🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Clearly looks like we have 3 immediate needs.. A 4th is needed depending on who you get at the wing.

A starting Wing-

Best available/best fit. Need to hit this one the most.

I know Williams and Luis are at the top of the Wishlist currently. Luis we've been linked with but he's also doing the draft. Williams just entered and might be too expensive or might have a plan already. Perhaps Lejuan Watts? Otherwise, we might have to wait for additional entries because I don't see a clear target there.

High-End Rotation or starting guard-

We've been recruiting Nigel Pack, Kyan Evans and Rodney Rice so far. Any of the trio would help. There are a few other prospects I like in the portal but best to stick with what KU has been linked with. Seems we are clearly hunting a ball handler with playmaking ability.

Backup 5-

Can't just be a body that gets you 5 fouls. You need a dependable body. Ideally, a rebounding, rim protecting, lob threat.

4th need- backup 4 man.

Unless Tiller is taking that role with his injury concerns your starting wing will have to be interchangeable, or you need another option. We didn't have another 4 man this year and we all saw the struggles there without Adams.

If you can find the capital to squeeze in 3/4 needs this could be a fun roster.

Hopefully we are able to find a big-time wing player. We have the capital, we have the need, our system is meant for wings to flourish. Need that 2nd dude that can take pressure off Peterson.

That 2nd big behind Flory is ideally someone like a Javier Francis or Federiko x 2 from Texas Tech. Those two guys I've been jealous of how well they fill their role all season.

Tre is going to be an important piece of this team on both ends. Another good chess piece

@BShark

Absolutely, he's a stud and would make us a lot better

Agree let's do it

@msanchez

Rim protection, rebounding. Big offseason for him in the weight room and individual skill on offense. I think he can be a double double guy

Boom

Looks like something should be announced soon

@dylans

Of course stuff can be handled differently. I think Self would probably like that kind of stuff to stay out of the public eye as well but here we are. Could all be the handler or a combo. We've seen handlers screw over KU kids in the past.

Until there is some kind of correction or path forward where some of this madness can be reigned in I'm just going to stay numb to it. Everyone is a Sr and on their way out until things change

Taking everything under advisement, I'll be laying the heat since that's what I got a few weeks ago in the first round. Only feels right to bring balance to the world lol

My assistant coach for baseball is a die hard Dukie. Today should be fun at practice. How soon is too soon?

@dylans

There's precedent of that kind of stuff creating a bad culture but the example I have is football related. If your being told your worth is double or higher then your current salary would you not be interested? Speaking from a professional side of it you better love your current gig to not consider it. I don't think these kids care about the jersey on the front as much as we do but I'd love to be wrong.. the money thing just makes it less amateur and less about the college/coach etc.

@SlimShaddy54 said in The portal.:

@BeddieKU23 Where have you heard/seen this. I mean that would be great I'd love it , with DO and Tre White , even El Marko would be a really sweet start to rebuilding this roster-- -solid. I just haven't seen anything , about the possibility

Auburn board believes he returns. Swain mentioned in his round up they are working on him still. Vernon posted another cryptic tweet that he's done with the 2 previous commits in the last 2 days. Tea leaves..

Flory returning is looking like a real possibility. We shall see what today brings

Another good pickup. Good size. Happy with this one

Could be another commitment today..

Hopefully we hit up Dioubate from Bama. Ideal 4. Really solid numbers for a rotation dude. Poised for a jump

A real nice chess piece to have with Peterson. Just avg 18 ppg in the NIT over 4 games. 6 20+ games. 6 games with 5 or more made 3s in a game. Love the quick release and seems to have some capable ball handling skills. PER Is avg, hopefully a solid rotation guy.

I like the addition of Dawson, seems like a good 2 way player that doesn't turn the ball over. Great first step

Film looks good. 86 made 3s on the season. Deadly spot up, off the dribble, pull up. I like the addition

@approxinfinity

I agree. He played the most minutes for a freshman big at KU since Cliff Alexander in 2014. He's only been playing the sport 3-4 years and would seem to be in the early stages of reaching his full potential. He can be developed into an NBA talent in 1-2 years I believe.

Personally, I think his departure is not just about money but that's me. I seem to remember we put a together a sizeable NIL deal to get him to KU in the first place and figured we would have done a lot to try and keep him here given the promise shown as a freshman. If another program is willing to pay him above what KU feels they are comfortable paying then that's certainly an issue. We'll have to wait and see who has the last laugh.

What did i miss the last 5 days or so?? Anything fun?

I feel about the same

Passmore is the next domino to fall it looks.

Hall had his zoom call with the staff, TBD next.

Dix took his Illinois visit. Their board is a bit optimistic he lands there it seems

Good times keep on rolling. Lots of damage done this season

@approxinfinity said in The portal.:

We might he able to keep him?

Possible I guess

@approxinfinity said in The portal.:

Wellp. Thats the kicker for me.

