🏀 KuBuckets Archive

I didn't see the announcement on ESPNU, but 247Sports and the Syracuse website say Preston committed to us. Welcome Mr. Preston. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

Oh yes he did!!! Welcome Preston, and thanks for being an intricate part of our successful lineup next year.

@hawkmoon2020 Just posted off another thread I just read off another site -- Rayford young tweeted out - - - yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaa Billy, Love it man, congrads young man, wish that held some insight behind that - - but I know just a tweet - - - I do think it can't hurt that Billy is friends with Duval - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Opposite situation of Azu, he will be playing his FR season at age 20.

@BShark Matt Tait is reporting that Billy has already signed his LOI during the early signing period, that would be sweet - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54 said:

@BShark Matt Tait is reporting that Billy has already signed his LOI during the early signing period, that would be sweet - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

This has been confirmed actually. Listed as a signee on 247. Self should talk about him soon I'd imagine.

YES.... i hope anyway with questions about him being cleared

Will it go round in circles ?

So glad he signed early. Now we can get transcripts and see where he is at. Very confident we can get him eligible now. If he had waited until the Spring I doubted it. Between credible online high school courses and summer school there is no doubt in my mind he is going to be able to play.

Big get, but only because it was in November.

Next is Duval. I think this goes a long way in landing him.

@Kcmatt7 we would be in great shape if Duval commits. There is also a decent chance either, Devonte, Carlton or Svi decide to stay. We would be loaded next year.

[

Billy Preston

Music to my ears!

@HawkChamp I feel pretty good about Svi being back to this point. Unless he comes out and drills 50% from 3pt the rest of the season or something crazy.

Devonte to me is 50/50. Hard to think his stock could go any higher. But at the same time it is hard to leave when you aren't given a guaranteed contract....

Bragg looks like he needs another year. As in, he would be a top 10 pick if he did. But doubt he will stay because I think he is a first rounder whenver he decides to leave. A 6'11 guy with a stroke gets drafted all day every day. It all matters on how bad he wants to land in the lottery vs a late 1st round guy.

Potential starting lineup next year - Dok, Billy, Svi, Lagerald and Devonte (I personally think Carlton will go because I would imagine Billy wants PT). That is a strong starting five.

I had a feeling that good things might come on the recruiting front with the whole team playing well against Duke, including Udoka who will def be here next year.

@approxinfinity Udoka is going to be dominant and a player of the year candidate next year. Contrary to my earlier feelings, we will have a really good team next year.

@Kcmatt7 I do too. I can't see where it can do anything BUT HELP us hopefully with Trevon, let Billy do a little recruiting for us - - get his buddy to come along, would be a sweet group - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Sorry, but I don't follow these recruiting threads much. Who is he. What does he play? What's his rank? Is he a KU lifer or a rent-a-player?

@wissox http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Billy-Preston-7297/ ↗

Summary of the link

Strengths:
- 6'10 powerforward (in shoes) with a 7'1 reach.
- Good athlete.
- Solid jumper
- ball handling skills a plus for his size

Weaknesses:
- Doesn't like to play D or box out.
- Ball stopper on Offense
- Not an efficient scorer in volume opportunities

Essentially, the guy is a stud he is just lazy. Won't be able to do that here so I'm not too worried.

@wissox 6'10 power forward top 20 5 star. Has a good mid range jumper and is good at attacking the hoop. Experts say he is a good fit for Self's system.

@Kcmatt7 said:

@HawkChamp I feel pretty good about Svi being back to this point. Unless he comes out and drills 50% from 3pt the rest of the season or something crazy.

Devonte to me is 50/50. Hard to think his stock could go any higher. But at the same time it is hard to leave when you aren't given a guaranteed contract....

Bragg looks like he needs another year. As in, he would be a top 10 pick if he did. But doubt he will stay because I think he is a first rounder whenver he decides to leave. A 6'11 guy with a stroke gets drafted all day every day. It all matters on how bad he wants to land in the lottery vs a late 1st round guy.

Bragg and Graham are 99% to leave. Edit: Don't know about Svi.

@wissox said:

Sorry, but I don't follow these recruiting threads much. Who is he. What does he play? What's his rank? Is he a KU lifer or a rent-a-player?

RAP. As OAD as Josh.

COPYPASTE.

2017 versatile forward Billy Preston announced his college decision on ESPNU Friday afternoon, but he made the decision to go to Kansas more than a week ago. The 6'10" 230lbs hybrid forward originally from California was blown away by the atmosphere he saw inside Allen Fieldhouse when he officially visited Kansas for Late Night in the Phog. It was that visit that put the Jayhawk in front of Preston's mind.

"A week to ten days ago. Last week for sure," answered Preston about when he made his decision to go to Kansas. "The fans. The fans really showed me something. They showed me they really love and appreciate the game and wanted me to go there," added Preston.

Along with the wild Kansas fans that Preston saw during his visit, he was also impressed by Kansas Head Coach Bill Self and his staff.

"I'm really impressed with Coach Self and the entire staff at Kansas," said Preston. "Really the whole thing there [at Kansas] really impressed me," he added.

The early signing period ended this past Wednesday, but Preston says he has already signed his Letter of Intent.

"Yes I signed," said Preston. "My mom took care of it," he added about his LOI being sent in to Kansas.

Trevon Duval, currently at IMG, is Preston's former teammate at API. Will Preston help recruit Duval to Kansas?

"I'm going to look into that," a chuckling Preston answered.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/ku-basketball-billy-preston-signs-with-the-jayhawks-111816 ↗

@BShark And what makes you think Devonte is leaving?

At this second, I would give him a 50/50 chance to be in the 1st round. And because he is old, I would say it is probably actually worse than 50/50. He's a 22 Y/o Junior come February. That's old.

@BShark said:

“I’m going to look into that,” a chuckling Preston answered.

Wouldn't that be awesome! We are going to be thinner in the backcourt next year and we could use a tall, talented guard

@HawkChamp don't forget malik

@Kcmatt7 said:

@BShark And what makes you think Devonte is leaving?

At this second, I would give him a 50/50 chance to be in the 1st round. And because he is old, I would say it is probably actually worse than 50/50. He's a 22 Y/o Junior come February. That's old.

The coaches believe he will leave. If he does stay that's obviously great for KU even if it would put KU out of the running for Young or Duval.

@BShark said:

RAP. As OAD as Josh.

Really Awesome Player?

Rather Athletic Patriot?

Ridiculous Artistic Perp?

Rioters are Pansies?

What does it mean?

@wissox said:

@BShark said:

RAP. As OAD as Josh.

Really Awesome Player?

Rather Athletic Patriot?

Ridiculous Artistic Perp?

Rioters are Pansies?

What does it mean?

I was just abbreviating rent-a-player. :smiley:

@HawkChamp said:

@BShark said:

“I’m going to look into that,” a chuckling Preston answered.

Wouldn't that be awesome! We are going to be thinner in the backcourt next year and we could use a tall, talented guard

Duval, Newman, Vick would quite possibly be the most talent Self has had in the back court at his time here.

Quote lifted from KUSPORTS: "Bill Self and staff really no how to shut people (me) up after slow starts in recruiting."

@wissox your own words, goofball!🤔

@BShark Thanks, Is he really a OAD in your view? The description makes me think he might be around for a couple of years.

@KUSTEVE said:

Quote lifted from KUSPORTS: "Bill Self and staff really no how to shut people (me) up after slow starts in recruiting."

I need to stop doubting Bill!

@wissox said:

@BShark Thanks, Is he really a OAD in your view? The description makes me think he might be around for a couple of years.

He compared himself to Lebron today.

@Crimsonorblue22 said:

@wissox your own words, goofball!🤔

XD

@wissox lol. good one. Sorry about Creighton, but the Jays will be a top 20 team all year. They ARE really good.

Devonte, Newman, Svivick, Preston/Bragg, Doke. Yea, buddy...hubba hubba....

The fact that he enrolled at Oak Hill dispels the overseas stuff and Oak Hill also takes away the eligibility question. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!

@wrwlumpy

Plus KU can help him with academic stuff now that he is signed.

@KUSTEVE said:

Devonte, Newman, Svivick, Preston/Bragg, Doke. Yea, buddy...hubba hubba....

We can dream.

🐦 View Tweet

Well he certainly does not lack confidence.

Pretty cool: 🐦 View Tweet

I'll feel better about Preston next November when he plays in a meaningful game for KU.

!billonbill.jpg ↗

@Texas-Hawk-10 said:

I'll feel better about Preston next November when he plays in a meaningful game for KU.

KU being able to guide him along is big I think.

Full article that the previous pic was from: http://kuathletics.com/news/2016/11/18/mens-basketball-mens-hoops-signs-billy-preston.aspx ↗

Congrats Billy. Welcome to the family.

