2018 Recruiting Thread



  • @BeddieKU23

    That’s totally fair. That Memphis team was terrible so Dedric and KJ both had to take a ton of shots. KJ had some 20+ shot games including one where he went 5-23. I can’t imagine he will have a 20 shot game for KU ever. Being on a more talented roster is definitely a caveat I included in my first post talking about this. The hope is that he can be a much more efficient player with more talent around him. It was really remarkable that Dedric was quite efficient and with what I’ve seen of Dedric the sky is the limit for him at KU.

    Agree about what I’ve seen of his defense. Outside of Josh he probably would have been the best defensive wing on KU last year and we know Self values defense.

    Self’s comments and buzz around the program will be key. The buzz was amazingly positive for Malik, like I mentioned before I don’t remember that much hype about a player sitting out since BMac.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 Dedrick won his freshman year, KJ the next. He had a medical redshirt after the 10 game year, and had not played in any conference games at all (I believe) (edit: 1 conf game–credit @BShark).

    [Stats deleted on edit, see next post]



  • @mayjay

    Where are you getting that? CBB reference has him having played 32 games last year. 1 conference game in his injured year and all 18 conference games last year.

    http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kj-lawson-1.html

    ESPN has the same stats.

    http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/3907786/kj-lawson



  • @BShark I took it off 247 that showed his current status as a Jayhawk, but maybe it was a stat page from mid-year (I hate these “historical pages” that have other up-to-date sections). Mea culpa!

    Like yours better!



  • Yeah I like 247 for some things, but they can be a bit silly with all the various profiles for a player. CBB reference is my go to for stats.



  • @BShark

    Agree on all points. The Lawson’s definitely had targets on them every game to produce. KJ was always trying to be the other producer to his brother. I thought in the games I saw of Memphis that he pressed too much to make that happen. No question he’ll need to spend this year off honing his craft and his shooting.

    I love the rebounding/defensive ability and his toughness, he might be one of those high level glue guys that teams always seem to need. It’s hard to imagine him coming here and not being a good player but definitely the jury is still out



  • @BeddieKU23

    If he is okay with being a Travis Releford type, then my stance changes drastically.



  • In defense of KJ, 33% from 3 his first full year is not too shabby. He ended up at .328 from 3, which is strangely the exact percent Wayne hit from 3 his first full year. 33% from 3 = 50% from 2. He averaged 8 rebounds a game- JJ was at 7.4. If I’m not mistaken, Perry never averaged 8 boards a game. He won’t have to carry the offense, so shot selection should improve, and number of shots will decrease. Plus, it’s not like Tubby is known for offense, so he will be going into a much better offensive system. KJ IS known for defense. If he plays great defense, he will be a great asset to the team.

    Here’s an article suggesting our team defense ( and 5 from 25 from 3) cost us the Final Four, so I’m all in on guys that play defense:

    http://www.isportsweb.com/2017/05/26/kansas-basketball-svi-mykhailiuk-return/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+isportsweb+%28isportsweb%29



  • Defense was definitely an issue last year @KUSTEVE



  • Um I thought I posted this before but it must not have went through. KU made the cut for Naz Reid. St Johns did not. Seton Hall still on his list. Feels like Kentucky IF they offer.

    @BeddieKU23



  • @BShark Yea with Dedric in that spot it is going to be hard to land him. Especially if he is an early signee. Only positive is the 3 Adidas schools in the final 7. I’m sure he has reps and agents in his ear.



  • @BShark

    from Naz Reid post… 0_1497390969937_upload-57f8eefc-9744-4d7b-a0c9-5748ca23d02b



  • It’s really something how many final lists KU makes of kids that are never coming to KU.



  • http://247sports.com/Player/Adam-Miller-46036282

    Coming to KU for a visit Thursday. He’s really good. Mac Irvin Fire connection (Cliff, Charlie Moore, Markese Jacobs) so I would figure KU will have a chance in his recruitment. Also Sherron has been a great recruiting weapon for Self. I wonder if he would have any interest in joining in some kind of staff role.



  • @BShark

    I really don’t know why we are bothering with him. His handler either lets him leave home or doesn’t. Seton Hall will be in it because of his situation but if Kentucky or Louisville press I think he could end up at either.



  • @BShark

    Having Collins on in some way would be ideal.



  • @BeddieKU23

    KU made the cut of a player I wasn’t aware was even being recruited*. Amazing how these things work.

    *Montez Mathis, who doesn’t have a KU offer.

    And yeah Sherron could replace Jerrance. I wouldn’t mind that.



