Recruiting Master Thread Part Deux
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Grimes and Dotson are probably the two recruits we have the best chance with right now, and I stress right now.
Grimes has a lot of big programs after him because he’s a top player, his Jr year was really good and he’s the prototypical combo guard that Bill Self loves. Grimes came off a visit to Kentucky last year and said KU was his favorite. I’m sure things have changed, like Duke getting involved as well as Arizona. Although Duke is also targeting other point guard types Grimes is one of their options. Kentucky is also after some other kids but is keeping Grimes in the loop. Arizona seems like the other main program that has prioritized Grimes and that will be interesting to monitor. I’m sure Bill will be following him all summer
Dotson on the other hand is a kid KU has a really good chance to get. He’s from an area where you would expect UNC/Duke to be all over that but UNC locked up 2 guards already and as mentioned before Duke is after a few other guards. Most notably Darius Garland, who KU just offered is one that is probably locked up to Duke. Actually Duke people are surprised why he hasn’t already committed. Dotson paying his own dime to visit during the season says we have to be his favorite if one was to read between the lines. Dotson had a great Jr year and is the type of point guard that could become a fan favorite like Frank Mason. I expect he’ll be a 3-4 year type that can really impact a program. Dotson has other schools after him, maybe most notably Villanova but I would say at this moment Dotson is KU’s to lose.
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It’s the culture we live in today. Coaches have been doing this for a long time and it seems that the kids have finally caught on.
I would say contributing factors are the AAU scene, the OAD rule and the graduate transfer rule which basically makes you a free agent.
Billy Preston went to five high schools for example and played on a few AAU squads as well. The constant moving around starts at a young age.
The OAD rule has created this culture where kids want to prove they are good enough in one year, not 4. The development curve these kids think is best has changed significantly.
If kids don’t get the situation they want and are forced to sit the bench, chances are your at risk of losing him. If Mitch Lightfoot wasn’t a lifetime Jayhawk fan he would be a prime candidate of someone looking for more opportunity today.
One of the main issues I see with the high number of transfers is how many are transferring from lower level D-1 schools and crippling those teams that cannot find someone they have spent 2-3-4 years developing. You see a lot of the best players from smaller schools trying to “level up” and get to a high major. As @drgnslayr has said, the reputation of transfers has completely changed recently. Bill Self has taken how many transfers in the past 5 years? The number seems to be increasing by the year. It’s almost an necessity to include transfers in the discussion of recruiting. The game has definitely changed, for better or for worse.
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I agree, with Barrett, Nike is going to do its best to influence where he ends up. It’s just the truth nobody wants to talk about.
Barrett is a future NBA SG/SF and the next star from Canada. He loves Andrew Wiggins and that’s a big part of why KU has any chance of landing him next year if he does drop down a class. Adidas doesn’t help KU, at least we don’t seem to hear about them pushing kids our way. Maybe that’s Self keeping his hands clean from that aspect of recruiting, or he’s just really good at keeping it hush. There are a lot of 2018 top kids that are not Nike which is rare and a sign of how things have changed.
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@truehawk93 Preston has legitimate academic eligibility issues because of how long he was at API which has a long history of producing players who failed to academically qualify for NCAA competition.
You’re also backwards on Ayton. KU was the only major program recruiting him while Ayton was dealing with his issues. Once it appeared like that would no longer be a stumbling block for him, the usual suspects got involved and he chose Arizona over Kansas and Kentucky.
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Have to close Grimes.
(original post) offered grimes tonightWould have included Grimes on that list but hear Kansas leads and by maybe a wide margin.
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Yeah it’s definitely harder to find program players now. Even the “mighty” Kentucky, both their recent program players are Kentucky boys Willis and Hawkins.
Duke until recently, seemed to have 5 stars be content to be bench warmers. But now we are finally seeing some transfers.
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FYI Shakur Juiston is the #1 ranked Juco player according to Jucorecruiting.com
Other notables
Jordan Brangers #3 going to Texas Tech- lethal scorer from the perimeter.
Shawn Olden #11 going to TCU
D’Angelo Hunter #14 going to West Virginia
Josh Webster #17 going to Texas Tech
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Must be so difficult to recruit to Lubbock. Sorry @KUSTEVE !
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@jayballer54 I actually wish more couples would divorce if they think about it when they have their first big fight if it means they split before having kids, because all too many get married before they are ready, then have kids thinking that will make things better, then divorce anyway, then fight over custody and money forever ruining the kids’ childhoods.
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Interesting that Texas Tech is using juco guys being that they run the motion offense. That offense take some time to understand and run effectively. You have to fill out a roster though.
