Recruiting: hope for the best, prepare for the worst

Regular Signing Period window opens this week and runs from April 17 thru May 15.

As noted earlier in the pinned recruiting thread, KU (and Sparty) target Harlond Beverly (Detroit kid) picked Miami today. This week will see two other major KU recruiting targets announce their decisions as well. Most of the predicting gurus have both Matthew Hurt (Apr 19 announcement) and Cassius Stanley (now delaying his announcement to Saturday April 20 Monday April 22) going to Poach K instead of KU. (UPDATE: and they both did - HE)

While that would be disappointing, very disappointing in the case of Hurt, there will still be life after this week no matter what their announcements reveal.

To review, here is a summary of the kids that KU is pursuing (or at least seems to have a shot at) in addition to Hurt and Stanley.

2019 RECRUITS WITH OFFERS
Pos Rnk/Rating NAME HT/WT Hometown & HS/College
F! 16/***** Precious Achiuwa 6-9/200 Newark, NJ/St. Benedict's HS (would love to get the kid, very athletic)
SF! 105/**** Tristan Enaruna 6-7/205 Mt Pleasant, UT/Wasatch Academy
G 110/**** Grant Sherfield 6-2/185 Bel Aire, KS/Sunrise Christian Academy (Dante classmate)
KU is in good shape (so far) with all the above. Not saying KU will land them all, but would not be surprised if it happened.

2020 RECLASSIFYING TO 2019?
PG 05/***** R.J. Hampton 6-5/170 Little Elm, TX/Little Elm
C 08/***** N'Faly Dante 6-10/225 Bel Aire, KS/ Sunrise Christian Academy
SF 139/*** Josh Hall 6-9/190 Hickory, NC/Moravian Prep Academy (UPDATE 2019-04-26 - staying 2020. HE) (Rivals link)
KU seems to be the team to beat for both Hampton and Dante if they succeed in reclassifying.

POSSIBLE TRANSFERS (* = Graduate Transfers)
KNOWN TO BE VISITING KU
F TJ HOLYFIELD*
6-8/227 Albuquerque, NM/SF Austin
Out last season with a shoulder injury.
As a freshman he started every game on the Lumberjacks NCAA Tournament team.
Stats as a junior:
Southland Conference First Team All-Defensive team.
GP/S 35/35
PPG 12.9, RPG 6.4, and 1.3 BPG in 27 minutes per game.
FG 55%167-305
3PT 41% 28-68
FT 75% 89-119

OTHERS INTERESTED IN KU
SG RAYJON TUCKER*
6-5/210 Charlotte, NC/FGCU/UALR
UALR 2018-19 Redshirt Junior Year after transferring from FGCU
GP/S 30/30
PPG 20.3, RPG 6.7, APG 1.8, MPG 33.3
FG 49.1% 187-381
3PT 41.1% 72-175
FT 77.7% 164-211

OTHERS IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL THAT WOULD BE GOOD KU FITS
SG JAKE TOOLSON*
6-5/205 Gilbert, AZ/ Utah Valley U (is there a Lightfoot-Toolson HS connection?)
WAC POY 2018-19
UVU 2018-19
GP/S 35/35
PPG 15.7, RPG 4.5, APG 2.3, MPG 33.3
FG 53.7% 188-350
3PT 44.8% 69-154
FT 85.1% 103-121

F SHAKUR JUISTON* (added to list 2019-04-16)
6-7/220 Newark, NJ/UNLV
UNLV Career (2017-18, 2018-19 (just 8 games in the latter season due to injury)
GP/S 41/41
PPG 13.9, RPG 9.7, APG 2.0, MPG 30.1
FG 60.2% 253-420
3PT 40.0% 6-15
FT 52.3% 56-107

F SAM HAUSER
6-8/225 Stevens Point, WI/Marquette
MARQUETTE 2018-19 Junior (2 years to play 1)
GP/S 34/34
PPG 14.9, RPG 7.2, APG 2.4, MPG 33.4
FG 45.9% 173-377 (47.7% UM career)
3PT 40.2% 88-219 (44.5% UM career)
FT 92.4% 73-79 (87.6% UM career)

F JOEY HAUSER
6-9/230 Stevens Point, WI/Marquette
MARQUETTE 2018-19 freshman (4 years to play 3)
GP/S 34/31
PPG 9.7, RPG 5.3, APG 2.4, MPG 29.2
FG 44.7% 106-237
3PT 42.5% 45-106
FT 79.1% 72-91

The Hauser boys, being sons of Wisconsin, may just be looking to move from Milwaukee to Madison and a new coach while still staying close to home. While both would be great proven gets, they are both traditional transfers, so they would be no help next year. But with a potential 6 other spots still to fill this year (4 known + UA + SDS), it would be worthwhile to sign them if they want to come to KU.

