On a serious note I think Doke is a huge key for next year. Preston provided he qualifies will be up and down, the guard play will be very good regardless of what Graham and Svi do even if there may be some more growing pains. Svi in particular I think will be supplanted by Vick anyway if he stays. We'd miss Graham's on fire games, but he is not a penetrator or top athlete. Newman, Vick, Garrett, Cunliffe and Allen/Harris/whoever is a very strong guard line-up and would be the best in the league and probably top 10 in the country. Doke though, Doke is the mystery. If he becomes a Withey/Cole/Embiid rim protector (and he wasn't far off in limited time this year, especially compared to Embiid) and can stay on the floor for 25+ minutes a game it changes the entire dynamic.
That said, I think Harris wants to go somewhere where he can play next year. If Graham returns KU is not that place. Allen seems like the kind of kid that would be okay with a developmental year, but I could be wrong about that. I think Dotson and Grimes are definite takes next year if they would choose KU.
Graham + Harris + Dotson + Allen. KU = North Carolina midwest. :heart_eyes:
@BeddieKU23 said:
Evans could definitely play at KU but I also feel the same about Harris. I think all of this confirms that Duval has told the staff no-no
Seems like a definite take-away from all this action.
Ah yeah he just edited that in. I agree he probably ends up at VCU. He is a good player but all things being equal I would prefer a HS player, since they could transfer w/o penalty if things don't work out or if need be due to KU hopefully getting Dotson + Grimes in 18 and being well positioned in 19 as well with Jacobs already on board.
Either way I don't really have a problem with what the staff decides on this one.
I just see a guard really not wanting to come here when there are that many but we will see.
Updates from Matt Scott: VCU is heavily involved with Evans (not a surprise) and KU has reached out to Blake Harris with Michigan State also involved there.
Yeah I know it's been awhile, but I seem to recall the last attack mode guard (Evans shoots about 7 fts a game) that was from Virginia and played for KU was pretty good...
I'm thinking it means Graham is gone if the staff takes two more guards. Evans isn't for next year though, he has to sit a year. And after next season even if Graham and Svi are back this year, we could be looking at just Garrett and Cunliffe being back as Newman will undoubtedly test the waters and Vick probably will too if he has the year I think he will.
As for Juiston, he is the kind of player Self loves. Firmly believe that he is a take and if he chooses to go elsewhere it's not because KU backed off barring something INSANE like Bagley reclassing and picking KU...
We are in the same boat. I thought he would be pretty darn good in a similar role to Perry Ellis. Wasn't thinking Marcus though.
He just doesn't have enough girth/strength to bang with kids like Nick Ward. Gets tossed around way too easily. Now, I definitely think he could have played more in suitable match-ups, but Self didn't fell that way. Which is a big part of why I think it could be best for everyone involved if he transferred. NOT SAYING I WANT HIM TO TRANSFER.
If Evans and Allen commit, someone is leaving early. Can't see having 8 guards (Graham, Svi, Vick, Garrett, Cunliffe, Newman, Evans, Allen) on the roster even if one is sitting out due to transfer rules.
Yep. Me and many others were very wrong about Bragg. I thought he would thrive at KU. He needs a two post system, he is absolutely not a center.
Twitter, cyfan, real life? They should be nervous though, I'm thinking Juiston ends up at KU.
Marcus Evans visiting KU
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See you soon, Bill
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Wonder if some coaches are still trying to pry away Markese, but he seems committed
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I thought a bit about the intent last night. I just should have asked and of course I'm not going to tell you what you meant. My mistake.
The Big 12 does not "suck" overall, but athletically, it wasn't great this year. Maybe WVU was the closest to Oregon that KU played athletically in the conference this year, and it required a miracle to split with WVU.
Your input, as always, is vastly riveting. In the future, when I want your thoughts on my posts, I'll ask. I wouldn't expect it to happen though.
I really like Garrett and his future at KU but I doubt he plays PG for KU.
I can't fathom Bagley, Zion and Barrett being on the same college team.
Bagley would be the best player KU has had since Danny and/or Paul imo. I'd pee myself if he picks KU.
Worst case scenario Allen is the 5th guard this year behind Newman, Vick, Garrett and Cunliffe. And in that scenario he would get spot minutes. I think it's much more likely he is the 7th guard however.
Oh and that best shooter in recent memory comment is promising considering Graham was at Brewster and is a damn fine shooter!
@Kcmatt7 said:
Who are we in on in the 2018 class? I don't expect us to get Bagley, Langford or Zion. Only names I've heard are Grimes and Dotson. Haven't heard good things about post players and we need some of those.
Grimes and Dotson are the names right now. Seriously. We will find out more on post targets later. I fully expect Gordon to decommit from SLU and for KU to quickly get back involved there, but that has to actually happen before we will hear anything about it.
You can count on ESPN and Rivals being dead wrong frequently. And yes you are accessing the site now, but they are extremely lazy and slow to update. They made sure to get Kansas in there because it's all over and he is probably ending up here. The list I cited comes from a guy involved in the North Carolina recruiting scene (where Allen is from).
Evan Maxwell was not in demand. Why Self took him is a mystery, and unsurprisingly both parties quickly moved on. This is absolutely not the guard equivalent of Evan Maxwell who was LOOKING TO TRANSFER TO DIVISION 2 BEFORE KU CAME ALONG.
