2017 Park Hill defensive end Chester Graves was one of the prospects that made the trip to Lawrence on Saturday for Junior Day at KU. The Jayhawks were the first to offer the 6-foot-4, 220-pound sophomore after he racked up 89 tackles and 15 sacks in 2014.
"Definitely one to remember," Graves said of his visit to Kansas.
The Trojans DE got to see his first game in Allen Fieldhouse, and came away with a few memories he won't soon forget.
"It was great," he said of the KU men's basketball game against Texas. "At one point in time of the game, me and my friend got pulled over in the student section by one of the students who actually went to Park Hill last year. It felt better, because I've never been in a college student section. Sophomores in high school don't get to do that, and I was able to."
A picture on Twitter showed Graves and his teammate, Davion Tyler (a DB with some good film), sitting in head coach David Beaty's office, watching college basketball on TV.
"That was great too," he said of the impromptu watch party. "We talked about some basketball. He's one of a kind."
Since picking up the KU offer, he's added an offer from Missouri. He said he's definitely considering the Jayhawks, and that more visits to Lawrence are likely to come.
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Three-star offensive lineman Dylan Powell was also in Lawrence on Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound guard from Hannibal enjoyed his visit to KU.
"I talked to almost every offensive coach, and Coach Beaty," Powell said of his time on campus. "It was a very positive trip for me."
The Pirates standout talked about his conversation with assistant Zach Yenser.
"He was with me and my family a lot," Powell said of the Jayhawks OL coach. "He told me that I am a great player, and one of their top guys for this class. He talked about the way he wants his line to play, and what style of offense they will be running."
"We had good conversations," Powell continued about Yenser. "I think it is a good possibility that I get one (offer). Coach just wanted to have me up again to work with me."
Powell said the coaching staff and the facilities were what stood out most about his visit. He's hopeful to visit KU again this spring, and said he is very interested in the Jayhawks.
*****
Another Show Me State prospect made the trip to Lawrence a few weeks ago, as Webb City offensive lineman Trystan Castillo was on campus for the Jayhawks first Junior Day of 2016. I finally caught up with him today, and the 6-foot-4, 280-pound mauler had some news about his visit.
"I loved the campus," he said of his time on Mount Oread. "I talked with Coach Beaty. It was a very comfortable atmosphere, and was straight forward. He didn't try to sugar coat anything, and made sure that I knew that they were interested and wanted me to come back."
"He's got an idea and direction that he wants the program to go," he continued about Beaty. "I respect that. He's definitely one of my favorite coaches that I've talked to so far."
Castillo also talked with the Jayhawks new run game coordinator/offensive line coach Zach Yenser. He got some interesting news from the former Cal assistant.
"Coach Yenser told me I'm a for sure offer for him. He's just waiting on the offensive coordinator to pull the trigger."
The Class 4 All-State selection has seen his recruitment pick up over the past few weeks. Though he only has an offer from Arkansas State, plenty of schools have asked him to visit this spring or camp this summer.
"My mom's excited and really happy all this is happening," Castillo said of his recruitment. "She never pictured it being this much. At first, we only talked Division 2 schools or junior colleges, because my brother only went D-2."
Castillo also talked about Jayhawk Towers, noting that the apartments the student-athletes stay in were very nice. He visited K-State yesterday for Junior Day, and will be heading to Iowa State next weekend.
*****
This post was edited on 3/2 9:46 PM by Randy Withers
"Definitely one to remember," Graves said of his visit to Kansas.
The Trojans DE got to see his first game in Allen Fieldhouse, and came away with a few memories he won't soon forget.
"It was great," he said of the KU men's basketball game against Texas. "At one point in time of the game, me and my friend got pulled over in the student section by one of the students who actually went to Park Hill last year. It felt better, because I've never been in a college student section. Sophomores in high school don't get to do that, and I was able to."
A picture on Twitter showed Graves and his teammate, Davion Tyler (a DB with some good film), sitting in head coach David Beaty's office, watching college basketball on TV.
"That was great too," he said of the impromptu watch party. "We talked about some basketball. He's one of a kind."
Since picking up the KU offer, he's added an offer from Missouri. He said he's definitely considering the Jayhawks, and that more visits to Lawrence are likely to come.
*****
Three-star offensive lineman Dylan Powell was also in Lawrence on Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound guard from Hannibal enjoyed his visit to KU.
"I talked to almost every offensive coach, and Coach Beaty," Powell said of his time on campus. "It was a very positive trip for me."
The Pirates standout talked about his conversation with assistant Zach Yenser.
"He was with me and my family a lot," Powell said of the Jayhawks OL coach. "He told me that I am a great player, and one of their top guys for this class. He talked about the way he wants his line to play, and what style of offense they will be running."
"We had good conversations," Powell continued about Yenser. "I think it is a good possibility that I get one (offer). Coach just wanted to have me up again to work with me."
Powell said the coaching staff and the facilities were what stood out most about his visit. He's hopeful to visit KU again this spring, and said he is very interested in the Jayhawks.
*****
Another Show Me State prospect made the trip to Lawrence a few weeks ago, as Webb City offensive lineman Trystan Castillo was on campus for the Jayhawks first Junior Day of 2016. I finally caught up with him today, and the 6-foot-4, 280-pound mauler had some news about his visit.
"I loved the campus," he said of his time on Mount Oread. "I talked with Coach Beaty. It was a very comfortable atmosphere, and was straight forward. He didn't try to sugar coat anything, and made sure that I knew that they were interested and wanted me to come back."
"He's got an idea and direction that he wants the program to go," he continued about Beaty. "I respect that. He's definitely one of my favorite coaches that I've talked to so far."
Castillo also talked with the Jayhawks new run game coordinator/offensive line coach Zach Yenser. He got some interesting news from the former Cal assistant.
"Coach Yenser told me I'm a for sure offer for him. He's just waiting on the offensive coordinator to pull the trigger."
The Class 4 All-State selection has seen his recruitment pick up over the past few weeks. Though he only has an offer from Arkansas State, plenty of schools have asked him to visit this spring or camp this summer.
"My mom's excited and really happy all this is happening," Castillo said of his recruitment. "She never pictured it being this much. At first, we only talked Division 2 schools or junior colleges, because my brother only went D-2."
Castillo also talked about Jayhawk Towers, noting that the apartments the student-athletes stay in were very nice. He visited K-State yesterday for Junior Day, and will be heading to Iowa State next weekend.
*****
This post was edited on 3/2 9:46 PM by Randy Withers
