2018 Recruiting Thread
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I’m really surprised that Self and his staff don’t push to have recruits on campus for this week with all the alumni here. Just seems like the perfect opportunity to showcase what happens during the off-season for these guys. I know with AAU and the travel schedules it makes it difficult but there is no reason to believe you couldn’t get some of their local targets especially in 2019 to be roaming around for these camps and games.
Seems like a missed golden opportunity
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@BeddieKU23 I’m just not sure that Bill could make the time he needs to for the recruits. He is crazy busy right now. And, camps are all day until like 10 pm. Just no time for recruits.
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@BeddieKU23 You know I think your right. - -That’s a pretty cool idea, would be really good timing. - -Why couldn’t Coach plan on something like they have on the football camp day where they have recruits in? - - That’s a real good idea - -why didn’t I think of that lol. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@Kcmatt7 I AM NOT SO SURE IF HE IS that BUSY where he couldn’t spend SOME time with them -if not him then the assistants maybe. - -I know for the scrimmage last night he divided the teams and then said HIS current team BETTER WIN - - then he left per NCAA rules it was stated. So since he left why couldn’t he take some time then to show the recruit/recruits around, talk to them some - -then turn them over so they could watch the scrimmage? - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Others, as always, can speak with more knowledge, but perhaps coming to basketball camps could constitute an official visit, and maybe those visits cannot occur in certain circumstances? Possibly, also, coming to a camp they would be getting coached by the staff, which I think canot be done. Don’t they only engage in pickup games when on a visit?
These are reasons why we always think it is unfair when Cal and Coach K get to coach those USA Basketball players–it is an exposure to a coach and his methods players cannot get during recruiting alone.
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Good point. Hadn’t thought of that.
Shaka is another that is benefiting from USA coaching. He got Bamba that way
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@jayballer54 Wouldn’t you rather be the main focus if you are a recruit?
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@mayjay Ya, you might be right by those might be classified as an official visit. Although what I was really trying to say is if these recruits could possibly come in to watch like the game was played last night. Have future recruits watching like current Jayhawks play against Alumi - -don’t really think KU staff was coaching I think it was in reality a glorified pick up game - -no Coaching staff present. I know Coach Self couldn’t be there to watch the game/coach at all last night because of NCAA reg. So was thinking as I know there are recruits that come for un-offical before they make their official some times. - So I was thinking as like last night before the scrimmage started - -Coach could spend time talking to the recruit, I know there is a dead period I believe where the Coach can not have direct contact with recruits, not sure if this would fall in that frame or not, but if it didn’t have him talk before the scrimmage, and then let them watch the scrimmage - -talk to current players - I dunno - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@Kcmatt7 You would be a main focus, as a recruit during that time. - -Coach Self have his time to talk to you during that time, show you the facilities, discuss his plan for you as a player if you commit , Then come time for the scrimmage he turn them loose to watch the scrimmage pretty much as they have recruits watch late night - you still have your time with Coach. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@jayballer54 I just don’t think he has the time during camp season. He takes camp seriously because this is a huge money-maker for him. This is also how they “legally” pay the players. So he stacks these camp weeks. We are talking close to $1M just from camps.
Also, getting a recruit on campus when nobody else is on campus always bothers me. Bring recruits in to see the pretty ladies walking on campus and for people to recognize you. Make them feel like a celebrity.
But that is my recruiting thoughts. We may just disagree.
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Jaime Lewis off the board to NC St
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BeddieKU23 said:
Jaime Lewis off the board to NC St
A lot of early commits for this class. Not sure how involved KU was here after the visit. Felt like a back-up plan.
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BShark said:
BeddieKU23 said:
Jaime Lewis off the board to NC St
A lot of early commits for this class. Not sure how involved KU was here after the visit. Felt like a back-up plan.
Yeah, agreed.
praying KU can land anything early. I know, that sounds really funny with how things have gone over the last few years
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BeddieKU23 said:
BShark said:
BeddieKU23 said:
Jaime Lewis off the board to NC St
A lot of early commits for this class. Not sure how involved KU was here after the visit. Felt like a back-up plan.
Yeah, agreed.
praying KU can land anything early. I know, that sounds really funny with how things have gone over the last few years
Well last year KU did target some kids that decided early pretty hard, just missed on a lot. Looks like Grimes and Dotson could be early decisions, hoping for the best there.
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@BeddieKU23 When we only sign late, it does get frustrating. It feels like we aren’t getting our #1,2 or even 3 option. Like we are just scrambling to fill a roster.
Just once, I’d like to see Bill have a stacked recruiting season early.
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@Kcmatt7 Not gonna be 2018 with the three replacements for the three outgoing seniors already on campus.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 I’ve learned to not expect anything other than late signees from Bill. Doesn’t make it less frustrating.
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Kcmatt7 said:
@BeddieKU23 When we only sign late, it does get frustrating. It feels like we aren’t getting our #1,2 or even 3 option. Like we are just scrambling to fill a roster.
