2019 Recruiting
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Figured it would be easier to make a thread with just 2019 info for now. Anyway, here’s what I’ve heard up to now on guys:
The staff is planning on a big class again. The Vick/Romeo scholarship will be open, Dedric will go pro, and if he returns (which I think he will), Udoka will likely bolt too. Look for the staff to recruit like Grimes is a OAD too. 4 is a really good bet for how many they’ll add, but I could also foresee 5 if there’s a weird departure.
Jacobs is solid for KU. No worries there. He’s also really the only PG the staff is looking strongly at. I wouldn’t be surprised at a RS for him. No rush to throw him out there right away. A guy like Cole Anthony isn’t coming with Dotson already in the fold.
On Grimes’s replacement, it looks like Zach Harvey is really a matter of when, not if, assuming KU continues to prioritize him. However, he may not start. If the staff goes elsewhere, they love Cassius Stanley. He’s a plus plus athlete with plenty of skill to play the 2. He’ll be tough to pull from SoCal though. He’s also a year old for his class, and rumors are he could reclassify. In that case, only look for KU to be involved if there’s a mass exodus after the season.
Wing is arguably the biggest need in this class. And we’re looking at a ton of them. Stanley could play that spot, but if not there are a ton of options. There are some lower ranked guys like Malik Hall from Sunrise and Josh Green, an Australian from IMG. Jalen Wilson is a fast riser out of Texas who I love. We offered last fall, and he was at AFH in January. 247 has him a 5*, 15th overall. Super versatile kid too. Also closer to 6’8 than 6’6 where he’s listed these days.
Speaking of versatility, Precious Achiwura may be my favorite prospect in the class. He’s a 6’9 wing with all the tools in the world. He could grow to almost 7’0 and already has a 7’1 wingspan. He’s already a good rebounder and terrific playmaker for his size. He needs to improve his shot and get stronger, but he may have the highest ceiling in the class. Look for KU to really get involved over the summer. Norm the lead here. If he does grow to that size, he could easily be recruited as a stretch 4.
Speaking of stretch 4’s, Matt Hurt is really a guy KU will pursue. A friend of mine in the Duke world told me they think he’s staying in the midwest. That leaves KU and Minnesota, where his brother plays. We can get him. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl or bust. Should come in right away and replace Dedric. Also probably a matter of when. The staff is still looking at Chandler Lawson, but we’ll see.
I think Silvio opens the year at the 5. It’s a strong class for big men at the top, but KU really isn’t heavily involved for any. There’s Vernon Carey obviously, but I think Sparty if Izzo survives. Kofi Cockburn, unfortunate name and all, is another guy to watch. He’s an absolute physical force, but has a long way to go in the skill department.
Sorry for the novel, but that’s where I think things stand as of today. We’ll find out where the staff’s priorities are with much greater certainty this summer.
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@FarmerJayhawk thanks for the insights. Are you optimistic that we will have as much success closing the deal on our targets as we did with the 2018 class?
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I do not see Zach harvey turning down Kansas
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@approxinfinity no problem. As of today, yes. Things can obviously change though. Silvio wasn’t close to our radar a year ago too.
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I have a good friend connected with Brewster Academy and he knows Achiuwa’s coach in Jersey. He told me recently that KU was making him their priority wing. If anyone has seen him play recently you will know why. It’s the only insider info I get being from the northeast. Of course the information isn’t straight from the source but I trust his Intel. We will see how serious we pursue I think Achiuwa has become the top wing in 19
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@BeddieKU23 thats awesome. Glad everyone is saying the same thing there. I’ll be really interested to see him over the summer. I think his skill level will really take off once he’s done growing.
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Oh jeez I totally forgot someone, like I knew I would. Current 2020 and possible 2019 reclass PG RJ Hampton would be an A+ addition at the 2 if Grimes leaves. Big, 6’4, maybe even 6’5 kid who can really play. Consensus top 5 player in 2020 and wouldn’t be far behind that in 2019.
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@FarmerJayhawk What if RJ reclasses to 19? Does that change anything with Jacobs? Or would someone else likely be pushed out? You can’t just stop recruiting RJ imo.
Really can’t go wrong with Wilson or Achiuwa at the wing. I’d love either one of them. RJ and Jalen seem really close, not saying they play together in college but I believe they have known each other since grade school and I would take them as a package deal in a second.
Edit: I see you mentioned RJ before I made this post. Hadn’t loaded that yet when I posted.
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Hurt and JRE are kids I think we get, and both are very very good.