If he does leave remember that time in the season, that looms large if so

Yeah.

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in The portal.:

@BeddieKU23 said in The portal.:

Tourney choker RJ Luis in the portal. Big one

I would take him in a heartbeat if Dix doesn't workout. And since he's going through the draft process, he's likely not looking for a destination immediately. I think being a #2 option behind Peterson would be good for him and he's very good defender which you can never have too much of. I do think his efficiency numbers would go up at KU surrounded by better offensive players because St. John's offense last season made KU's look competent by comparison.

He was really good this year outside the big game so I agree he's an ideal option.

Tourney choker RJ Luis in the portal. Big one

@BShark said in The portal.:

@BeddieKU23 said in The portal.:

Doesn't look like Hall will be a hawk

Wouldn't say that at all at this point.

KU/Ark/Ole Miss/Ohio State battle.

Interesting school list. Forgot trilly posted the OSU, Ole Miss prior. Arkansas has cash for sure

Jason Edwards- Vandy. Scores, from everywhere but not much else to his game it appears

Doesn't look like Hall will be a hawk

Josh bascoe tape from Bucknell was fun. Small but some real quickness and finishing ability around the rim.

@Texas-Hawk-10

Always a concern but the dude put up nearly 250 3s this yr and shot 44%. 37 and 34% his first two years and big improvement this yr so perhaps it was a product of role/experience etc. His 2pt % and efg % both higher then Timberlakes best year. It sounds like a lot of other big programs are interested as well

@BShark said in The portal.:

Zach Clemence is in the portal officially.

Kind of bittersweet, had high hopes for him dating back to his sunrise days, I remember us talking about him a lot and his shooting ability that never translated up for some reason. Boy did he fall short of what he could have been. I'm glad he turned his situation around for the better. Wish him the best

@BShark said in The portal.:

@BeddieKU23 said in The portal.:

Lamar Wilkerson- eyes on..

This is real right now, will have to see where it goes.

Liked his film. Another really good shooter. I see interest is high outside of us too

Bryson Tucker in the portal. I'd imagine we won't pursue but mention anyway due to relationship

Lamar Wilkerson- eyes on..

Another old friend alert- LSU's Vyctorious Miller in- avg nearly 9ppg as a freshman on 19 minutes per game. We were in on him last year before passing I believe. He's got the size of a guard we could use.

Here's a big one, Ryan Conwell from Xavier in the portal. GO get em Bill (if you can).

@BShark said in The portal.:

@BeddieKU23 said in The portal.:

@BShark said in The portal.:

Reed Bailey. @BeddieKU23 to the courtesy phone LOL

Ehhh. Obviously can score and some nice skill but wouldn't take as a starter.

Mostly the ping because he was a Brewster kid I think so your friend might have some thoughts on him if he coached him.

Asking him right now

Been going down the Josh Dix rabbit hole since he's the first major target.

As I've seen in other places think Gradey Dick role with less athleticism. Seems like a smart player and is efficient. 40% career 3 pt shooter, doubled his total of made 3's from Soph to Jr year. Good passer (nearly 3 assists a game), low turnover rate, good cutter to the basket and finishes efficiently there too which we desperately need. I can imagine a lot of kick outs from DP and whoever else for spot up 3's and that's a really good role for him here. Since he's a good cutter he can get defensives focusing on his shot and get easy baskets at the hoop as well. Defensively, I'm just going to hope he's good enough to not be picked on.

My concerns- 1 year left, you're in the same boat next year needing to replace him. Not a great athlete but good enough. Low volume of FT's & avg rebounding. There are trade-offs of course with him.

I see the fit, I see the need (shooting and efficiency). I think if you land him and he's a starter the other pieces must be athletes around him so that's where roster building is important. You add one piece to the chess board and now your subsequent moves should be reactive to that. I like this take if it happens in a vacuum but do have concerns what other pieces we pursue/get as well because I don't think you can get another starter type player that isn't a high level athlete.

@approxinfinity

Asking prices are out of control this cycle so yeah... Unless your program has a blank check I think you have to assume there is some disadvantage without someone in the program to manage NIL side/fundraising.

@BShark said in The portal.:

Reed Bailey. @BeddieKU23 to the courtesy phone LOL

Ehhh. Obviously can score and some nice skill but wouldn't take as a starter.

@FarmerJayhawk

Absolutely

@BShark said in The portal.:

Sounds like academics are reaaaally important to him. So that could be an issue for us.

Just saw that. Not much we can do if that's the path he chooses

@Crimsonorblue22

If all moving that's expected there might be only a few guys back from the current roster

@SlimShaddy54 said in The portal.:

Has anyone heard anything about any departures for sure yet ? -- Kind of surprising not a peep yet

No official ones but there won't be much left after it's all done

Dix taking a visit to KU starting tonight then will head to Illinois after.