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@mayjay nah,
Tongue in cheek.
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Brangers is a kid that will make an impact for Tech next season. He played for the Juco team that the coach has copied the Golden State Warriors method on offense. I believe it was the NY Times that ran their story recently if I’m correct…
Brangers averaged 20.9 pts this year on 49% shooting and 46% from 3 (151-327). He’s the type of shooter that Tech has needed.
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@BeddieKU23 Dang my friend , Looks like Texas Tech did a really good job with these Juco’s can’t do anything but help their program for sure, This league is getting to be very competitive , It’s getting to the point that there is no gimme’s any longer. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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So my friends, let me ask you this - -Just how much of a legit contender for Shakur are we? - -We for sure could use him correct? - -I see posted he was ranked # 1 - -is this for Juco in Kansas OR in the Nation? -I think before this is all said and done this season I think we are going to end up with yet 2-3 more players and I feel we may be surprises just exactly how well we turn out. - - Seems to be even yet at this point there are actually quite a few quality players whether high School route, Post Grad or just regular transfers, going to be very interesting how this all turns out. - - I think just like always we are going to be just fine. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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ISU will be bad.
Texas if Jones stays in the draft not much hope for them despite a solid recruiting class.
Baylor might be pretty bad.
KSU, Bruce is still the coach.
TTU will be bad.
Plenty of chaff in the league next year.
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@jayballer54 In the nation. But Juco sports are bigger in KS than most states, so it’s a fair question.
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@dylans So what you think? - -You think we have a legit shot for him? - -Would you want him? - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Juco ranking for the nation.
Sure we have a chance. He hasn’t taken any visits. Schools have popped in and out to his games etc including KU. Iowa St has probably put in more time then most especially with their need for post players and losing so much this year.
Iowa St has an insider that says relationships will be important with Shakur from what his coach says. I also think the same Iowa St guy is trying to imply that ISU being on him longer will potentially be an advantage The KU offer was obviously his biggest and who knows how much sway that has because we have probably come in late compared to other programs that knew about him earlier.
We should know fairly soon if he does decide to set up some visits. Hutch just won the Juco Championship and Self will be back from the Final 4 to do 1 on 1 with the players next week. We should start hearing decisions on the draft and transfers after that. I would imagine that is when Juiston could be a possible visitor especially if a certain player is no longer with the program…
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Tech has 5 transfers from either Juco or from D-1 schools. They also return 4 starters who will all be seniors. I think Beard will be a tough out in year 2.
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I like this post from MS…
“I’ve mentioned a number of times the KU has a great in with Grimes. Lets just say that his mom knows KU well. VERY WELL!”
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@BShark Well that sounds favorable - -hopefully anyways. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Got Josh due to mom, lost Cody Riley due to mom. Mom definitely matters.
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Just what we want to hear. Momma on board
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Definitely. Forgot to mention we lost Trae due to mom. That one was crystal clear even.
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Wish more of these kids had mom AND dad involved in their lives.
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I am leery of JuCo players. Yes, they dominate in JuCo play but it is just a step above HS and more than a step below mid minors. There is huge difference between JuCo and Division I and regardless of how much a player dominates at that level, it is highly unlikely he will do the same in Division I. With very few exceptions, I would consider a JuCo player a bandaid solution or maybe bench insurance but I would not count on one to be a substantial contributor…maybe at a small program but not at an elite one.
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Marvin Bagley has added KU back to the list of schools he is considering. Lol.
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Generally Juco kids are what they are. Sometimes you do get a player that can really help you out though.
Taking the Juco rankings from the past few years:
2011 #1 Pierre Jackson- had a nice career at Baylor
2012 #2 Cleanthony Early- nice career at Wichita St, got drafted
2012 #10 Marshall Henderson- what a shooter and nutcase he was at Ole Miss
2013 #1 Chris Jones- KU wanted him, he ended up at Louisville and was a starter.
2013 #6 Elgin Cook- Started at Oregon, was an important part of their Elite 8 run last year.
2014 # 2 Kadeem Allen- Starter at Arizona this year.
2014 #11 Gary Payton Jr- Solid player at Oregon St, ended up in the NBA.
2015 #3 Chris Boucher- Solid starter at Oregon the past 2 years. Injury de-railed his run with Oregon towards the Final 4.
2015 #4 Joel Acuil Jr- Led the Big 12 in blocks this year.
2015 #20 Vlad Brodziansky- Leading scorer for TCU this year.
