Hey all,
After talking a little bit of time to reflect back on KU's 2015 recruiting class, including watching some video, I've got to tell you that, in my opinion, Kansas fans, without question, should be fired up.
There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that Carlton Bragg (https://rivals.yahoo.com/kansas/basketball/recruiting/player-Carlton-Bragg-144298), the 6-foot-9, 225-pound power forward from Villa Angela-St. Joseph in Cleveland, Ohio and Cheick Diallo (https://rivals.yahoo.com/kansas/basketball/recruiting/player-Cheick-Diallo-142779), the 6-foot-9, 220-pound power forward from Our Savior New American in Centereach, N.Y., are going to be difference makers next season.
First, I know that some are disappointed that Kansas missed out on Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, and Malik Newman. However, with Frank Mason, III, Wayne Selden, Jr., Devonte' Graham, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, and Brannen Greene set to return, Kansas will have plenty of punch from the perimeter. Also, Perry Ellis, with his ability to shoot behind the arc, will be able to stretch the floor as well, which is certainly a big plus for Kansas.
So, in looking at KU's complete roster, you've got Mason, Selden, Graham, Mykhailiuk, Greene, and Ellis (inside/outside) that can score from the perimeter.
In the paint, you've got Ellis, Jamari Traylor, Landen Lucas, Hunter Mickelson, Diallo and Bragg.
Kansas, a season ago, had to rely heavily on scoring from the perimeter and attacking the basket because, well, the Jayhawks, for the first time in a long time, didn't have a rim protector. Kansas, for the first time in a long time, didn't have the luxury of having Joel Embiid, Jeff Withey, Cole Aldrich, etc anchor the post.
Well, looking ahead to the 2015-16 season, much has changed for Bill Self and Kansas. Yes, the possibility that the Jayhawks could land another big guard/wing or two in the 2015 class, but the most important piece of the puzzle, at least when looking to next season, has already been added.
Diallo, MVP of both the McDonald's All-American game and Jordan Brand Classic, averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game this season. The No. 5 ranked player in the 2015 class, Diallo, with a national audience watching, scored 18 points pulled down 10 rebounds, blocked one shot and was credited with two steals in leading the East past the West, 111-91 in the McDonald's All-American game.
In earning the MVP, Diallo shot 8-of-14 from the field and was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Of his 10 total rebounds, six came on the offensive end.
Once again, Diallo, with a national audience watching, took center stage at the Jordan Brand Classic on April 17 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. In earning MVP honors once again, Diallo scored 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
In all, Diallo converted 12-of-16 field goals and was 2-of-3 from the free-throw line. Already one of the most coveted prospects on the 2015 class, Diallo cemented himself as one of the truly elite prospects at the prep level.
Following his MVP performance in Chicago and New York, it became clear that Diallo was a "must get" for Self and his staff. As rumors continued to swirl, Diallo, on April 28, took to Twitter and announced his commitment to Kansas.
Bragg, the No. 21 ranked player in the 2015 class, was the first player from the 2015 class to commit to Kansas. The five-star power forward, having received scholarship offers from the likes of Arizona, Connecticut, Georgetown, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, N.C. State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Texas, UCLA, West Virginia, Wisconsin and others, committed to Self and the Jayhawks on January 8, 2015.
During a press conference at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, Bragg, with friends, family, and coaches in attendance, and many watching online, verbally committed to Kansas over Kentucky and Illinois.
Bragg, also a McDonald's All-American, averaged 18.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this past season. During his career, Bragg captured a state championship as a sophomore and senior, was tabbed the New Herald Player of the Year, Ohio Division III Player of the Year, First Team All Ohio Division III, and was named a Max Prep All-American (5th team).
In the McDonald's All-American game, Bragg scored nine points, pulled down two rebounds and was credited with one steal.
Diallo and Bragg, this next season, should provide a major boost for Kansas in the paint. As its been stated many times, Diallo has a motor that never stops and is going to bring a level of toughness that Self will welcome with open arms when he steps foot on campus.
In the eyes of many, Diallo is raw offensively, but as you can tell from his performance in both All-Star games, he has the ability to put points on the board in the paint and is a flat-out monster on the glass.
Diallo, in two of the biggest All-Star games of the year, scored 46 points and pulled down 22 rebounds. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that Self and Coach Norm Roberts hit a grand slam with the addition of Cheick Diallo in the spring.
With Bragg also in the fold, Kansas has added two McDonald's All-American big men to its roster for the upcoming season. Bragg, who finished second or third in the three point shooting contest at McDonald's and second in the skills competition, has all the tools to be a special player at Kansas.
He has the ability to score from behind the arc, but his biggest contribution, at least early on, will be down low in the paint. Moving forward, opposing teams will no longer have the luxury to focus on Perry Ellis and they'll no longer be able to force Kansas to beat them from behind the arc.
KU's offense, with Cheick Diallo and Carlton Bragg on board, should open up quite a bit this upcoming season.