@Kcmatt7 said:
@JayHawkFanToo Thomas Allen is ranked 81 on ESPN. Low end 4 star. A solid pickup if he can shoot as well as he did in HS and run some PG. Would be a great combo with a guy like Jacobs. And HCBS obviously likes running two points if he can.
Yep it's not complicated we need another smaller ball handling guard that can get the ball up against pressure in case of injury/emergency. We were an injury away from TBONE this year, I'm sure that's been in the back of the mind of the coaching staff.
Yeah Garrett is not a PG. Per Bham/MS the staff views him as a 2/3 with very good handling and passing ability for that position. But NOT a PG.
Also worth mentioning that recruiting services get pretty damn lazy when a kid is committed to a school like NCST. Considering that all his highlights are from last summer at the latest it's possible he needs to be re-evaluated by most of the services. Not saying he is top 50, but he is probably a lower end 4*.
The staff passed on pursuing Waters and is going after this kid. I find that interesting.
Royce was a really early take too, like SO year in HS early. That really hasn't worked out much for KU (Peters, Greene, Frankamp) but hopefully Markese bucks that trend.
Kansas
Kentucky
Michigan
Texas
Xavier
Butler
Auburn
Providence
Tennessee
Ohio State
If you suck, then you probably don't have this many solid programs coming after you once you re-open your recruitment.
Also he shot 48% from 3 this year on a pretty high volume. Obviously it's a big step up to D1 ball but that's nothing to sneeze at. Looks like a solid program player if he toughs it out.
I was just popping in to relay this here. Seems like it's pretty much a done deal.
Yeah. I guess we'd find out for sure if he ends up at KU. Either way though, I don't think he contributes next year.
Those are all old. Not sure on his wingspan though.
Makes sense for taking bets. I'm sure there are Duke/UK fans that bet on their team every year.
Drugs: why do we take them?
El poyo and Jaybate. THUNDERDOME. 2 men enter....
@BeddieKU23 said:
Interesting. Very good shooter. KU could have 7 guards next year..
The goal is probably 7 guards 6 posts. Of course that's hard to do these days when players want to play. People seem to think this Allen offer means Graham is leaving. I don't.
@jayballer54 said:
Ran across a Scouting report on Allen,, off the Kentucky board. as he is one of three guards that they are still recruiting this year now, - -Not sure who the report came from but looks like from Gerry Meyer:
It says - - -Shooter, Can Score , Not overwhelming athlete at all, Not a guy with physical presence, BUT is very skilled, especially in terms of very good shooter.
Listed at 6'2 - -180 lbs. - - - Listed Schools of interest: KU - - Michigan - - Tennessee - -Providence - -Auburn- - Butler- - Nebraska- - Xavier- -Kentucky. - - - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
So what I said? :wink:
I wouldn't worry much about UK here fwiw.
I'm sure. I see absolutely no downside to taking a kid like Allen to fill out the roster.
Real good chance at Juiston no doubt.
Same size now as Devonte who obviously isn't huge but also isn't a midget. I can't find any recent highlights, just stuff from before his SR year from the most part when he was a little bit shorter and thinner.
This isn't a kid that will get much time next year though. It's more to fill out the end of the roster and have a kid develop while planning to have him contribute in year 2 and beyond and I would imagine the staff is being upfront and honest with him about this. Also potentially a bit of insurance for the 18 class but without a doubt is a kid the staff will recruit over if they can, but if he develops well and produces that's fine too.
I stand by my earlier prediction that Graham and Svi stay while Bragg leaves. If that all happens and Bragg is replaced that's still two open scholarships, and Self likes to fill them even though it ended up not happening for this year. Hell he took EVAN MAXWELL which was just mind blowing.
The Phog is not taking this offer well. :laughing:
I can't bear to watch.
About him as a player? Mentioned it earlier. I think he would be a good take.
ESPN also ranked Giles ahead of Josh. They are clueless. 247 had Mason at #52 in their ranking.
That said, Greene was poorly evaluated. Elite shooter, but severely lacked in all other facets.
2nd video was his JR year so he would have been 16-17.
Nah. More of a 1/2 that can handle the ball whereas Greene was a 3/4.
@brooksmd said:
Spring Batting Averages
• Gordon – LF .323
• Moose – 3B .197
• Cain – CF .261
• Hosmer - 1B .172
• Salvy – C .176
• Moss – DH .267
• Orlando – RF .288
• Escobar – SS .290
• Mondesi - 2B .333
Perfect evidence that spring ball means nothing.
Duffy looks good but it is only the Twinkies.
NCST who recently switched coaches.
Very good three point shooter, probably the best available pure shooter. The rest of his game needs work, not an elite athlete (if he was considering his shooting ability he'd be a top 50 prospect). Fairly similar to Graham in that regard really. Should be a really nice 4 year player to have around.
Of course, KU has a fantastic relationship with Brewster (TRob, Tharpe, Graham) so I would think if KU really wants him it will happen (waiting on Duval first)..
Per MS looks like Thomas Allen has a decent shot of ending up a Jayhawk and Providence is very likely to get Makai A-L.