Just once, I’d like to see Bill have a stacked recruiting season early.
I’m optimistic we’ll sign at least one of our top targets in the fall. Grimes, Dotson & Carey all seem to be on course to decide before or in November. Carey could be one that pops early as he’s supposed to visit KU this summer.
It will be frustrating if we are waiting to fill out the roster again in April/May but I think every program is in that same boat today. It does look like we might have to wait until spring to sign a top big man (if there are any available at that point).
Hopefully my optimism isn’t for nothing
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KU’s biggest need “BIGS”. We are pretty much all set for 2018 in the guard department.
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Statmachine said:
KU’s biggest need “BIGS”. We are pretty much all set for 2018 in the guard department.
Eh, losing three guards minimum if you count Svi as a guard. I agree though, bigs are needed. Problem is KU isn’t well positioned for any of the 2018 top post players. Wonder if any of the 19 targets are reclassification possibilities.
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We will not really know until next year. If Udoka and Preston leave along with Whitman then there will be lots of playing time available; if they decide to stay…not so much.
I am sure the available bigs will wait until next year to see how much PT is available before making a commitment. All the potential OAD players will want plenty of PT since they want to showcase their talent in the one year they play.
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Hard to see a top big signing in the fall at KU without the staff convincing those guys that Doke won’t be here next year. Lawson already has the 4 spot locked down so regardless of whether Preston returns we already have 2 PF’s set to be back after this season. We could see the staff land an under the radar big or someone that will develop over time in the fall. There is going to be anywhere from 3-7 spots open after this season.
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@Kcmatt7 YEP - - -Score one for the ladies - -let the recruits get a really good feel of the campus when EVERYONE is here your right, I by far not saying I’m right for sure - just curious your probably right - -makes sense - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@BeddieKU23 Someone like Steere possibly, he is not a huge quality guy - -goog but probably a 3-4 yr player might land him . - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@BeddieKU23 0 centers if Doke goes, I know it’s a dying position but still. And yeah that’s a lot of variance with 3-7 slots. My guess on the flex slots: Doke, Preston, Vick and Newman. I’d lean towards Newman being gone for sure though.
@jayballer54 Yeah Steere would be a great depth and develop addition.
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In 2018 we will have K.J. Lawson (which one of the reporters this week said was the biggest surprise out of the camp). Charlie Moore who we all know has been selected to try out for the U19 team. Marcus Garrett who turned out to be the HS Texas player of the year (which surprised everyone here in TX). Sam Cunliffe which put up 10ppg at ASU which I would have to say is solid freshman production. Lagerald Vick is a BIG question mark BUT I think he will be back (not everyone is going pro unless we win it all).
Garrett played PG in HS and will be an excellent secondary ball handler with Moore running the point. Cunliffe or K.J Lawson at the 3. You could go small and play K.J at the 4 and Dedric at the 5 if we don’t sign another solid BIG? Maybe we will get lucky and get another year out of Udoka or Preston? I think our biggest need will be bigs though.
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@Statmachine you just listed a lot of wings except for Moore. Need GUARDS. Edit: Also I’m not sold on KJ Lawson or Cunliffe being any good. We will see…
If we are trotting out Moore, Garrett, Lawson, Cunliffe, Vick then ball handling would be a major issue and Moore would need to play as many minutes as possible. Adding a couple more guards if possible greatly relieves that pressure. Nudge Vick into the draft and get 2/3 Dotson, Grimes, Carey. Sounds perfect to me but closing the deal is another story.
Edit again: Recent comments from recruiting articles indicate that KU wants a 2 PG type look if possible and that Grimes is absolute top priority.
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@BShark Why would you want to force out potentially the only senior on the 2018-19 team? Seems like a good way to ruin a potentially stacked 2019 class for KU.
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@BShark Moore and Garrett are both PG’s. Thus the 2 PG system is still in play.
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I think the staff sees Garrett as a wing.
@Texas-Hawk-10 I just think he would be the most likely candidate. I also think he is the best player out of all those wings so I see your point. He might just go pro anyway.
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http://www2.kusports.com/news/2016/aug/01/ku-lands-commitment-4-star-dallas-pg-marcus-garret/
He averaged almost a triple double with 17pts 10assists and 8boards. He will be a secondary ball handler/second pg. I have watched him play and he is def a tall PG.
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Statmachine said:
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2016/aug/01/ku-lands-commitment-4-star-dallas-pg-marcus-garret/
He averaged almost a triple double with 17pts 10assists and 8boards. He will be a secondary ball handler/second pg. I have watched him play and he is def a tall PG.
I know plenty about Garrett. Lots of kids think they are a PG. Not sure he translates to playing the position at the high D1 level. Fortunately he will have time to develop w/o being thrown into the fire.
I’ve been wrong before and I’ll be wrong again though. I was very wrong about Bragg for example.
