On Thursday night, Kansas received a commitment from Elmarko Jackson, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound point guard from South Kent (CT) School. Jackson, the No. 63 ranked player in the 2023 class, picked Kansas over serious interest from the likes of Bryant, California, DePaul, Drake, Kansas State, LSU, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (FL), Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rider, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Siena, St. John's, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, Villanova, Virginia, VCU, Wisconsin, and others.
During a live announcement on Thursday night, Jackson, a four-star prospect, verbally committed to Self and Kansas over Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Texas, and Villanova. Recently, I'd heard that Miami (FL) made a big run at Jackson, the No. 20 ranked point guard in the 2023 class, but after talking to some folks last night, it was made clear to me that Kansas had clearly separated itself from the rest of the pack and a decision was ready to be made by Jackson.
Obviously, Thursday night was big for Self and Kansas. First and foremost, Elmarko Jackson was, without question, at the top of the priority list for this staff. Self is going to get a ton of credit here, and he should, but Coach Norm Roberts did an absolutely fantastic job recruiting Jackson. From the minute Self, Roberts, and the staff identified Jackson, the chase to land his commitment was on and, from what I've been told, never slowed down.
Here's the thing about Elmarko Jackson. From the second he received a scholarship offer from Kansas, the staff was ready and more than willing to take his commitment. In fact, and I feel strongly about this, I'm not sure the staff would have taken another commitment from a prospect in the 2023 class before knowing where Jackson was headed. This is a player that the staff wanted as bad as any player in the 2023 class. I've been told that the sky is the limit for Jackson and I'm not sure the expectations could be any higher going into his senior year at South Kent (CT) School.
Few prospects, if any at all, had the type of summer that Jackson had on the AAU Circuit. Several of you have asked me about his ranking moving forward, and I've wondered that myself. I've been told that Jackson is going to make a big jump up in the rankings during the next update. Now, in terms of what that looks like, I've got no idea, but I've been told that he's going to receive a nice, well-deserved bump. At one point, his ranking history looked like this: Unranked, unranked, 31, 30, 133, 141, and, most recently, 63. A top 30 player at one point, I'm guessing he's got the opportunity to reach that status again in the near future. Again, I don't know exactly where Jackson will fall when the rankings are updated, but he's going to be rewarded for his outstanding play this past spring and summer.
I've talked to a lot of people about this, and the staff clearly identified Chris Johnson, Elmarko Jackson, and Jamari McDowell as priorities in the 2023 class. Johnson visited in July, McDowell in August, and Jackson in September. Instead of having them visit, let's say, during the weekend of Late Night in the Phog, the staff decided to bring them in individually and roll out, as they say, the red carpet. If you look at KU's current three-man class, all guards, Johnson is 6-foot-6, Jackson is 6-foot-3, and McDowell is 6-foot-3. The staff, without question, did an amazing job of adding some length and athleticism to the backcourt.
In recruiting, and I think all of you will agree with me, the goal of every coaching staff is to sign the players that you think will make your program better. Whether that happens right away or over a period of time, you always want to sign the guys you "view" as can't miss or top priority guys. The staff has done just that in the 2023 class. Self, Roberts, Kurtis Towsend, and Jeremy Case have added three prospects that they legitimately hoped to add and didn't have to shift their focus elsewhere or scramble because a prospect decided to commit elsewhere.
Now, the big question left unanswered is: What happens next? Well, that's actually a really good question. Mikey Williams and Kaden Cooper have officially visited Kansas and both appear to have a high amount of interest in Self's program. Honestly, I'm not sure what's going to happen with Williams or Cooper. Honestly, I've got no clue where things stand with Williams, but I know his situation with Puma makes things, well, interesting. I've got no idea how that works or how it impacts his future or what it means moving forward. I've got nothing and that's just me being honest.
As far as Cooper goes, Gonzaga looked to be the team to beat for the longest time, but that's obviously changed. At one point, I was told that if Cooper didn't commit to Gonzaga, Kansas would be the winner in his recruitment. However, while that still might be the case, it sounds like Arkansas has emerged as the frontrunner. I've made a few calls and hope to have some type of update in the near future, but Arkansas has made a big move.
Still, at the end of the day, the biggest factor in KU's 2023 recruiting class will likely be available scholarships. At the end of the season, who is going to stay, who is going to leave early, and who is going to transfer? None of these questions can be answered at this time. Honestly, if Williams or Cooper reaches out to Self and wants to commit, how does he say no? I'm not sure he can, but the numbers have to be in place for that to happen.
My feeling right now, and I feel somewhat strongly about this, is Kansas will sign Chris Johnson, Elmarko Jackson, and Jamari McDowell during the early signing period. At the end of the season, the staff will take a look at the roster, work the transfer portal, and see what's still available in the 2023 class. They've done an amazing job landing Johnson, Jackson, and McDowell. With the talent on the roster now and with the talent coming in, Kansas has a very bright future in the backcourt.
