU stinks to high heaven; something really fishy going on. I bet even Calipari is wondering what is going on in Columbia.



  • This whole Billy Preston thing has me concerned. A lot riding on him being in the mix. I’ve heard nothing positive on eligibility since the rumbles the other way.

    Five high schools in four years.



  • @HighEliteMajor

    On the other hand, we have not heard anything negative either. Is this a case where no news is good news?



  • @HighEliteMajor

    Yup.

    What do we take of Self’s comments here.

    Bragg’s departure opens up another scholarship and Self recently told the Journal-World he would like to add “a quick-twitch 4 man” to back up incoming freshman Billy Preston.

    Sounds like he’s confident Preston will be here playing and starting…



  • @BeddieKU23 I love the grad transfer route to fill holes, personally. Because, like you said, you get an experienced player that doesn’t mess with the next years recruiting class.



  • @BeddieKU23 @JayHawkFanToo – You both have lessened my concern a bit. But you know, until we get word that he’s been cleared by the omnipresent “Clearinghouse”, it’s just there.

    That said, a “quck twitch 4 man” – Traylor-like? Athletic? Not a sloth or lumbering guy?

    Don’t we have that in Lightfoot (I thought)?



  • @HighEliteMajor said:

    That said, a “quck twitch 4 man” – Traylor-like? Athletic? Not a sloth or lumbering guy?

    Wouldn’t Kevin Young be described as quick twitch? Lightfoot still seems to be learning where and when to twitch, but I think he will eventually (next year maybe, jr year for sure) really be entertaining.



  • @HighEliteMajor I would have been worried if he committed in the Spring. But we have had 4 months to look at his transcripts and sort them out. I would bet that he is taking online classes right now to make up any core classes he is missing. And then he can finish up whatever else he is missing this summer.

    Diallo waited until the Spring to sign. That created a huge mess because we didn’t get his transcripts until May or June. Not enough time to 100% get him cleared. I mean $100k later I guess it worked out… But to me this means Preston has had plenty of time to get eligible.

    Here are the core required classes to be eligible:

    • English: 4 Years
    • Math: 3 years of Algebra 1 or higher
    • Science: 2 years of science classes
    • Social Studies: 2 years
    • Additional: four courses of either Math, English or science class. And 8 courses of either English Math, Science, social studies, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy.

    We KNOW he will get at least 1 year of English, Math, Science and Social Studies at Oak Hill. He probably will have gotten another year of all of those somewhere along the line at his former high schools.

    So, if he has 2 years of English, 2 years of Math, 2 years of science, 2 years of social studies than he is at the most, missing this:

    • 2 Years English
    • 1 year Math
    • 12 courses in a combination of Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Foreign language and a Comparative religion or philosophy course.

    If he got to Oak Hill and they knew he had eligibility issues, they would have enrolled him in the easiest credit earning classes that also count. So he would be taking 7 courses that he needed to count just at Oak Hill. In theory, he would also be enrolled in an accredited online school, taking an extra 2 classes.

    If this is what they did and he was serious about being eligible he should only have 1 year of Math, and 5 or 6 other courses left to take. It would be possible for him to pass all of those classes. But tough. If he had ANY other classes at any of his previous schools count, he could very easily qualify with a few classes this summer.



  • @mayjay I would take Kevin Young, yes … good thought on what we might be looking for.

    @Kcmatt7 Thanks for the info and good point about being an early signee. Time to fix a mess.



  • @HighEliteMajor

    Honestly I’m just as concerned as you about Preston. But I did find Self’s comments interesting in response, almost makes it sound as if he knows something the public doesn’t about his eligibility.

    We will probably know around the time practices start up for the Italy trip whether he’s good to go or not . I don’t believe he’d be able to play on that trip if there is a hold up. The wait continues whether our concerns are overblown or not.

    The “quick twitch 4 man” sounded like he was indirectly saying Shakur Juiston. He’s a quick twitch 4 man that Self is after…



  • Talk about small ball…

    Adam Zagoria‏ @AdamZagoria

    Kansas would like to play Trevon Duval w/ Devonte Graham and Malik Newman & have multiple ball-handlers, per source.



  • @BeddieKU23 said:

    @HighEliteMajor

    Honestly I’m just as concerned as you about Preston. But I did find Self’s comments interesting in response, almost makes it sound as if he knows something the public doesn’t about his eligibility.