  • @BShark You know, that has been my thought exactly on a lot of different occasions - -just like you state. We are or make the so called cuts on a lot of these guys, but yet we all seem to pretty well know that in the end we are not going to be their destination.

    It’s kind of odd, I have tried referring these thoughts before and we have talked. It is just the random thoughts and like I’ve said and I know in reality just seems we are not closing. I know that’s not all of it - -but maybe to an extent - -just teases -like you say a lot of times they have no intentions of visiting or coming here lmao. - but ya I hear ya bud - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • Terrence Hargrove JR visiting as well. Currently unranked 2019 wing but that will likely change. He is a bit raw but super athletic. Aka Bill Self kryptonite.



  • @jayballer54 Kids put schools like Kansas, UNC, UK, Duke, Louisville and other top programs to boost their own appeal to lesser programs and gain more offers from other P5 programs and top mid majors that rely on the sub 50 and sub 100 players to build their programs.



  • I read articles on a couple of players see if anyone else has heard of these guys. - -

    1st one is Eric Yala - - Although I guess in a way he wouldn’t fir for us, - -well not this year cause he is talking about maybe re classifying he is like a 2017/18 player.

    He is a 6’4 swing guard - -list schools Arizona, Oregon , Miami , Syracuse , /Indiana , /LSU , U Conn , And KU. Says he has like over 25 offers and probably will cut list by the end of July.

    Would this be someone we might be interested for 2018? Comes out of Putman Science Academy in Conn.

    The other player sounds really sweet - Probably Big time, doesn’t list us right now but early his name is Kofi Cockburn - -6’11 from Kenya.

    He is a 2019 player, article talks about how he destroyed 5 star Bol , Bol in their encounter a double double guy - -Moses Brown was saying that he was bigger Brown that is ) - -but Brown said Cockburn was definitely was more physical.

    Here is something about him though found kind of interesting. - He states he is looking where he can go where no drinking - - no partying - - no smoking environment - -so he can focus on basket ball and the NBA. - -My initial thought was - -ya good luck finding a place like that. - -Is THIS someone you think we might try and get involved on? -Holler guys. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 Ya, so in some, not saying all then, do you think it’s more of a case of the player recruiting the school - -or the school recruiting the player or maybe a little bit of both? - -I guess what I’m asking is so like would there be case with some of these where like KU might really might not even be recruiting the kid, but he lists us anyways? - -see what I’m trying to say? - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer54 A lot of those kids are the fall back options for the KU’s, UNC’s and so on when they miss on top targets. The ones that are patient enough to wait until spring have a better chance of landing at a blue blood that’s missed out on their top targets.



  • @jayballer54 soubds like he’s going to byu. 😄

    It seems to me that recruits add Duke, UK, KU to their lists to get a recruiting bump. If they can convince the ranking systems that Bill is recruiting them they move up.

    Also it looks better when I.e. KU signs a football player that was “recruited” by Texas or OU. All the sudden that guys a stud. Real studs incoming next season though. Watch out for KU football it’s on an uptick. 2 years away from success.



  • @dylans

    I sure hope so! Three solid commits so far in June. Fingers crossed that everyone ends up in Lawrence.



  • @dylans Ya I understand where your coming from for sure on this. Sounds about right. - -I’m really liking our football chances what was that song use to go - - -MOVIN ON UP - - -TO THE EAST SIDE - -LOL - -what was that show? - -The Jeffersons? - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • For whoever was wondering if Self should use the alumni game for visits… Well is is certainly using these scrimmages. Multiple visitors yesterday and of course Adam Miller will be in today.



  • BShark said:

    For whoever was wondering if Self should use the alumni game for visits… Well is is certainly using these scrimmages. Multiple visitors yesterday and of course Adam Miller will be in today.

    Yeah I’m surprised there are no 2018 recruits here. Dotson just went to Maryland and now Jerry CB’d him there. Not worried about his switch but maybe it would have been a good idea to push unofficials during this time when there is a lot of activity going on for the recruits to see. It’s a missed opportunity for this class when kids can pop any day during the summer.



  • @BeddieKU23

    Yeah a bit odd that it’s 19/20 kids only.

    I’m not one to trust Meyer’s word much but yeah he switched Dotson to MD and Ayo to KU. I wouldn’t even be mad.



  • Read off zagsblog today, That Naz Reid & Jahvon Quinerly have talked about going to a school as a package. More and more of this happening all the time

    I had read or at least thought I had that we might be in decent shape with Quinerly - - I know we made the final 7 on both of their list.