Some of these folks are looking to sign ASAP, some will be taking their time (e.g., Achiuwa sometime in May).

With tomorrow reportedly being the end of year banquet, we may know Dok's plans around this time tomorrow. And since the deadline to declare for the NBA Draft is 10:59 PM CDT this Sunday, next Monday for sure we will be talking about both his and Silvio's decision (see Matt Tait article on why Silvio De Sousa may declare for the NBA Draft).


With that in mind, and stealing some dates and definitions from Matt Tait's The latest news and names to watch with KU basketball recruiting, here’s a quick look at the recruiting calendar for the next few months.

• April 15-18: Dead period

• April 19-24: Contact period

• April 25: Quiet period

• April 26-28, 2019: Evaluation period (only for certified events)

• May 14-19 - NBA Draft Combine: Evaluation period (for combine only)

• May 15: Quiet period

• May 16-24: Dead period

• May 25 – July 5: Quiet period

Glossary of terms:
Quiet Period: A time when prospects can talk to college coaches in person on a college campus. Coaches are not allowed to watch athletes compete in person, visit their school, talk to them at home or anywhere outside of the college campus.

Dead Period: During the dead period, coaches may not have any in-person contact with recruits and/or their parents. Coaches are not allowed to talk to recruits at their college campus, the athlete’s school, a camp or anywhere else. Athletes and coaches are, however, still allowed to communicate via phone, email, and social media.

Evaluation Period: A specific time of year when college coaches are allowed to watch an athlete compete in person or visit their school. However, coaches are not allowed to communicate with that athlete or his parents off the college campus. Coaches can sit in the stands during a recruit’s practice or game, as well as visit the recruit’s school to talk to coaches, teachers, counselors, etc. After the visit, the coach may call or email the recruit to let them know how their experience was.

Contact Period: Any and all communication between athletes and coaches is fair game. Coaches can email, text, call or direct message recruits and their parents through any NCAA-approved methods and visits can take play on college campuses, at tournaments or at the recruit’s home or school.

NB: I put this as a stand-alone post so folks may feel a little more like adding their perspective here (i.e., folks won't feel like they'd be cluttering up the pinned recruiting thread). I will effectively incorporate this thread into the pinned thread via a link for future reference.

ROCK CHALK!

ESPN: available transfers, immediately available first

Reading through this I would add the name of Shakur Juiston to the KU interest list. KU was originally interested in the 6-7/220 PF in 2017 when he was finishing at Hutchinson CC. KU was in SJ’s final 2, but he opted for UNLV, where he was a force his first year, then played just 8 games last season due to injury.

F SHAKUR JUISTON*
6-7/220 Newark, NJ/UNLV
UNLV Career (2017-18, 2018-19 (just 8 games in the latter season due to injury)
GP/S 41/41
PPG 13.9, RPG 9.7, APG 2.0, MPG 30.1
FG 60.2% 253-420
3PT 40.0% 6-15
FT 52.3% 56-107
(above added to OP)

Another excellent big man that just entered the transfer portal,
www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/pla.../kerry-blackshear-jr

According to recruiting analyst Corey Evans the 6-10/250 VT Junior will be a grad transfer and the “best available to play next year”. Leaving the Hokies with the departure of coach Buzz Williams to TAMU. Also “assessing his NBA chances this spring” per Evans.

Just read that Stanley has now delayed his decision announcement to Monday April 22 instead of today. He was originally going to announce on Signing Day (last Wednesday), but pushed it back to today and now Monday.

Since all the talk is still him choosing Ca$h K and Puke, I’m thinking the delay is due to logistics issues — getting everything set up the way he wants it.

Nothing new to report on other KU recruiting at the moment.

Two new names on KU's radar

We've already read about PG R(ock Chalk) J(ayhawk) Hampton looking to reclassify (will do summer school to finish up in time for fall).

2020 Top 25 SF Johnny Juzang (6-7/200) is definitely reclassifying and has an offer from KU, but the current projections FWIW are split between Virginia (on him for the longest, he officially visited back in Oct 2018) and kensucky (visiting this week). Hometown UCLA and new coach Mick Cronin have to be figured in the mix as well.

2020 Top 20 SG Kyree Walker (6-4/205) is also considering reclassifying (no decision yet). What I like about him is captured in this Tait sentence -- Rivals recruiting guru Eric Bossi called Walker “a physical scorer who can play above the rim” and “a tenacious competitor on the defensive side of the ball.”

If either Hampton or Walker reclassify and choose KU, the Jayhawks would appear to be set with a partner for Dotson for next season.

As always, if none end up in Crimson and Blue the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of these prospects.