    We will probably know around the time practices start up for the Italy trip whether he’s good to go or not . I don’t believe he’d be able to play on that trip if there is a hold up. The wait continues whether our concerns are overblown or not.

    The “quick twitch 4 man” sounded like he was indirectly saying Shakur Juiston. He’s a quick twitch 4 man that Self is after…

    If Missouri can get Ricky Clemons eligible, and KU can get Cheick eligible, I’m not overly concerned about Preston. It might take some summer school, but it should be very doable.

    Definitely referring to Juiston.



  • @BShark

    Did Clemons by chance go to schools that no longer exist? That’s my biggest concern is the NCAA just throws out anything to do with Prime Prep/API and his associated classes from there.



  • https://twitter.com/929espn/status/851471799296684032

    https://twitter.com/929espn/status/851477984578068481

    @BeddieKU23 said:

    @BShark

    Did Clemons by chance go to schools that no longer exist? That’s my biggest concern is the NCAA just throws out anything to do with Prime Prep/API and his associated classes from there.

    He made up like 24 credits over ONE summer. I mean he didn’t REALLY but yeah.



  • @Kcmatt7

    Really good points regarding the timing of Preston’s signing to Diallo’s, In the end with Diallo they witch-hunted his grades and fell back to benefits from his handler… I don’t think Preston will have anything similar in regards to that. He’s either going to qualify fully or be in a Traylor/McLemore situation as a partial. Which would force a red-shirt or force him to hunt an oversea’s contract.



  • Matt Scott is extremely and incredibly excited right now.



  • It’s the Lawsons coming to KU. BOOM!



  • @BShark Former Memphis standouts Dedric and K.J. Lawson are transferring to Kansas, their father told @CBSSports. Story coming.

    per twitter Gary Parrish



  • @BShark

    WOWWW



  • There goes 2 scholarships. If Svi stays we have only 1 scholarship left.



  • so they will have to sit a year correct?



  • Hopefully continuing the tradition of success of the Morris twins and Tarik Black.



  • @Jayrawks1

    Yes that is correct



  • I assume that means we are the team to beat for Chandler Lawson in 2019?



  • Also they have family members in the pipeline that are studs, legit NBA prospects.



  • @approxinfinity

    We might sign the whole family. Dad, Mom, Grandparents.





  • @approxinfinity

    Yes sir. And this STUD is their cousin: http://247sports.com/Player/DJ-Jeffries-84187



  • Well hot damn!



  • Dedric is a Double Double machine. The brother will be a red-shirt Soph. Most likely we’ll have them one season



  • @BeddieKU23

    Dedric just one year for sure (honestly thought he would just go pro) but I could see his brother graduating. Depends on how it goes I suppose.



  • This is a fantastic move imo. Really takes pressure off getting post players in 2018.



  • @BShark

    Which makes this decision all the more crazy. Dedric is good enough for the NBA now, although I’m sure he was not happy about how his combine went last year. I think Hudy will maximize both of them, I can see where both of these guys will really benefit from her strength and conditioning program



  • We still need Bigs for next season though.



  • Gary Parrish likes it



  • Ranking and Stats from their 2 years at Memphis. Obvious improvements can be made shooting the ball for both, particular from 3 land. Both are very good rebounders. Dedric is tailor made to play the 4 here.

    Dedric Lawson was ranked #35,

    upload-0d45eea6-e2ae-4228-b923-960bee15a38b

    KJ Lawson was ranked #53.

    upload-86d314ba-b360-4f6a-b735-74f3cd96122e



  • @RockkChalkk

    We have one open spot for one!



  • @RockkChalkk

    Staff looking at Juiston and Kanter still.

    @BeddieKU23 said:

    @RockkChalkk

    We have one open spot for one!

    This is interesting. I think Svi is probably gone. Staff def wants another guard too, and I think it will be Allen (they want Duval too but lol). Really need two scholarships for it to work how they want, and there is no point is putting Coleby out to pasture since he will likely be a part of next year’s post rotation.



  • @BShark

    Interesting, I think Svi stays and we use the last scholarship on a big. Can’t have just 4 healthy bigs for next season. Allen might fill a long-term need but there really isn’t a situation where he plays minutes next year, but a 5th big would definitely have a chance at beating someone out.


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