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@BShark I doubt it affects Jacobs if Hampton doesn’t announce a reclass until a year or more from now. If Harvey and Jacobs want to sign early, I think you take them no questions asked and assume Hampton is a 2020 guy and keep recruiting him as such.
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FarmerJayhawk said:
@BeddieKU23 thats awesome. Glad everyone is saying the same thing there. I’ll be really interested to see him over the summer. I think his skill level will really take off once he’s done growing.
As you said there is a chance he still grows and becomes more of a stretch 4. Whether he’s a wing or Stretch 4 Achiuwa is a matchup nightmare right now.
I was told St Johns is in his ear (brother played at St Johns) but his coach has said he believes Achiuwa is more of a national recruit then his brother ever was and could do his own thing. Norm Roberts has done a great job building an early relationship with him. This is one that the staff has done its work early (Like a Dotson/Grimes situation).
My friend says Brewster has two Top 100 Jr’s that he wished KU would give a look to. He’s aware KU has some other options already at this point but he thinks highly of the two and works with them closely to improve their games
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@BeddieKU23 I would figure one is Sherif Kenney who looks like a high major prospect but who is the other player?
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BShark said:
@BeddieKU23 I would figure one is Sherif Kenney who looks like a high major prospect but who is the other player?
Joel Brown who’s a PG from Canada. Brown has Rutgers, BC some other schools interested. Uconn was until the news about Ollie likely getting the can at season’s end. He ended up going to VT Academy where Shittu is just before the season started. Brewster has a stacked squad and he didn’t want to risk not playing much this year. Brown still drives down to Brewster every once in a while to get in some side work with my friend. He’s high on him. He doesn’t necessarily think Brown is KU level but he always loves when KU shows interest in the Brewster kids- he’s a big fan of Self and the staff and when KU shows interest in any kid from this area the Northeast schools start sending more assistants and kids gets exposure and looks. So he looks at it from the perspective that any interest KU shows is ultimately a good thing for them.
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With Agbaji signing, wing isn’t as much an issue in 2019. We know that Garrett, Agbaji and Cunliffe will all be here. KJ Lawson likely sticks around. Dotson will probably be here. Moore, too. That gives us three PGs (Dotson, Moore and Jacobs) on that roster, plus Garrett as a junior, Agbaji as either a sophomore or redshirt freshman, and Cunliffe as a senior (assuming he stays).
Harvey makes seven guys on the perimeter. I’m hoping he continues to develop. He’s struggled off and on this year against some of the better athletes he has faced. He has also had some really nice games this year, and has shown an improving shooting touch. I think more than anything, Zach just needs to get a little bit stronger to handle the uptick in competition. Since he’s still a ways away from graduation, he is still on track to get where he needs to be, though I would almost rather him be in the weight room all summer than on the court. I will note that he looks like he’s starting to fill out naturally anyway, so he’s doing the work. It’s just going to be a long summer of more work for him.
Robinson-Earl also needs to add some strength. Kid is still pretty slender. He’s probably also on track to be ready when he gets on campus, but that’s going to be something he needs to work on. I’d also like to see him be a bit more active on the glass. He’s really athletic, and here in Kansas, he should be averaging more like 10-12 rebounds per game (averages a very solid 8.6 right now). As athletic as he is, he should be outright dominant on the glass. I remember one of the things I loved about TRob as a recruit was that he was a relentless rebounder. He averaged something like 14 or 15 boards a game as a senior because he just wanted to get every rebound. I hope that happens for JRE as well.
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Unless Ogbaji is ready for a big role as a Soph I’m going to be hard pressed to believe the Wing position isn’t a high priority in 2019. Especially with targets such as Achiuwa, Wilson and others that have shown a lot of promise
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Agbaji is a nice signing and I wouldn’t push him out but if we have the room to take 5 players (axing Cunliffe maybe?) then you add an elite wing if you can. Achiuwa and Wilson definitely qualify.
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Harvey with a huge game last night, dropping 42 in the win. Hit 7 threes. He’s averaging over 25 a game since his ankle got healthy, though that’s obviously a bit skewed with the big game last night. Still, seven threes in a game demonstrates that Harvey has improved his overall shooting touch even more (was 7-10 from three, 15-21 from the field).
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His game is growing on me. Making that perimeter shot would make him even more valuable as an addition to the team.
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Another 2019 player to keep an eye on Lester Quinones. Plays with Achiuwa at St Benedict’s.
6’5 wing that can shoot. I’m going to reach out to my Brewster friend to see what he’s got to say on that. #66 ranked player
Quinones told Rivals that he feels as if Illinois, St. John’s, Minnesota, Kansas and Georgetown are the five programs that he is hearing from the most.