I'm guessing the staff will look to add a big man via the portal at the end of the season. Clearly, having moved on from five-star big man Dennis Evans, they feel good about where things stand. Lastly, as far as Williams and Cooper go, only time will tell.
During a live announcement on Thursday night, Jackson, a four-star prospect, verbally committed to Self and Kansas over Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Texas, and Villanova. Recently, I'd heard that Miami (FL) made a big run at Jackson, the No. 20 ranked point guard in the 2023 class, but after talking to some folks last night, it was made clear to me that Kansas had clearly separated itself from the rest of the pack and a decision was ready to be made by Jackson.
Obviously, Thursday night was big for Self and Kansas. First and foremost, Elmarko Jackson was, without question, at the top of the priority list for this staff. Self is going to get a ton of credit here, and he should, but Coach Norm Roberts did an absolutely fantastic job recruiting Jackson. From the minute Self, Roberts, and the staff identified Jackson, the chase to land his commitment was on and, from what I've been told, never slowed down.
Here's the thing about Elmarko Jackson. From the second he received a scholarship offer from Kansas, the staff was ready and more than willing to take his commitment. In fact, and I feel strongly about this, I'm not sure the staff would have taken another commitment from a prospect in the 2023 class before knowing where Jackson was headed. This is a player that the staff wanted as bad as any player in the 2023 class. I've been told that the sky is the limit for Jackson and I'm not sure the expectations could be any higher going into his senior year at South Kent (CT) School.
Few prospects, if any at all, had the type of summer that Jackson had on the AAU Circuit. Several of you have asked me about his ranking moving forward, and I've wondered that myself. I've been told that Jackson is going to make a big jump up in the rankings during the next update. Now, in terms of what that looks like, I've got no idea, but I've been told that he's going to receive a nice, well-deserved bump. At one point, his ranking history looked like this: Unranked, unranked, 31, 30, 133, 141, and, most recently, 63. A top 30 player at one point, I'm guessing he's got the opportunity to reach that status again in the near future. Again, I don't know exactly where Jackson will fall when the rankings are updated, but he's going to be rewarded for his outstanding play this past spring and summer.
I've talked to a lot of people about this, and the staff clearly identified Chris Johnson, Elmarko Jackson, and Jamari McDowell as priorities in the 2023 class. Johnson visited in July, McDowell in August, and Jackson in September. Instead of having them visit, let's say, during the weekend of Late Night in the Phog, the staff decided to bring them in individually and roll out, as they say, the red carpet. If you look at KU's current three-man class, all guards, Johnson is 6-foot-6, Jackson is 6-foot-3, and McDowell is 6-foot-3. The staff, without question, did an amazing job of adding some length and athleticism to the backcourt.
In recruiting, and I think all of you will agree with me, the goal of every coaching staff is to sign the players that you think will make your program better. Whether that happens right away or over a period of time, you always want to sign the guys you "view" as can't miss or top priority guys. The staff has done just that in the 2023 class. Self, Roberts, Kurtis Towsend, and Jeremy Case have added three prospects that they legitimately hoped to add and didn't have to shift their focus elsewhere or scramble because a prospect decided to commit elsewhere.
Now, the big question left unanswered is: What happens next? Well, that's actually a really good question. Mikey Williams and Kaden Cooper have officially visited Kansas and both appear to have a high amount of interest in Self's program. Honestly, I'm not sure what's going to happen with Williams or Cooper. Honestly, I've got no clue where things stand with Williams, but I know his situation with Puma makes things, well, interesting. I've got no idea how that works or how it impacts his future or what it means moving forward. I've got nothing and that's just me being honest.
As far as Cooper goes, Gonzaga looked to be the team to beat for the longest time, but that's obviously changed. At one point, I was told that if Cooper didn't commit to Gonzaga, Kansas would be the winner in his recruitment. However, while that still might be the case, it sounds like Arkansas has emerged as the frontrunner. I've made a few calls and hope to have some type of update in the near future, but Arkansas has made a big move.
Still, at the end of the day, the biggest factor in KU's 2023 recruiting class will likely be available scholarships. At the end of the season, who is going to stay, who is going to leave early, and who is going to transfer? None of these questions can be answered at this time. Honestly, if Williams or Cooper reaches out to Self and wants to commit, how does he say no? I'm not sure he can, but the numbers have to be in place for that to happen.
My feeling right now, and I feel somewhat strongly about this, is Kansas will sign Chris Johnson, Elmarko Jackson, and Jamari McDowell during the early signing period. At the end of the season, the staff will take a look at the roster, work the transfer portal, and see what's still available in the 2023 class. They've done an amazing job landing Johnson, Jackson, and McDowell. With the talent on the roster now and with the talent coming in, Kansas has a very bright future in the backcourt.
I'm guessing the staff will look to add a big man via the portal at the end of the season. Clearly, having moved on from five-star big man Dennis Evans, they feel good about where things stand. Lastly, as far as Williams and Cooper go, only time will tell.
