No. 14-rated prospect in recruiting class of 2021 has KU on 10-team list of schools
Kansas is one of 10 schools in the running for Kendall Brown, a 6-foot-7 senior-to-be small forward from Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas.
Brown, the No. 14-ranked high school basketball player in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com, who is originally from Minnesota, on Saturday revealed on Twitter a list of KU, Baylor, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio State, Marquette, Arkansas, Arizona, Virginia and Maryland.
His Sunrise teammate, Zach Clemence, on Monday verbally committed to play at KU. Clemence, a 6-10 senior-to-be forward who is ranked No. 31 by Rivals.com, is originally from San Antonio, Texas.
“I really like the fanbase and the atmosphere there (at KU),” Brown told 247sports.com in March. “The program is great every year and they develop high level players. They are definitely up there on my list.”
“They’ve developed a lot of players to go to the league,” Brown told Zagsblog.com last summer. “I like the gym and the school. I went there for a tournament back in elementary school and just fell in love with it ever since.”
Riley considers Kansas
Jordan Riley, a 6-4 senior-to-be combo guard from Brentwood (New York) High, is planning on holding a Zoom recruiting call with KU’s coaches, Zagsblog.com reports.
Riley, who is unranked by Rivals.com, is considering KU, Kansas State, DePaul, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, Hofstra, Virginia Tech, St. John’s, Rutgers and Stony Brook.
Riley’s dad, Monty, recently spoke with KU coach Bill Self.
“Self talked about Jordan’s toughness and how he will lock you down on defense and take it to you offensively,” Monty Riley told Zagsblog.com. “He says he’s fearless.
“It started with (KU assistant) Norm Roberts coming to see him in a playoff game in which he suffered a severe cut on his eyebrow that required 10 stitches. Jordan kept coming in and out of the game to stop the bleeding but he had to play in order for his team to win. Norm was impressed with his toughness.”
Arizona prep forward lists KU
Alex “FrenTchi” Tchikou, a 6-11 senior-to-be forward from Dream City Christian High in Glendale, Arizona, who is ranked No. 25 in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com, has a lengthy list that includes KU.
“I talk to over 30 schools a week,” he told Zagsblog.com.
They include coaches from KU, New Mexico, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Florida State, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Washington, Alabama, Arizona, Florida State, Oregon, Arkansas, Baylor, Arizona State, Maryland, Nebraska and others.
KU assistant Howard praised by ESPN.com
KU assistant coach Jerrance Howard is one of 40 coaches included on ESPN.com’s “40 under 40” list that ranks the best 40 coaches in college basketball who were under 40-years-old as of April 30.
Howard, who is 39, checked in at No. 21 overall.
“Howard has had a reputation as one of the nation’s best recruiters dating back to his time at Illinois 2008-11,” wrote Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com. “The Peoria (Illinois) native is well-connected in Chicago and the Midwest but also had success at SMU under Larry Brown.
“Bill Self, who coached Howard as a player at Illinois, hired him in 2013, and Howard has continued his recruiting prowess in Lawrence,” Borzello added.
Howard has completed seven seasons at KU. During that time, KU won six Big 12 regular-season championships, two Big 12 tournament titles, six in-season tourney titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances, including three Elite Eights and one Final Four in 2018.
The top coach on the 40 under 40 list is Wes Miller, 37-year-old head coach at UNC Greensboro. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton, 38, is No. 4. Texas Tech assistant Ulric Maligi, 35, is No. 13; Tennessee assistant and former Missouri player Kim English, 31, is No. 26.
Grant-Foster picks jersey number
Incoming KU junior combo guard Tyon Grant-Foster, who wore jersey No. 13 at Indian Hills Community College, will wear No. 1 at KU during the 2020-21 season, according to a report on KUathletics.com.
“I chose No. 1 to honor my brother (Domo) who passed away last summer,” he said to KUathletics.com.
Devon Dotson, who has announced plans to leave KU after two seasons to enter the NBA Draft, wore No. 1 last season. Other Jayhawks to have worn No. 1 under Self include Dedric Lawson (2018-19), Wayne Selden (2014-16) and Xavier Henry (2009-10).
Grant-Foster recently was included on Rivals.com analyst Eric Bossi’s list of top signees never ranked in the top 150.
“Jayden Scrubb, who had been committed to Louisville, is the one who has decided to enter the NBA Draft, but I’m of the belief that Grant-Foster was the best NBA prospect in junior college basketball (last season),” Bossi wrote of the former KC Schlagle High School standout. “He handles the ball. He’s a very good athlete. He has length and he can heat up as a scorer. He could team up with Marcus Garrett to make a scary defensive tandem on the perimeter for Kansas next season,” Bossi added.
Holmgren not listing KU
Chet Holmgren, a 7-foot senior-to-be center from Minnehaha (Minnesota) Academy, has eliminated KU from his list of schools. Holmgren, the No. 4-rated player in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com, is considering Georgetown, Gonzaga, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio State and others.
Of possibly heading straight to the NBA G League, he told 247sports.com: “I personally don’t know enough about that route to make a definitive answer one way or the other. All routes are intriguing. There are so many new routes for everybody to choose. It’s hard enough to pick from 30 schools but now I have to pick from five different options, it’s a lot but a degree has always been big to my parents and to me as well so right now I’m definitely thinking college.”
This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 6:31 PM with the headline "No. 14-rated prospect in recruiting class of 2021 has KU on 10-team list of schools."