Kansas: “It means a lot to be recruited by them. They haven’t offered yet but it is a really good look.”
Doesn’t sound like KU is that interested just yet…
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@BeddieKU23 Maybe he wants Kansas? Don’t see him listed on Rivals or 247 but he claims an offer on twitter. Makes sense that we would see him a lot because of Achiuwa. Someone to keep an eye on if other options don’t work out I suppose.
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justanotherfan said:
Harvey with a huge game last night, dropping 42 in the win. Hit 7 threes. He’s averaging over 25 a game since his ankle got healthy, though that’s obviously a bit skewed with the big game last night. Still, seven threes in a game demonstrates that Harvey has improved his overall shooting touch even more (was 7-10 from three, 15-21 from the field).
I’ve Actually seen him play a few times this year living right here in Topeka with him - -out at Hayden. - -Just looks to me that he is continuing to just get better - -nice stroke. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@jayballer73 We should meet up at a game some time. I’ve been to a few of Zach’s games as well.
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@BShark you could help him w/his computer
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I would like to see Zach develop more of his off the dribble game. His upside is limited if he is only a spot up shooter. Granted, with the way his shot is coming along, he can be a very good spot up shooter, but that’s the difference between a Brannen Greene type career and a Travis Releford type career.
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BShark said:
@jayballer73 We should meet up at a game some time. I’ve been to a few of Zach’s games as well.
Oh you have? - -ya we should. - - it’s not very long before the tournies start up. - -It’s just a hop skip and Jump for me as I live in the southeast part of town. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@dylans Thank you.
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Norm Roberts is at Hayden to watch Zach Harvey now
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Sam Williamson will be at AFH tomorrow. He’s KU’s if they want him. Rivals has him top 50, Scout/247 have him over 200 for some reason. KU legacy too.
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Self visited JRE tonight.
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Zach Harvey had 28 points tonight coming off the bench for Hayden
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This post is deleted!
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@blackmild33 Coming off the bench?
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@Hawk8086 it was senior night there.
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@FarmerJayhawk Ahhh…thanks
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Ochai and Malik Hall will be at the game tomorrow night.
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@BShark and me! I saw Cole and his wife on mass this am, of course I had to shake his hand and say congrats. They were so nice. Said they were in town til tues so I’m guessing he’ll be there for Sherron.
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The kid just loves KU.
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Another guy KU should be on in 2019. Very skilled and versatile guard. Grew 5” in the last year so shooting is still inconsistent, but will get better as he fills out. https://247sports.com/Player/AJ-Lawson-46039513
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FarmerJayhawk said:
Another guy KU should be on in 2019. Very skilled and versatile guard. Grew 5” in the last year so shooting is still inconsistent, but will get better as he fills out. https://247sports.com/Player/AJ-Lawson-46039513
Looks pretty good. I think Oregon and UK have better Canada pipelines than us but Wiggins can’t hurt.
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Josh Green mentioned KU as one of the schools talking to him daily and recruiting him hard. Green is a stud. Big guard much in the mold of Grimes
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BeddieKU23 said:
Josh Green mentioned KU as one of the schools talking to him daily and recruiting him hard. Green is a stud. Big guard much in the mold of Grimes
He is a fair bit better than Harvey at this stage from what I’ve seen. Their ranking is similar though. I wonder if we can take both.
Harvey was at the OU blood bath.
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Achiuwa’s team won the NJ prep state title last night.
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JRE visiting Arizona… Matt is saying don’t be concerned but we’ll see
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@BeddieKU23 I haven’t heard of anything changing here, but AZ is AZ so obviously the history is there. I’ll keep my ear to the ground on this. I’ve been to a few of his games this year.
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BShark said:
@BeddieKU23 I haven’t heard of anything changing here, but AZ is AZ so obviously the history is there. I’ll keep my ear to the ground on this. I’ve been to a few of his games this year.
Yeah we’ll see how this plays out. JRE is good friends with Jontay Porter who’s godfather is Romar (Zona assistant).
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I expect him to take more visits. UNC and some others have put forth the effort. So he should use all his officials and ultimately end up at KU.
Romar is every recruit’s god father it seems.
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BShark said:
BeddieKU23 said:
Josh Green mentioned KU as one of the schools talking to him daily and recruiting him hard. Green is a stud. Big guard much in the mold of Grimes
He is a fair bit better than Harvey at this stage from what I’ve seen. Their ranking is similar though. I wonder if we can take both.
Harvey was at the OU blood bath.
I think Green is better at this point as well and physically he’s really filled out at IMG. I like how Harvey is developing. 2019 class is really strong and KU is in a good spot to clean up
