Frank/Devonte ...Agbaji/Braun Deja Vu
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It struck me the similarities between these 4 players. Appalachian St …Towson St…Silo Tech…no Div 1 offers for Agbaji until his senior year. A breakout year has us looking, and when the offer is made, the kid is so flattered and humbled he has to say yes. KU is his dream location, and he fully understands that he is not guaranteed a second of playing time…he has to earn it. We will help him to fulfill his dreams, but he has to work harder than he ever has to achieve it. I remember when we first signed Frank, it was like BFD…who is Frank Mason? I remember when we signed Devonte, and I was ecstatic to the point that many of you told me to calm down- that he wasn’t that great.
I really think the core strength of this team next year and beyond will be found with Agbajis and the Brauns. Will they both become all B12, and also POY, and All-American? Agbaji came on like a hurricane his senior year …there is ALOT to love about this kid’s game. Once he has a year or so into the program, I could see him start to make an impact. You need a shooter off the bench? The kid can flat shoot. And Braun is just now scratching the surface …what’s not to love about a fundamentally sound player with very good ball skills, that can shoot the lights out, and hasn’t even turned 18 yet? Our bench is going to be loaded with shooters next year. Once these two get into their upper class years, we’re talking some serious star potential. I don’t know if they ever achieve what Frank/ Devonte have, but it’s going to be a delight watching them try.
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KU was far from the first P5 offer for any of these guys though.
I was all aboard the Graham bandwagon in particular. It was very clear he had the tools to be a special player.
Calm down on Braun. He’s a guy that maybe tops out at 7ppg his SR year. Neither will be AA or POY in any facet. Feel free to save this post for later.
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Only way Braun ends up being “a guy” is if he ends up being 6’8. He’s a prime redshirt candidate though. Dream scenario, he grows to at least 6’7, Hudy gets him to a solid/strong 190lbs, and he becomes a top tier stretch 4. Nearly a “point forward.”
But if he is truly done growing, he probably tops out at a great role player that knows his role.
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Ochai a similar path, but probably a better chance at becoming “a guy” imo because he offers a physical frame that Braun doesn’t offer.
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@BShark So, an offer from Silo Tech is the same thing as an offer from KU? I think not! I think Braun will surprise us…it could be mindless speculation, but I’ve been right on these things before. I’m a fan … I’m going to think sunshine and rainbows.
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@Kcmatt7 His coach said this:
“He came in as a freshman. He was 5-foot-7 or 5-8. He’s close to 6-7 now,” Fritz said. “I think he has a couple more inches in him. His brother is over 6-9.
“He’s 17. He won’t turn 18 until April. He still has some (physical) maturing to do and all that.”
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@KUSTEVE That’s why I think the staff took him. He offers a decent upside with a pretty high floor as well, as far as your 12th and 13th scholarship goes. I think the greater plan is to let Hudy do her thing with him, and have him primed to be a rotation guy in 2-3 years.
I also think the staff may be doing a great job of anticipating the OAD era ending. What is Duke and UK going to do in 2020? Self’s roster looks primed already.
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Hes a great take because he is probably coming in here not expecting to see time for a while. He isn’t in any “big” recruits way for at least two seasons. His shooting is a great tool in modern basketball. He has already proven he can be a role player at both BVNW and on MoKan.
There is a lot to like. But I’m not saying he is the next Frank or Devonte until I see it. Those two are DUDES. But, I do agree that you have to trust the staffs assessment. They know what they’re looking for.
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KUSTEVE said:
@BShark So, an offer from Silo Tech is the same thing as an offer from KU? I think not! I think Braun will surprise us…it could be mindless speculation, but I’ve been right on these things before. I’m a fan … I’m going to think sunshine and rainbows.
Bigger Offers only
Frank
Virginia Tech, Rutgers, South Carolina, Alabama
Devonte
Virginia, NC State, Xavier
Ochai
Oregon, TAMU, Wisconsin, Okie Lite, Nebraska, Oregon State
Braun
Oklahoma, KSU, Illinois, Creighton, Minnesota, Missouri, Miss State, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Wake Forest
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Kcmatt7 said:
Hes a great take because he is probably coming in here not expecting to see time for a while. He isn’t in any “big” recruits way for at least two seasons. His shooting is a great tool in modern basketball. He has already proven he can be a role player at both BVNW and on MoKan.
There is a lot to like. But I’m not saying he is the next Frank or Devonte until I see it. Those two are DUDES. But, I do agree that you have to trust the staffs assessment. They know what they’re looking for.