Also to note I am excited about Garrett as a player/prospect and think he will be vg in years 2+ (hopefully +) I just don’t think he ever mans the point for KU. The season after next would likely be his only chance to anyway, with Jacobs and likely more coming in 19-20.
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@BShark Vick may not even start this season and even if he does, he’ll likely be the 4th scoring option at best behind Newman, Graham, and Azubuike. I don’t see him leaving early because he’s not going to be a featured player this year for KU.
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Vick is a high level athlete. If he shows an improved game he’ll have his chance to get to the combine. The NBA will be closely monitoring Vick’s progression.
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@BShark How do players win conference rookie of the year awards like KJ did if they aren’t any good?
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@BShark in what few videos I saw of Garrett it doesn’t seem like he will ever have the handles to be our PG. I dont think Self wants to go back to less than air tight ball handling. Having Frank at point after Tyshawn, EJ, Naadir… I am thinking never again. But never say never with Bill I guess. He will play the hand he’s got if it gives him an advantage somewhere.
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mayjay said:
@BShark How do players win conference rookie of the year awards like KJ did if they aren’t any good?
Bad league. Also who was his competition for the award? That really is a serious question too, I have no idea about other FR in the AAC last season.
Watch some Memphis games (or don’t because they were pretty bad, although Dedric is damn good), look at his numbers. It all adds up to not very good, for now, but players improve.
Who knows, better talent around him, a year to hone his skills and maybe he gets more minutes than I’m thinking he will. He might end up being high major D1 good, he might not be, I just said I’m not sold on it based on what I’ve seen. Contrast with Newman and Moore who I think will be very good.
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@BShark whoaaaa, I’m afraid I would have to disagree -I sincerely would hope your wasn’t even trying to say even at this point that he not very good . - -THAT would be a very bad mistake.
The kid is LEGIT - without his year to tone, no matter what the league. If you wanna base his talent level off the competition he is playing against, then I guess you would almost have to say the same thing against every OAD coming into College - -these superstars, How much do you grade their talents depending on the competition they play against in high school - -AAU. - I don’t think that train of thought holds much value.
About the only thing I can tell you is when it’s his time to ball - - just sit back and enjoy, your going to be in for some real time game. I’ve seen him play many many times - he has all the talent needed to be a stud at ANY level. KU got a real gift when he chose to come here.
As far as awards, he is graded by media and coaches just like anywhere else, It is highly reguarded all around the sports nation that KU indeed got probably the biggest haul of the year when the Lawson’s committed to come to KU. - This is not just local bias - this is Nation wide experts. - -So ya to say that maybe he is over rated or not as good - - umm maybe I mis-understood but looked like that what you might be trying to say - -but I know your not serious - -the kid is for real. - -you can mark it down he is a walking double double no matter he plays - -very legit. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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I will have to disagree with you. The AAC is not a bad Conference and it has been consistently ranked as the 7th best behind the power 5 and the Basketball only Big East. It has several quality programs including Temple, UConn, SMU, Cincinnati, Memphis and now Wichita State. UConn has the most of titles, 2, in the last 10 years tied with Duke and UNC and if you go back 20 years, it has the most titles if any program with 4. All the teams I mentioned above have been ranked in the to 20 in the last few years.
In my opinion, the Newcomer of the Year in the American should be a solid contributor in any of the major conferences; Dedric won the same award the previous year and we all think he will be great at KU. His numbers are better and his upside greater than that of Whitman, who most of us think will be a solid contributor the upcoming season. I have great hopes for K.J.
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40% shooter. 32% trey ball. Also look at his usage and ortg. All very scary. Or more importantly just watch Memphis games.
Also I don’t think it’s fair to compare him to Whitman as they are completely different players based on position. Or other previous AAC roty winners Daniel Hamilton or Austin Nichols for that matter…
Anyway, positions have been noted. We will revisit this next season.
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Definitely his shooting numbers weren’t very good.
The big but I have with assessing KJ right now is just how bad Memphis was without him and his brother. Coaching didn’t win them games this season. They didn’t have a single player outside the Lawson’s that were even as good as Lightfoot. I think surrounding himself with guys better then him will do wonder for his game.
The one strength of KJ is he’s a plus rebounder and defender. He can make the open 3 as well. I think he’ll definitely be a nice rotation piece next year.
But your right we can revisit this next year. Hopefully Self will have some nice things to say about the 3 sit-outs over the course of the season which will shed more light on them
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KJ won AAC ROY? He only played 10 games as a freshman, wasn’t it Dedric and his 16 and 9 that won ROY in '15-16?
Dedric is the prize here, KJ is a decent player, but not a star. KJ will be fighting Marcus Garrett for minutes in 2018-19 and trying to avoid being the odd man out in the rotation unless KJ moves to the 4 and becomes a stretch 4 for KU.
Best case scenario for KJ is 3rd option behind Vick and his brother.
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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.
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@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]
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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
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@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!
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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.
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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
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If he is okay with being a Travis Releford type, then my stance changes drastically.
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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:
