@Woodrow yep
All those Harvey picks are super old and I believe KU stopped recruiting him.
BShark
33646 posts
If Duke came calling, Foster would teleport out of Iowa.
Silvio De Sousa’s mother, Janina, checked in with her only son regularly during his sophomore year at Kansas, seeking the latest news on the 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward’s eligibility case with the NCAA.
Phone call after call ended with Janina, a government worker in Angola, learning Silvio was practicing daily at KU, but not playing in games amid allegations his guardian accepted illegal benefits from an Adidas representative.
“Whenever my mom called to ask me, ‘Do you have updates today?’ … sometimes I wouldn’t pick up the phone. I didn’t want to tell her the same answer … all the ‘no’s,’’’ De Sousa said Wednesday afternoon from Brett Ballard’s Washburn University basketball camp, where De Sousa and KU teammate Michael Jankovich were working as counselors for about 100 youths in Lee Arena.
“It was just pretty much, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s talk about something else.’ Then the day I told her (he had NCAA suspension for the 2019-20 season overturned), she was so happy. I could see she was more excited than I am,” De Sousa added with a smile.
De Sousa — his dad and three younger sisters are also back in his native Angola — was informed by his attorney on May 24 that the NCAA’s Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement had tossed out the suspension that kept him from playing in games in 2018-19 and also was going to keep him sidelined all of 2019-20.
“The minute I found out (he could play again) the one thing I felt … I was really happy and it (weight) came off my shoulders. I couldn’t ever be more happy. (I said), ‘I’ve just got to tell my family about it.’ That’s pretty much how I felt,” said De Sousa, who had been held out of games by KU to open the 2018-19 season.
On Feb. 1, the NCAA announced that De Sousa officially would not be eligible for game action until the first game of the 2020-21 campaign, “because his guardian received payment from a university booster and agent and agreed to receive additional funds from the same person.”
“Knowing the truth is what kept me positive,” De Sousa said Wednesday. “I knew I was innocent since Day One. That’s why my mindset was so different. I kept myself in a good position. I did not throw fits to the NCAA. I was like, ‘I know I didn’t do anything and was innocent since Day One,’ so I was keeping my mind fresh and taking it one day at a time.”
De Sousa said he was heartened by the support of KU’s fans while he was seated in the NCAA’s penalty box.
“I can’t thank them enough. They’ve been behind me since Day One. They always show support and love,” De Sousa said of fans who regularly interacted with him on social media.
De Sousa entered his name in the 2019 NBA Draft pool on April 19. He said he worked out for five teams (Atlanta, Chicago, Sacramento, Utah were ones he mentioned) and said the resulting feedback from coaches and general managers was positive.
However, De Sousa immediately withdrew from the draft once he received word he was eligible for his junior season at KU.
“I mean I believe in myself. I was sure I would be drafted,” De Sousa said. “I just wanted to play so bad (at KU). I wanted to make people realize who I really am and kind of get a better spot for next year’s draft.”
De Sousa said he believes it’ll be a “battle” for the starting frontcourt position next to senior center Udoka Azubuike.
“Everybody wants to play. David (McCormack) played great last year. He had a good season. I”m going to have to battle, fight every single day and try to earn the spot,” De Sousa said. “We have so many good players that came back or didn’t leave. We’re going to have a pretty good team this year.”
De Sousa said he’s been working on his jump shot in an attempt to provide a strong 1-2 punch with Azubuike, who will be more a prototypical center, not leaving the paint area on offense. De Sousa plans on being a stretch 4.
“Right now, I’m focusing on trying to get my shot better,” said De Sousa. He averaged 4.0 points and 3.7 rebounds a game in 20 games his freshman year at KU. “My 15-footer, jump shots. I am trying to figure out and learn what should I bring to the team this year. This is pretty much my focus now.”
Of playing next to Azubuike, he said: “That wouldn’t be a problem. We play two different positions.”
Azubuike was joined by KU junior walk-on guard Chris Teahan as a counselor Wednesday during the morning session of Ballard’s Washburn camp.
Azubuike — he has been fully cleared to participate after rehabbing his surgically repaired right wrist — said he has a lot to work on this summer. First session of summer school at KU opened on Tuesday.
“I’m still not 100 percent yet,” said Azubuike, who had surgery on his right hand on Jan. 9 in New York. “(I need to) Get back to full fitness, start working on my game and get better. I need to get back in shape.”