Agree with all of this.
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Marcus Garrett is actually a great example of a guy that was barely being recruited outside of Texas due to lack of AAU exposure. KU had basically no competition for Garrett.
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@BShark Those are good schools, but both Dtae and Frank both had signed with lesser schools originally. Out of all the offers you listed, I didn’t see Kentucky, Dook, UNC, Nova, etc on any of them. These weren’t top 20 recruits, although they had been recruited by some good schools, such as Xavier, Nike U, Virginia, and the rest. Not one school of the caliber of KU offered them. Each of them received 1 offer from a blueblood school. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make here. Were any of the 4 originally even in the Top 100 before they signed with KU?
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@KUSTEVE You said no D1 offers in the first post.
Graham and Frank were top 100 guys. Jerry Meyer was insanely high on Frank, had him top 50 before the KU announcement.
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@BShark I see. I was talking about Agbaji before his senior year. I didn’t mean all of them…lol.
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Solid post! No way will any KU recruit in the near future be able to equal what Devonte and Frank did for Kansas basketball. I mean those guys are living KU legends. But I think we should all keep an open mind about Agbaji and Braun. Those kids have a chance to be really good. We’ve all seen first hand how Coach Self and staff can develop players. Its not out of the realm of possibility that those two kids can be really good at KU.
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@KUSTEVE I do love how butthurt Wisconsin fans were about losing him. They have to be real pissed after UK poached Herro too lol.
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Kcmatt7 said:
@KUSTEVE I do love how butthurt Wisconsin fans were about losing him. They have to be real pissed after UK poached Herro too lol.
You should see KSU fans about Braun.
Highlights include: KU paid Braun and he will never play a second for KU.
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@KUSTEVE Everyone starts with 0 offers. Hoops focus is silly.
@Lulufulu Agree. I’ve actually heard Agbaji has been a very pleasant surprise in terms of how good he has been early. I think both will contribute to KU well in their time in Lawrence. I was just trying to pump the brakes a bit and point out some incorrect things.
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Tell them Bruce needs to quit being such a cheap ass.
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@Lulufulu I have no illusions that either player is going to be NPOY anytime soon. Neither of them may even start in their career, but I couldn’t help but notice how much all 4 of them appreciated the opportunity, and with Bill’s ability to get the very best out of guys that carry the team first attitude, you never know. Maybe this is a declaration that a great attitude and patience can trump talent most of the time.
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@BShark Now you’re being dismissive. You better eat a Snickers bar.
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Kcmatt7 said:
Tell them Bruce needs to quit being such a cheap ass.
Lol. I just don’t reply to the loons.
@KUSTEVE Add McCormack and Garrett to your list then, imo.
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KUSTEVE said:
@BShark Now you’re being dismissive. You better eat a Snickers bar.
Dismissive of hoops focus? Yes I am lol.
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@BShark Absolutely. You and I were the Garrett cheerleaders on here. And Big Dave…omg, is he going to be good…
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Agbaji is going to have a Releford type career before it’s all said and done. He can play and is a really smart kid. Braun is still so young that there’s a long way to go before he even gets to KU. I think he’s around 6’6 now. It’ll be hard to put weight on him until he’s done growing. I could see him being Tyrel Reed by the time he’s done.
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I would absolutely take a Tyrel Reed type career from Braun. Reed was a bit more athletic though imo. At least before his foot got banged up.
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@FarmerJayhawk I’m thinking Braun could also develop into a poor man’s Svi.
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@BShark He was a great player until the foot went bad. Just a great shooter.
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KUSTEVE said:
@BShark He was a great player until the foot went bad. Just a great shooter.
Even then he still gutted it out and was pretty good. A warrior.
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Reed was an absolute freak show athlete at KU. Easily the best when he was an underclassman.
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Everyone said Reed was the best Dunker on those teams lol
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@Kcmatt7 I wasn’t butthurt whatever that means.
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I have seen Parker Braun several times and I was impressed with him and I believe I even mentioned him here before; he is going to be a decent 4 year player for MU. However, I am not sure why his HS coach thinks he is over 6’9”. He is listed most everywhere as 6’-7” or 6’8” and I have not seen any publication that lists him as 6’9”. Rivals has him as 6’8” and so does MU. FWIW, he looked about 3” or 4” taller than his younger brother the times I saw them play.
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@BShark I cleaned up that “no Div 1 offers” line so it makes better sense. I agree I didn’t make it clear.