Juiston is that type of kid that can help KU. It’s not like the 4 spot has any guarantee right now. He does a lot of things well (especially rebounding, blocks, assists) and is a high level athlete. He just led his team to a Juco title. He’s better than any HS recruit we’d get at this point outside of Duval.
More than anything I think his character would be a big plus to this team that is losing senior leaders and is transitioning into life without Mason & Lucas.
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You really have to look at why the kid is in JUCO. Then of course throw out the stats and just evaluate. KU hasn’t had the best luck with JUCOs but I feel Juiston could change that.
Yeah, no idea what is going on with Bagley but no way he ends up at KU. He will be great wherever he goes, probably UK.
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Sometimes it depends why a player ended up in JuCo. Some just do not have the talent for Division 1 but explode in JuCo and others do not have the grades and have to do a one or two year sting in Purgatory…in a manner of speaking. In any case and as I indicated, the ones that end up as contributors in Division I are few and far in between.
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Good point Juco’s haven’t been a strong path for KU in the past. Sometimes kids just slip through the conventional path and Juiston is one of them. Kid has talent, I don’t see a reason to label him anything else then that
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If he could shoot EVERYONE would be on him.
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I only listed the one’s that stood out. But I understand your point and I’m not disputing it.
Juiston has had a very unfortunate upbringing that is likely the reason he ended up on the path he is on. I liken his situation to Jamari Traylor who had some comparable adversity in his life and while Traylor was not the greatest Jayhawk to put on a Jersey he did help KU win some games in his career. Shakur seems like a driven kid, heck he got a KU offer and a Juco Title in the past month. I think he’s worth taking a shot on for 2 years
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@JayHawkFanToo juco= purgatory? You should go to the national tournament sometime. When our kids were young we went to all the games, saw some really talented players. W/high costs of colleges increasing we have a ton of kids in Reno co getting almost 2 free years of credits at hutch juco. A lot of kids are taking college classes during their hs years. Enrollments are up here due to encreased costs.
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I did not men that in a derogatory way. I went to JuCo the first two years so I am am aware of the advantages of a good JuCo. It is indeed an extremely good option since the firts two years of most careers student usually take basic classes that a JuCo can provide for a very reasonable cost.There is no question that many JuCo programs have lower admission standards than major schools and sometimes, superior HS players with sub-par grades go there to raise their grades and bide their time so they can move to a major program; I believe that is the definition of purgatory…the place you go to atone until you are ready for the next level.
Two-year Johnson County Community College in Overland Park has 46,000 students enrolled in credit and non-credit classes…this is more than KU and KSU combined…not bad…
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Looks like Preston is all setup to play at KU…
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@JayHawkFanToo not exactly, hcc fb had guys from d1 programs, ksu and KU for example, would send players down for a year to play instead of sitting out a year. They were not ATONING for having lower grades! I know a few guys!
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This still happens.
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@BShark seems a lil harsh!
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I was referring to basketball, football is a lot different since you are dealing with 80-100 players instead of 13-15. Hard to give playing time even in practice to that many players in football. In basketball, ever single players is used and sometimes they even have student assistant participate. I would be shocked if Coach Self ever told a prospect go play in JuCo and we will visit after one or two years…just sayin’…
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Do they still do this or do they red shirt not-ready players?
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Makai Ashton-Langford asks for his release from Uconn. Top 30 player and a combo guard, I believe KU showed a bit of interest during the summer. Hopefully the staff goes after him, he’s going to be the most sought after player
Oh and Brewster alum. We may have a few of those.
Led Brewster to undefeated season
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Yes please!
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@BeddieKU23 Adidas kid too. Might have a chance.
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Thread from MS about guards to keep an eye on. Mentioned that KU is waiting on Duval but you read between the lines and figure KU is probably not getting Duval.
Anyway names mentioned: Thomas Allen, Marcus Evans, Mark Smith, Jermaine Cousinard ( @BeddieKU23 TRIGGERED ), and Makai Ashton-Langford.
Supposedly Kentucky is also kicking the tires on Allen, what a step-up that would be for him if he ends up at KU or UK…
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@BShark I just don’t see how you can watch what HCBS did with Frank and not immediately know where you should go.
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@Kcmatt7 said:
@BShark I just don’t see how you can watch what HCBS did with Frank and not immediately know where you should go.
Maybe they see the video of his workout and freak out…
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@BeddieKU23 seen this too, I’m not sure if it was just the reporter or he mentioned I think it was the reporter, he listed Kansas but also some others saying that Makai was looking for a place where he could get his hands on the ball immediately - well here we are, I think he would be a nice catch - -again shaping up - -ALOT of players opening up - -again for the spring signing - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