@KUSTEVE Thanks for the condolences. I was really ticked at UW that game. Jacked up a ton of threes when they weren't falling. They should have won. Oh well, Beat Siena!

@wrwlumpy BP was simply Bad Ass in the day... Beatles & the Wolf Man thought so too. Listened to Jack on XERS Radio from Del Rio Texas before he was mainstream only after midnite cuz he was a "just little off color". After DC's Midnight Special, he cleaned it up a lot-a whole lot. Best damn times of our lives lump & we didn't even know it.

I keep telling you all...trust thy Self, he always delivers. I worry about a lot of things but recruiting is not one of them because I know Coach Self will deliver like he always does; there is a reason why he is the winningest coach at AFH.

@HawkChamp I think you have left out a major X factor. Newman by all accounts will be a stud. A 5 star recruit that has a year learning Self's system without pressure. If Graham goes, look for Newman to fill his shoes quite nicely.

I worry about him being eligible. But I guess we're no worse off for trying...........you know......Nothing from Nothing leaves Nothing.

I wish we could pull up the old threads so I could say "well looky here" Duval and Preston are who I said I thought we had the best chances with. I remember someone telling me that BOTH of them had issues because of the schools they had attended but never the less that was my prediction months ago. I would imagine Duval will follow since they have been considered a package deal since April.

@Statmachine Hope you're right! Anything on Twitter/Facebook etc. that would lead you to believe Duval will commit to KU? Soon?

@Statmachine Do you hear anything about the eligibility issue for either Preston or Duval?

Welcome to Kansas, Billy Preston!

I'm happy we signed the "Fifth Beatle!"

He is a rock-solid player well-skilled all over the court. He is a match-up nightmare for opposing teams!

And I doubt he is done growing.

This is awesome news!

Looking at a highlight reel, he reminds me a little of the Morrii. Good shooter, not particularly explosive, kinda slow, good thick frame. Self will need to work on defense and drive.

@dylans said:

@Statmachine Hope you're right! Anything on Twitter/Facebook etc. that would lead you to believe Duval will commit to KU? Soon?

Spring.

@chriz said:

Looking at a highlight reel, he reminds me a little of the Morrii. Good shooter, not particularly explosive, kinda slow, good thick frame. Self will need to work on defense and drive.

He could definitely end up being Marcus Morris good. Unfortunately I think KU will only have him for one year.

Here is a nice read from our old friend, Jesse Newell

What to expect from KU commit Billy Preston ↗

Is he writing for the Wichita Eagle, or did they just pick up his story, perhaps on the AP?

Billy Preston♕

All my Jayhawk fans, can we get @TheTraeYoung to come to KU as well? ������ Let him know
(🐦 View Tweet?s=09)

@Ralph said:

Billy Preston♕

All my Jayhawk fans, can we get @TheTraeYoung to come to KU as well? ������ Let him know
(🐦 View Tweet?s=09)

🐦 View Tweet

@stoptheflop Read ESPN's scout on him. See that Preston is quite skilled with the ball in his hands. Point Forward is the label that was used. Sounds pretty promising to me.

We just need to get another guard or two and KU will be set again next year. No biggy.

@Lulufulu said:

@stoptheflop Read ESPN's scout on him. See that Preston is quite skilled with the ball in his hands. Point Forward is the label that was used. Sounds pretty promising to me.

We just need to get another guard or two and KU will be set again next year. No biggy.

Billy has Bill fired up: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article115927158.html ↗

@BShark Yeah, cool article.

I have no current info on the package deal BUT he did start recruiting Young as soon as he committed to KU... How about JOJO tonight??? 26 pts in 20 min! Just cant get enough of that big fella

@Statmachine said:

I have no current info on the package deal BUT he did start recruiting Young as soon as he committed to KU... How about JOJO tonight??? 26 pts in 20 min! Just cant get enough of that big fella

Embiid is great.

Unrelated: 🐦 View Tweet

@drgnslayr Wichita Eagle & KC Star are under same ownership & I think JNew is still writing for the Star.

@Texas-Hawk-10 said:

I'll feel better about Preston next November when he plays in a meaningful game for KU.

Exactly! until then I caution everyone before they get excited. He is a great talent and he needs a coach like Self to help him for his 8 month stay.

@globaljaybird said:

Best damn times of our lives lump & we didn’t even know it.