    The article says that the schools that both are being recruited by are: Arizona, KU, Seton Hall & UCLA. - - I think it’s been a pretty well know or at least thought to have been that Reid was leaning pretty heavy towards Louisville, so if they thinking package then Quinerly gonna have to start showing interest with them.

    Reid being involved with Louisville - - things might change there though. I know, we not getting these guys but just thought kind of interesting 1st I had heard about package - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • Neither will end up at KU.

    Apparently Ayo Dosunmu is still very good friends with Charlie Moore. If getting Moore also nets Dosunmu, that was one of the best signings Self has had.





  • Slater is hearing that Dotson’s top 3 is KU, Maryland and Florida…Maryland scares me some with the recent visit he took there. They do have Cowan and Morsell at PG so its not like he’s walking into a bare situation there. Florida definitely needs a PG after losing Alexander to Kentucky and Chiozza is a Sr…



  • http://247sports.com/Article/Quick-QA-With-63-2018-Four-Star-PG-Jalen-Carey-Kansas-UConnn-53216849

    Kansas?

    Yeah, Kansas has been hitting me up. Coach Norm (Roberts) has been hitting me up and telling me he’s going to try to get me on the phone with Bill Self, but they offered me. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get out there. Kansas is a little far.

    You might have to do an official for that one.

    Yeah, I’d probably have to do an official. Hopefully, I’ll just take it from there.

    What do you know about their program?

    I know they have a good program. Bill Self is a great coach. They’ve got a great record of developing point guards.

    A lot of people are saying you’re going to go to Kansas.

    (laughs) I don’t really have a favorite school.

    And some people also think UConn.

    They have a great history and a great lineage of players. I don’t really have a favorite right now. I’m just playing the game.

    What are you going to look for, whenever you do decide?

    Somewhere like home, where I don’t have to worry about anything. Somewhere I fit in and just be able to play right away. That’s my main goal- to go to a school that’ll get me to that next level.



  • BeddieKU23 said:

    Slater is hearing that Dotson’s top 3 is KU, Maryland and Florida…Maryland scares me some with the recent visit he took there. They do have Cowan and Morsell at PG so its not like he’s walking into a bare situation there. Florida definitely needs a PG after losing Alexander to Kentucky and Chiozza is a Sr…

    Florida might be the favourite atm.

    Illinois made sure to get Ayo in for another unofficial after that KU offer. 😂

    As long as two good guards are landed, all will be well. Grimes/Carey/Dotson KU is right in the thick of it. Ayo I’m not sure what to think yet. Other higher level recruits (Quickley, Smart, Quinerly) are probably a pipe dream and it’s too early to know what the staff is thinking in terms of fallback plans.

    Only need one guard if Newman stays, but I think he is going pro.



  • @BShark You know things have kind have turned in my thinking of who might land here recently. - -As much as I am a Dotson fan - - I feel we might be losing him, as where as I not that I wasn’t a fan - -but just felt like we may not have as good of chance BUT now I’m feeling more and more like we indeed may end up with Grimes, nothing really to back my thinking but other then his mama wants him here I think

    I think Devon really wanted to come here BUT I think maybe he might and I’m just blowing hot air here but maybe he is seeing all the other pg’s in the pic and now these other schools gaining ground - -I’m NOW thinking could be we end up with Carey and Grimes - -but who am I? lol - - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @BShark

    Looks like we need to get Carey on campus as quickly as we can. A lot of programs are after him it seems.

    The way he talked about Uconn makes me think they could be the favorites especially with his proximity to them. Who knows if Gilbert and Adams will on the rosters after this season which would basically guarantee him a starting role.

    If he hasn’t talked to coach Self yet I wonder how much KU is really pursuing him which sucks I think he’s as good as any guard we have a chance with.



  • @BShark @jayballer54

    I wouldn’t be concerned with Dotson just yet. We did get him to pay his own dime to come visit during the season with his family. They have a great relationship with the staff and have a chance to seal the deal if he waits and takes his official visits.

    The key will be getting him locked into an Official visit and getting his family to come back here again. Maryland has done a good job getting him on campus because of his proximity to them and Florida has been recruiting him for a while as well and may offer the most immediate PT as a freshman.



  • Looks like KU is pretty in it for Ayo. He is visiting Illinois Tuesday and should be taking his officials soon. KU, Xavier, Wake Forest, Northwestern. Ayo is good enough that you take his commitment and then worry about how it impacts other guard recruits later imo.



  • http://kansas.247sports.com/Article/An-Update-With-Versatile-Four-Star-67-Wing-Jules-Bernard-Kansas--53232390?