After talking a little bit of time to reflect back on KU's 2015 recruiting class, including watching some video, I've got to tell you that, in my opinion, Kansas fans, without question, should be fired up.
There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that Carlton Bragg (https://rivals.yahoo.com/kansas/basketball/recruiting/player-Carlton-Bragg-144298), the 6-foot-9, 225-pound power forward from Villa Angela-St. Joseph in Cleveland, Ohio and Cheick Diallo (https://rivals.yahoo.com/kansas/basketball/recruiting/player-Cheick-Diallo-142779), the 6-foot-9, 220-pound power forward from Our Savior New American in Centereach, N.Y., are going to be difference makers next season.
First, I know that some are disappointed that Kansas missed out on Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, and Malik Newman. However, with Frank Mason, III, Wayne Selden, Jr., Devonte' Graham, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, and Brannen Greene set to return, Kansas will have plenty of punch from the perimeter. Also, Perry Ellis, with his ability to shoot behind the arc, will be able to stretch the floor as well, which is certainly a big plus for Kansas.
So, in looking at KU's complete roster, you've got Mason, Selden, Graham, Mykhailiuk, Greene, and Ellis (inside/outside) that can score from the perimeter.
In the paint, you've got Ellis, Jamari Traylor, Landen Lucas, Hunter Mickelson, Diallo and Bragg.
Kansas, a season ago, had to rely heavily on scoring from the perimeter and attacking the basket because, well, the Jayhawks, for the first time in a long time, didn't have a rim protector. Kansas, for the first time in a long time, didn't have the luxury of having Joel Embiid, Jeff Withey, Cole Aldrich, etc anchor the post.
Well, looking ahead to the 2015-16 season, much has changed for Bill Self and Kansas. Yes, the possibility that the Jayhawks could land another big guard/wing or two in the 2015 class, but the most important piece of the puzzle, at least when looking to next season, has already been added.
Diallo, MVP of both the McDonald's All-American game and Jordan Brand Classic, averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game this season. The No. 5 ranked player in the 2015 class, Diallo, with a national audience watching, scored 18 points pulled down 10 rebounds, blocked one shot and was credited with two steals in leading the East past the West, 111-91 in the McDonald's All-American game.
In earning the MVP, Diallo shot 8-of-14 from the field and was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Of his 10 total rebounds, six came on the offensive end.
Once again, Diallo, with a national audience watching, took center stage at the Jordan Brand Classic on April 17 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. In earning MVP honors once again, Diallo scored 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
In all, Diallo converted 12-of-16 field goals and was 2-of-3 from the free-throw line. Already one of the most coveted prospects on the 2015 class, Diallo cemented himself as one of the truly elite prospects at the prep level.
Following his MVP performance in Chicago and New York, it became clear that Diallo was a "must get" for Self and his staff. As rumors continued to swirl, Diallo, on April 28, took to Twitter and announced his commitment to Kansas.
Bragg, the No. 21 ranked player in the 2015 class, was the first player from the 2015 class to commit to Kansas. The five-star power forward, having received scholarship offers from the likes of Arizona, Connecticut, Georgetown, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, N.C. State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Texas, UCLA, West Virginia, Wisconsin and others, committed to Self and the Jayhawks on January 8, 2015.
During a press conference at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, Bragg, with friends, family, and coaches in attendance, and many watching online, verbally committed to Kansas over Kentucky and Illinois.
Bragg, also a McDonald's All-American, averaged 18.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this past season. During his career, Bragg captured a state championship as a sophomore and senior, was tabbed the New Herald Player of the Year, Ohio Division III Player of the Year, First Team All Ohio Division III, and was named a Max Prep All-American (5th team).
In the McDonald's All-American game, Bragg scored nine points, pulled down two rebounds and was credited with one steal.
Diallo and Bragg, this next season, should provide a major boost for Kansas in the paint. As its been stated many times, Diallo has a motor that never stops and is going to bring a level of toughness that Self will welcome with open arms when he steps foot on campus.
In the eyes of many, Diallo is raw offensively, but as you can tell from his performance in both All-Star games, he has the ability to put points on the board in the paint and is a flat-out monster on the glass.
Diallo, in two of the biggest All-Star games of the year, scored 46 points and pulled down 22 rebounds. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that Self and Coach Norm Roberts hit a grand slam with the addition of Cheick Diallo in the spring.
With Bragg also in the fold, Kansas has added two McDonald's All-American big men to its roster for the upcoming season. Bragg, who finished second or third in the three point shooting contest at McDonald's and second in the skills competition, has all the tools to be a special player at Kansas.
He has the ability to score from behind the arc, but his biggest contribution, at least early on, will be down low in the paint. Moving forward, opposing teams will no longer have the luxury to focus on Perry Ellis and they'll no longer be able to force Kansas to beat them from behind the arc.
KU's offense, with Cheick Diallo and Carlton Bragg on board, should open up quite a bit this upcoming season.
