AY2017-18 remaining items of interest

Before you all head out on your seasonal hiatuses, here are a few reasons to check in for the rest of the month of April before going totally cold turkey on the RCB until next fall.

1. National Player of the Year announcements from the Naismith Hoops Hall (should be announced today) and from the Wooden Awards (to be announced in LA on Friday). I will be surprised if anyone but Jalen Brunson wins, but Devonté is still one the last guys standing, so who knows?

2. Spring signing period window is 2018-04-11 thru 05-16. As of today all KU recruits signed in November except for Ochai Agbaji, who didn't commit until February (once KU offered him after his blowup senior year at Oak Park in KCMO). Don't expect any word on Rivals #6 (ESPN #5) recruit Romeo Langford's commitment until it is known if KU will have a scholarship available for him. It really does have to be the only information he is waiting on before making his commitment decision, as Vandy and Indiana (the other two of his final three choices) are pretty well set on who will be on board this fall.

3. In that regard, we can expect announcements on who will be leaving early in the coming days/weeks. Expect Dok to announce so he can at least test the waters, but hopefully (quite selfishly for us) he will return. He's hasn't been on amy mock drafts that I have seen (I have not seen the latest ones), but the NBA is known to draft on potential. Good luck to him whatever he decides to do.

And we will finally learn if Malik and Vick will stay or -- as has been rumored for some time -- go pro early. I think Malik might be gone, but would love to have him back, even if it means KU does not get Langford. A talented and experienced Newman, if he picks up where he left off this March, would be great to have over a highly regarded one and done such as Langford. I'm not sure about LaGerald, but if he opts to stay for his senior season I hope he has a smoother year next year than he did this year. It's always great to have senior leadership, if in fact he can be a senior leader next year. Again, my best wishes are with them whatever they decide to do.

And then there are question of who might transfer to consider. Sam Cunliffe is often talked about, despite the fact he has already transferred once to get to KU. But because of NCAA rules and the fact that he was a "midyear" transfer, his year sitting at KU (Jan-Dec 2017) does not count as a red shirt year. He has used two years of eligibility now, even though he has effectively only played one (Fall 2016 at ASU and Spring 2018 at KU). That means if he chose to transfer now he would sit out AY2018-19, but still be able to play 2 years at his next home. Will he do that due to playing time concerns? At this point no one outside of Sam and maybe Self & Co know.

And for those who ask if Mitch Lightfoot would transfer for more PT -- he is KU Jayhawk through and through, so fuggedaboudit.



Rock Chalk to all of you!

My pleasure, port!

By the way, folks, the Naismith NPOY went to Villanova junior Jalen Brunson as expected.
He now has the Naismith, AP and Oscar Robertson POY awards this year, all that is left of the Big 4 is the Wooden (TBA Friday).

Congratulations to him, and hope he enters the NBA draft after the NCAAT is over.