    Let’s go through a couple of the other ones. Which would you like to start with?

    Kansas, they offered me maybe two months ago.

    Obviously a big-time program. Yeah. I like their coach. He called me and talked to me and, you know, it wasn’t only about basketball. It wasn’t only about basketball. He talked about me and my family. He talked to me about my teammates. I definitely like how they’re not only focused on basketball. They’re focused on you as a person.

    Was that different?

    Yeah, I think all coaches try to do it to a certain extent, but it was definitely refreshing to see from a big-time program like that to show that they care about the person.

    Were you surprised when they offered?

    No, I wasn’t surprised, but I was very excited. I was super excited.

    One of the blue blood programs Yeah, I was super excited. I think with all of the hard work that I’ve put in through the years, I think I deserved it. It was definitely humbling to have them offer me.

    Might you visit them?

    Probably after the summer when I have time to go on a visit.



  • @BeddieKU23 ya, true - -I wasn’t really aware he had been on our campus as of yet, but would be good like you say get him back with the parents for one of his 5 officals. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @BShark Well that sounds interesting. - -So talk to me is this guy legit? must be decent enough if We hollering, sounds like his interest is pretty legit with us. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • BeddieKU23 said:

    @BShark

    Looks like we need to get Carey on campus as quickly as we can. A lot of programs are after him it seems.

    The way he talked about Uconn makes me think they could be the favorites especially with his proximity to them. Who knows if Gilbert and Adams will on the rosters after this season which would basically guarantee him a starting role.

    If he hasn’t talked to coach Self yet I wonder how much KU is really pursuing him which sucks I think he’s as good as any guard we have a chance with.

    I read this in similar fashion. If KU got Grimes and Ayo then it would work out but honestly it would be fine to prioritize Carey I think. Doesn’t seem like the staff is going in that direction. Grimes is a huge priority.

    Also it won’t happen because of numbers and kids wanting lots of pt but could you imagine an Ayo/Grimes/Carey back court? Would be just filthy.



  • jayballer54 said:

    @BShark Well that sounds interesting. - -So talk to me is this guy legit? must be decent enough if We hollering, sounds like his interest is pretty legit with us. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

    Ayo or Bernard? I think KU has a good shot with Ayo. He is good friends with Charlie Moore and played with Markese this summer. I’m not sure KU will take a wing in this class and Bernard is def a wing. If Vick stays to go with Garrett, Cunliffe and KJ Lawson, definitely already a full compliment of wings. If KU signs a wing, someone is leaving early for sure.

    And yeah Dotson visited KU on his own dime and it was a very good visit.



  • @jayballer54

    Yes, he visited for the Iowa St loss in Allen with his mother.

    As with any kid, momentum swings one way or the other at seemingly every visit. Right now the momentum doesn’t seem to be in KU’s favor because his last visit was 4 months ago but every time Dotson speaks KU has always been at the top of his list. As long as KU gets an official visit I think we are in good position until we hear otherwise.



  • @BShark

    Interesting development with Ayo.

    He’s a very good player and if our connection with him lands a commitment I’m not going to be upset at all. He’s had a very good spring and has excellent size to play in the back-court at KU.

    Personally I’d love to land Carey or Grimes because at this stage they are better shooters especially from the perimeter but that’s my personal opinion of them at this point. We’ll see how this develops



  • @BShark

    Bernard has been solid so far. I read he isn’t elite at any one thing but does go out there and gets production. With any California kid, you always wonder whether they will leave the area or not



  • @BeddieKU23

    I don’t think KU/Self could go wrong with Grimes, Dotson, Carey or Ayo. But yes we have pretty much grown accustom to great 3pt shooting KU teams.

    Now, a bad 3pt shooting team under Self doesn’t seem to be as much of an indicator for team success as it does with say, Bruce Weber. The last two what I would consider bad 3pt shooting KU teams, Self lost to Stanford early but the other made the title game against that stacked UK dream team.

    Next year could be worrisome in that regard depending on how players develop and who is signed.



  • ESPN updated rankings for 2018

    Grimes down to 29, not understanding the drop honestly.

    Dotson #33

    Dosunmu #39

    Carey # 55 (nice jump, finally people are catching on)

    Bernard #57

    A few Duke prospects saw big jumps before they commit.



  • http://247sports.com/Article/NBA-Top-100-Five-Star-2018-PG-Quentin-Grimes-Says-Duke-Picking-U-53199547

    “I definitely want to visit Kentucky, Kansas and Texas. I might do four, maybe all five official visits, but those are the three I’m definitely going to visit.”


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