So are KU’s 2020 Recruiting fortunes changing?

Enaruna is a solid get. In Rivals final rankings for the 2019 class he jumped from #105 to #61, and he has spurted from initial reports of being 6-7 to now up to 6-10 and perhaps still growing. Will need Hudy. I did a little write up on him earlier in the pinned recruiting thread. www.rockchalk.com/index.php/forum/basket...ay-15?start=80#22722

Here’s Tait’s write up tonight. www2.kusports.com/weblogs/tale-tait/2019...n-enaruna-picks-kan/

DrJHawker wrote: Enaruna is another 4-star player, Rivals #44, 6'10" forward with huge upside and pro potential. Sounds like an ideal pick up for this year. I'm with you Corpus, if we can land either Hampton or Tucker, it will be a very solid recruiting class.

www2.kusports.com/weblogs/tale-tait/2019...n-enaruna-picks-kan/

Beat me to it, Dr J.

Note that he jumped 44 spots from 105 to 61.

Otherwise in lock step with ya, Dr J! And CJ as well, of course!

And I now stand corrected.

I will swear that earlier today I read that he had jumped up to #61, but the Rivals 150 is indeed now showing him at #44, a 61 point jump from his previous 105.

Wow! Talk about blowing up!

Yes!

Good get. Keep ‘em coming!

Rock Chalk...

His HS coach says 6-10, but the lad himself is quoted in articles I’ve seen saying he is 6-9. Rivals and 247Sports are going with that as well, and Tait’s articles are saying 6-9/205, so that’s what he’s listed it in the pinned recruiting thread.

Funny noting that 247Sports ranks him #61 — and no, that was not the source of my earlier error. I had not looked at his 247Sports profile in the past week.

FWIW, ESPN lists him #97 now, but 6-8/190.

Reposting from the recruiting thread to facilitate discussion...

Earlier RJ Hampton was saying he would make his decision end of July after summer school (needed so he can graduate in time for Fall 2019 semester).

Reports now are that he has moved his decision date up to the end of May, which coincides with the 29 May NCAA deadline to withdraw from the draft and retain eligibility.

So does this bode well for KU — he is ready to decide and wants to spend the summer focusing on finishing his HS coursework — or he is waiting to see what Dotson will do, and will make his decision accordingly? And will Dotson returning be a plus or minus in his decision matrix?

Things that make you go “Hmmm...”

KUSports.com - Tait: Hampton moving up decision date

It certainly would be!

When you start talking projected OADs vs highly rated grad transfers (i.e., guys that have already proved they can play and play well in D1), since we’re only getting one year out of them, give me the GT.

Gurus like Eric Bossi write that Tucker (more a 3/4 than a 2/3 per EB) really isn’t competing against Hampton, so getting both would be huge, especially when DD returns (emanating positive waves for him to see the value of returning and going R1 next year versus staying in and going R2).

PROJECTED
Dotson/Hampton/McBride
Hampton/Tucker/Garrett
Tucker/Garrett/Braun
SDS/Enaruna/Lightfoot/?*
Dok/Big Dave/SDS

*KU still in finals for 5* PF Precious Achiuwa (Rivals Corey Evans just changed his prediction from Memphis to KU), and top line grad transfer F (3 or 4) TJ Holyfield.

Even if Silvio’s appeal is not approved, assuming Dotson returns, landing 3 — or even just 2 — of Hampton (projected KU), Tucker (looking good for KU after his visit here), Achiuwa (seeing gurus moving to KU) and Holyfield (have seen nothing one way or another game in recent days, but he really liked his KU visit) easily gives KU the best Spring recruiting haul (according to Rivals’ spring projections) and a Top 5 team with NC prospects heading into next season.

We should never rush life, it goes too bloody fast as it is, but man, I’m looking forward to the dust settling on this big picture!

May 9, 10:15pm

In what is perhaps a sign of more good things to come, tonight folks are talking about KU now backing away from graduate transfer TJ Holyfield (as opposed to him choosing elsewhere, which TTBOMK he hasn’t as I write this). All the folks talking of this are saying it seems that Self & Co are thinking they are now closing on people who would be better options for the team they are trying to put together.

If true, good for KU and best of luck to TJ, who from all accounts is a solid young man on and off the court. I was really hoping to get to see him play in C&B.

HawkErrant wrote: May 9, 10:15pm

In what is perhaps a sign of more good things to come, tonight folks are talking about KU now backing away from graduate transfer TJ Holyfield (as opposed to him choosing elsewhere, which TTBOMK he hasn’t as I write this). All the folks talking of this are saying it seems that Self & Co are thinking they are now closing on people who would be better options for the team they are trying to put together.

If true, good for KU and best of luck to TJ, who from all accounts is a solid young man on and off the court. I was really hoping to get to see him play in C&B.

UPDATE May 10, 8:53am

Apparently Self gave Holyfield a deadline of May 4 to commit. Holyfield didn’t. At least that’s the story coming out of both Champaign-Urbana and Lubbock, and being confirmed today by supposed KU insiders on JayhawkSlant.

And May 7 Enaruna commits.

Was Self looking at one versus the other, based on other prospects he’s anticipating landing?

No idea.

It’s now four Fridays since Silvio’s appeal was submitted back in April.
The day is still young.