Kansas Jayhawks have 3rd best hoop scouting class of 2022

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Hailing from Wichita, Gradey Dick, a Sunrise Academy senior committed to playing for KU, won a gold medal with the USA team at the Under-18 World Cup 3v3.

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The Kansas four-player men’s basketball recruiting class of 2022 currently ranks third among the nation’s top teams according to Rivals.com and 247sports.com.

“I think we’ve recruited well enough to be honest with you,” KU coach Bill Self said Wednesday, hours before 6-foot-10 Ernest Udeh, Jr. made an oral pledge. against KU against UCLA.

Self and his assistant coaches secured engagements from Udeh, Gradey Dick, Zuby Ejiofor and MJ Rice one year away from signing a high school class ranked No.16 in the country by Rivals.com (Zach Clemence, KJ Adams , Kyle Cuffe Jr., Bobby Pettiford).

“We didn’t have everyone we recruited. You sign the best players, you get one or two, you’re really happy whether you sign 10 or 12. I think actually guys, our assistants did a good job finding us good players. I don’t mean to say that we have lottery choices. We have quite a few good basketball players, ”added Self, who managed to attract top talent to Lawrence despite a long, drawn-out NCAA investigation of the program.

Rivals.com team ranking which will be updated at various times during the 2021-22 season, Duke, Kentucky and Kansas are ranked 1-3, followed by Arkansas, Ohio State, Michigan, Villanova, North Carolina North, Virginia, UCLA, Vanderbilt, UConn, USC and Oregon. 2The ratings of the 47sports.com teams have Duke first, Arkansas second and KU third, followed by Ohio State, Michigan, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, Villanova, Syracuse, USC, Indiana, Vanderbilt and Baylor.

The four players who have committed to KU and expected to sign during the early signing period of November 10-17 are: Udeh, a 6-10, 230-pound center from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla. , which is ranked No 27 in the Class of 2022 by 247sports.com, No 29 by Rivals.com and No 38 by ESPN.com; Gradey Dick, a 6-7, 195-pound forward from Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, ranked # 25 by ESPN.com, # 35 by 247sports.com and # 37 by Rivals.com; Zuby Ejiofor, a 6-8, 215-pound senior forward from Garland (Texas) High School, ranked No.41 by 247sports.com, No.47 by Rivals.com and No.77 by ESPN.com and MJ Rice, a Guard combo 6-5 from Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif., Which is ranked # 20 nationally by ESPN.com, # 23 by Rivals.com and # 25 by 247sports.com.

KU’s 2021 Recruiting Class ranked # 16 nationally by Rivals.com. It consisted of current freshmen Clemence (# 49 individually by RIvals.com), Adams (# 93), Cuffe Jr. (# 109) and Pettiford (# 124).

“The KU class of 2022 is definitely one of the top 10 classes in the country. It’s a huge class so far, ”said recruiting analyst Shay Wildeboor of Rivals.com. “This class has a chance to be a very good group. Kansas made the difference with Ernest Udeh, Jr. Some see MJ Rice as one of the top 10 guys. Gradey Dick is a kid from Kansas who loves school – great athleticism who can shoot the ball. Zuby Ejiofor is a tough inside player who will go all the way to the rim, protect paint, bounce and score, ”added Wildeboor.

“All four of the class are in our top 41,” noted analyst Eric Bossi of 247sports.com. “Bill Self has a vibrant class, the kind of class that could really be the heart of a program that does great things the Kansas fans expect.”

Ranked 3rd overall, KU’s recruiting class of 2022 is currently the top class in the Jayhawks since 2018. The group of Quentin Grimes, Devon Dotson, David McCormack and Ochai Agbaji were also ranked 3rd by Rivals.com. Grimes, who transferred to Houston after a year, was ranked No.8 overall in the class. Dotson was no. 20, McCormack No. 35 and Agbaji No. 145.

As for other recent classes… KU’s 2020 class was ranked # 14 in the country by Rivals.com. Bryce Thompson was 21st overall, while Gethro Muscadin was 140th, Latrell Jossell was unranked and Tyon Grant-Foster was the number one junior varsity player in the country. Thompson has since moved to the state of Oklahoma, Muscadin to New Mexico, Jossell to Stephen F. Austin and Grant-Foster to DePaul.

KU’s five-player class of 2019 was ranked No.14 nationally by Rivals.com. It was led by Tristan Enaruna (# 44), Jalen Wilson (# 47), Christian Braun (# 93), Issac McBride (# 106) and Dajuan Harris (unranked). Enaruna is now at Iowa State and McBride at Oral Roberts.

The KU Class of 2017 was ranked # 14 nationally by Rivals.com. Billy Preston was No 11, Marcus Garrett No 41 and Silvio De Sousa unranked. Preston has never played in an actual match at KU and turned pro after one season, while De Sousa now plays at Chattanooga.

Led by No.1-ranked Josh Jackson who turned pro after one season, KU’s class of 2016 was ranked No.7 by Rivals.com. Udoka Azubuike was ranked # 31 and Mitch Lightfoot # 107 in the class.

Back in 2022, KU signs Mark Mitchell, a 6-8 forward from Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas (ranked No.11 nationally by Rivals.com and 247sports.com and No.30 by ESPN.com) ; Brandon Miller, a. 6-7, 190 forward of Cane Ridge High School in Nashville, Tennessee (ranked # 12 by Rivals.com, # 13 by ESPN.com and # 16 by 247sports.com) and Chandler Jackson, a 6-4, 200, point guard at Christian Brothers High in Memphis (ranked # 56 by 247sports.com, # 80 by ESPN.com, # 90 by Rivals.com).

The Jayhawks expect to have at least two scholarships available to be awarded in 2022.

KU, who has 14 stock players (NCAA limit drops to 13 next season), will lose Super Seniors Mitch Lightfoot, Remy Martin, Jalen Coleman-Lands and Cam Martin.

They also plan to lose to senior pros McCormack and Agbaji, who are eligible to return for a Super Senior season.

Second Wilson and junior Braun could be the first to enter the NBA Draft.

It is also possible that KU may, for the second year in a row, recruit players who enter the transfer portal.

“The Jayhawks appear to be returning to recruiting at the level they had before the NCAA investigation which cast a dark cloud over the program,” said Rob Cassidy of Rivals.com. “Bill Self’s group could receive a boost if they perform at the level we expect this season. “

Kansas City Star Related Stories

Gary Bedore covers all aspects of Kansas basketball for The Star – the current squad as well as former players and coaches and recruiting. He attended KU and was born and raised in Chicago, as well as Lisle, Illinois.

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