Azubuike — he did not enter his name in the 2019 draft pool because he’d have been unable to work out for NBA teams as he rehabbed his injury — said he’s happy to be back for his senior year.
“It’s exciting,” the 7-footer from Nigeria said. “I’m just coming back from injury. It is weird. Just yesterday I was a freshman. Now I’m a senior. I’m looking forward to the challenges.”
In a very short interview with reporters at camp, he acknowledged he’d be humbled by any preseason All-America or player of the year awards that come his way. He recently was listed as one of six early candidates for the Naismith Trophy.
“I mean that’s a great opportunity,” Azubuike said. “If it happens, it happens. Right now I’m just focused on the team and myself getting better, getting in the best possible shape, doing the right stuff, putting my team in the position to be successful.”
@FarmerJayhawk you're right, Shay is a hack. My bad.
@Woodrow He's really freaking good. Bill needs to close this one.
KUSTEVE said:
We're going to have games that we shoot less than 40%, and win by 10.
Whiskey games.
@Marco Mentioned it in the crootin thread already but I like Bilau as a long term prospect.
BeddieKU23 said:
KU has recently offered and looks to be recruiting Top 50 PG Karim Mane of Canada. A 6'5 PG might fit the combo mold Self likes to recruit. Will be one to monitor
Yes please.
Edit: He seems genuinely interested.
FarmerJayhawk said:
BShark said:
@FarmerJayhawk Oh? I don't and will never pay Shay so I couldn't actually read his article. Made it seem like a date was set though.
Idk what Shay said but I do know a date hasn’t been set yet. Also KU likes this kid a lot as a project.
Gotta wonder who is paying to keep the lights on over there heh.
I like him a lot too the more I see. I think you have him essentially take this year off while developing and he could very well be in the top 3 of the post rotation next year. He's athletic and can shoot it a little bit, decent passer.
Texas Hawk 10 said:
@BShark I think KU ends up with 2 players at 37% or better. I think Dotson can be right around 40% and Agabaji could get to at least 35% or better because he was a much better shooter before he got hurt.
I think Dotson and Agbaji are our hopes in that regard for big minute and possibly bigger volume guys.
Garrett I just don't see 37% ever and McBride/Braun/Enaruna are all RS candidates in better times. The hope would be that one of them surprises enough to make an impact. All three are solid shooters but it's many of the other things that could curtail their minutes.
@FarmerJayhawk Oh? I don't and will never pay Shay so I couldn't actually read his article. Made it seem like a date was set though.
@KUSTEVE Not expecting more than mop-up minutes from McBride this yr. Garrett got worse last year down to 24% and was frequently wide open. As the roster looks now KU will be lucky to have one player at or above 37% from three.
@Texas-Hawk-10 Agree that KU will still be a very good overall team at the P5 level.
@KUSTEVE They won a game by 2 and a game by 1 to make the title game. And they had two guys over 37% on pretty high volume.
Bilau has scheduled a visit to KU.
@justanotherfan The answer is really that you just don't. Self will try though. The games will be very ugly if that materializes.
CLANGA time if Garrett, Silvio and Doke all start. Will be brutal.
@wissox Sometimes the return game doesn't happen for 2-3 years.
@HighEliteMajor Appears to be a Missouri fan.
@wissox Don't forget it's missing likely UK and possibly Mich ST but that depends on how the Maui tournament goes. There will be 1-2 really good games in Maui for sure.
I know McBride and Braun (wow what a long trip) were already there. Enaruna just recently arrived in case anyone was worried (I wouldn't blame them lol).
FarmerJayhawk said:
Sounds like Okie Lite is going to hire Cade Cunningham’s brother as an assistant. 🔒🔒🔒
rofl
@Crimsonorblue22 Jank's kid.
Confirmation that this kid is a manager.
Corey still thinks KU is landing Stanley, Precious and Hurt.
@FarmerJayhawk That's pretty fair, college is expensive. Do you know what level he is looking at?
Crimsonorblue22 said:
Did we get another walk on?
We did, but I didn't think there was a limit. Seems odd.
@jayballer73 Hasn't announced that yet.
@jayballer73 Correct!
This kid looks good, but he got injured.
KUSTEVE said:
@BShark He was Wayne Selden in his freshman year.