You know by now, I hope, that you would not have wanted to know it? Thinking when so young that everything would go down hill from the carefree days of youth? I think we can only get through day to day if we are able to always delude ourselves about the promises of a bright future!

@globaljaybird Your reference to the Wolf Man on XERS from Del Rio, Texas brought back memories. One of the funnier aspects of his being on only after midnight was the fact that it was a religious station during the day selling all sorts of religious stuff

I remember the night a friend and I drove to Lincoln to see Nebraska play Oklahoma for the Big 8 championship the day that Kennedy was shot. Every station on the dial was playing dirge music except for two. The first was a rock and roll station from Havana, Cuba and the second was XERS playing the same type of stuff blasted over their 500k watt transmitter located in Mexico so as to get around the US limit on 50k watts.

@JayHawkFanToo I'm with you on HCBS and recruiting. Trust and Believe. And no matter how the recruiting goes he still has the ability to turn a sow's ear into a silver slipper.

@globaljaybird While you were listening to Wolfman, my dad was at Great Lakes NTC, IL, so I was tuning in Dick Biondi on 50KW WLS in Chicago. Had this big old clunky (by todays standards) transistor radio that looked like a lunchbox, used AC or 6 C cell batteries. Would hide it under the pillow so I could still listen after bedtime.

@Statmachine JoJo is a shoe in for Rookie of the Year. At this point, they should just give it to him. No other rookie is even coming close.

@Lulufulu said:

@Statmachine JoJo is a shoe in for Rookie of the Year. At this point, they should just give it to him. No other rookie is even coming close.

:dart: :dart:

@brooksmd WLS had a helluva signal that I could PU in the toolies 40 mi south of Lawrence on a small old Philco. We got the Wolfman on a mohogany upright Hoffman, push button short wave in the mid 1960's when he was barely clean enough to get on radio even in Ciudad Acuna Coahuila, Mexico, which was re transmitted through a station in Del Rio, Texas. Program didn't even come on till midnite when the only other programs on were faith healers & holy rollers that were makin goiters disappear (on radio?) Mom used to say she & Dad's parents could sometimes hear Tokyo Rose on that radio during the war. Older brother somehow got it involved in a divorce of his in laws & never saw it after I was about 20 years old...GRRRRRRR ... My eldest brother kept it working perfectly during his first 15 years in the Navy etc, when he would come back for leave occasionally, but it left our families' possession sometime in the early 1970's.

@mayjay You're absolutely right - but we were so damn naïve (or dumb) we would never have believed it anyway.

@sfbahawk Damn, we almost sound old enough to remember when the Dead Sea was just sick !!
I recall one of my HS girlfriends had that magnetic plastic Jesus on the dashboard of her "Little Nash Rambler." Abt a 64' model I think. My first car was a 54' Dodge Royale-it smoked as blue as the sky...

Oak Hill has a televised game on ESPN2 tonight. A chance to watch Billy play.

Oak Hill is a loaded team.

@BeddieKU23

Indeed. 7 D1 prospects in the next two classes.

They are playing Sierra Canyon who has Marvin Bagley, Cody Riley and some other prospects as well. Emphasis on the bag in Bagley from what I've seen floating around.

@BShark

Thanks! I just set my DVR.

@drgnslayr

Beats Thursday Night football iyam.

@BShark

agreed tonight's TFBG is horrible

Preston made a great choice for his future picking Kansas. You can seen he is ooooooooooozing with talent but lazy at times (didn't help that Oak Hill played zone). Self will crank this kid up.

Romeo Langford looked really really good last night too.

@Kcmatt7 said:

Romeo Langford looked really really good last night too.

Total stud. Unfortunately KU isn't really in the running for his one year of service.

@BShark Probably right. But not so out of it Bill didn't think it was a waste of time to trip to Indiana and watch him last night...

Bagley is a freak. Wow. And only a junior?

But I like Billy's game. Very talented but I don't see him as an OAD. Incredible commitment for us!

@drgnslayr

The problem is Billy thinks he's a OAD.

Bagley may not play College Ball either..

@drgnslayr boy your so right, Bagley is an animal, attack, attack, attack the rim. - -At First I thought Billy was eh not showing much BUT then got to thinking, well that team is loaded will players, more balanced team even though they lost last night, I do feel Billy could of been a little more aggressive at times but who knows how the coach had the play scheme set up, heard them talking also that coach is recruiting that McCormik kid, he is a big kid - - thought Coleman was ok, Wiggington looked really good going to Iowa state. I know Billy is an assumed OAD but I'm not sure BUT yet this was ONE game we seen also - -still glad to have him - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@BShark you noticed that too huh? - - Noticed on a couple of occasions he kind of was lax getting up and down the floor, little lax on the D, - -then towards the end trying to guard Bagley - -not so good, BUT BAGLEY going to make a lot of guys look not so good - -like the announcer said almost can't guard him one on one the kid is an animal. But still happy we got Preston - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Finally got a chance to watch some of the game after reading comments about Preston.

Definitely wasn't his best game and I think the tools are there for a guy like Self to mold. Defensively with Oak Hill playing the zone you didn't get much of a read but its definitely an area of concern with him. On offense I love his ball-handling skills for his size- tough to find any 6-10 230 pound athletes with that kind of ability to handle the ball. Shot looks good so he's definitely a stretch the floor type. The biggest issue which isn't new to me is his effort. He needs Bill Self to push him to become a better player then he already is. Lots of talent, definitely not a finished product.

Some of the other guys are players. I've seen Wigginton play a bunch and he's going to be a pain for us to deal with in the future. He'll start at ISU as a freshman, probably why he ended up there. Martin had a KU offer but he was never leaving the West-Coast. Riley is better then I thought, we could have used him for next year. He will be a good one at UCLA, Bagley could play in the NBA right now, he's a man among boys out there. Coleman is limited offensively but knows how to run a team with talent around him. I don't see top 30 player in him but its a weak PG class so he's rated higher then normal. Alexander will be a big-time player for Creighton in the future, nice pick up for them.

I believe Preston will be on TV again against Michael Porter Jr next month. Should be a great matchup

@BeddieKU23

He should think that..... he's just in HS and he is a God in HS.

He had a teaspoon of reality last night. And when he comes to Kansas, he will be mixed in with guys of a similar talent level. Reality will come soon enough, but the question is if he is willing to accept a different message than he has faced his entire life.

@Kcmatt7 said:

@BShark Probably right. But not so out of it Bill didn't think it was a waste of time to trip to Indiana and watch him last night...

Sometimes Bill gets Wiggins/Jackson. But in those cases, we really hear that KU is in it, at least from a few people and in the case of Josh KU was the runaway favourite until his recruitment really ramped up. I don't get that same vibe with Romeo.

@BeddieKU23 said:

The problem is Billy thinks he's a OAD.

Bagley may not play College Ball either..

Nailed it. I fully believe if Ayton didn't leave KU high and dry Preston is committed somewhere else.

@jayballer54 said:

@BShark you noticed that too huh? - - Noticed on a couple of occasions he kind of was lax getting up and down the floor, little lax on the D, - -then towards the end trying to guard Bagley - -not so good, BUT BAGLEY going to make a lot of guys look not so good - -like the announcer said almost can't guard him one on one the kid is an animal. But still happy we got Preston - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Bagley is an NBA allstar barring injury IMO. And yeah, that's been the book on Preston and well it is easy to see why even if it is just one game since it lines up with reports.

@BShark said:

@Kcmatt7 said:

Romeo Langford looked really really good last night too.

Total stud. Unfortunately KU isn't really in the running for his one year of service.

Who are believed to be the leaders?

@BShark If he's as lazy on D as everyone says, he'll either change or he'll spend a lot of time picking splinters out of his backside at KU. HCBS doesn't tolerate lazy D from anybody.

@brooksmd

Exactly this is why I was thinking he made a good decision coming to KU. Or it could be a disaster, but I am hoping for the best.

@Hawk8086

Duke, Duke and Duke. It's early though, his recruitment will rev up next year and we will see for sure who is really in it.

@BShark Thanks for the info.

@drgnslayr

I point that out because Preston has exactly what the NBA wants. A big body who can handle the ball ,shoot, athletic- the stretch 4 in the NBA. He'll be on the NBA radar and unless he's disappointing at KU I don't expect we'll have him long enough for him to live up the Marcus Morris comp... Obviously things can change, we will see

@Hawk8086

KU has done a good job recruiting Langford but we're probably not his top choice right now. I bet we stick around in his top 5 and if we happen to have a starting spot open for him or win a championship this year those are the things that could push him our way.

@brooksmd

He's a typical top talent that is more worried about getting his points. Even playing on a loaded team with D-1 players at every position can make him even more complacent. Self will either get him to "get it" or he'll be on the bench