Selden was a bit better. Rebounded better, passed better and probably most importantly was about 10% better from 2 pt range on a full 1 shot more a game. The advanced stats indicate Selden was a hefty bit better than Q offensively fwiw.
Another 3* walk-on from the looks of it.
He meant mid-year like Silvio
@BeddieKU23 :beers:
FarmerJayhawk said:
Walker is reclassifying, it’s a matter of when he can get the work done. He could very well be a kid-year guy.
Really hope it doesn't go on that long.
Crimsonorblue22 said:
@BShark he did knock the💩 out of a lot of guys on his charges. He dove on loose balls. I thought he was slow thinking, not a OAD but not a bad player. A couple of years was what he needed. He was good in the USA games. Bad people in his head! Jmo
He was terrible, objectively. Might have been okay as a JR/SR but that was never happening.
Crimsonorblue22 said:
@BShark what about walker? This is getting sooo old! Schedule out and still deciding
He will play AAU so we won't hear anything until July. KU has a great shot if he reclasses. If he stays in 20 I think KU goes elsewhere.
The pick they had to make
rockchalkwyo said:
Bossi picked KU for Jalen Wilson today on rivals
I'm worried about Michigan like @jayballer73 now
@jayballer73 Can't disagree Q was charmin soft. Sometimes you don't know until you get them in the program. That they didn't offer Moss says a lot imo.
@jayballer73 If Isaiah Moss couldn't handle Fran, he would have snapped under Bill imo.
jayballer73 said:
BShark said:
@jayballer73 FBI and looming NCAA uncertainty sure didn't help.
sure didn't hurt Arizona OR Louisville as bad - -sure they dropped some but they rebounded - -
Well they had one off year. KU has had one off year, let's see what happens in 2020? Maybe KU bounces back like they did now that Self has stated he is LOCKED in to KU (firmly believe rumors of Self leaving hurt with JRE).
@jayballer73 Maybe Ochai committed to KU because in part KU is close to where his family is at (KC?). Also, we have talked about the fail rate of these players. Do we really trust that Self and his staff have great ability to recognize only the multi-year lower ranked players that will be awesome?
Going off Self's recruits at KU, and not counting any player that stayed 3-4 years but was highly ranked. So, basically all 5 stars are out, because why include them in this exercise when they don't fit.
Great: Mason, Graham, Morris, Morris
Average: Releford, Brady, Reed, Tyshawn
Uh: Tharpe, Jamari, Lucas, Greene, Vick
TO BE DETERMINED: Mitch, Garrett, Ochai and Dave.
Lower rated players that ran away/didn't contribute much: Tyrone Appleton, Mario Little, Quintrell Thomas, Royce Woolridge, Peters, White, Adams, Frankamp
Okay I lied...
5*/top rated players that stayed awhile: Sherron, Chalmers, Rush, Aldrich, TRob, Perry, Selden, Udoka, Dotson
Svi is an interesting case. The one site that actually rated him had him as a 5*. Anyway I wasn't sure where to put him, so I abstained from categorizing him for this.
Note that our best two players on the upcoming team, are five stars that are a SO and SR respectively.
I'm going to take the very controversial stance that talent and player retention matter.
@KirkIsMyHinrich :wastebasket:
@KirkIsMyHinrich Awesome. Will have to see when that game materializes and if I can get time off.
@jayballer73 FBI and looming NCAA uncertainty sure didn't help.
@KirkIsMyHinrich Wish I still had family in CO, would be a much easier trip to make if I could double dip it (and stay somewhere for free lol).
@Kcmatt7 Sure, I figured as much which is why I wanted to mention it.
Kcmatt7 said:
BShark said:
@FarmerJayhawk I think he'd be nice to have but yeah I think the main concern right now is a capable secondary ball handler that can shoot. Does anyone even possibly fill that role but Kyree Walker?
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/anthony-mathis-1.html ↗
He basically said he's going to Oregon to play with his best friend Pritchard.
@FarmerJayhawk I think he'd be nice to have but yeah I think the main concern right now is a capable secondary ball handler that can shoot. Does anyone even possibly fill that role but Kyree Walker? We need Walker badly.
I'd be ecstatic with Walker, taking a flier on that Bilau kid (seems to me like he is trying to recruit KU more than the other way around perhaps) and having an open scholarship.