Nebraska combo guard Hunter Sallis includes Kansas on list of 12 schools
Hunter Sallis, a 6-foot-5, 175-pound senior combo guard from Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska, on Sunday revealed a list of 12 schools — a list that includes bluebloods Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Other colleges in the running for Sallis, the No. 11-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com, as announced on Twitter: Iowa State, Alabama, Auburn, Creighton, Gonzaga, Louisville, Michigan, Oregon and UCLA.
Sallis — he averaged 22.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game his junior season at Millard North — on Friday received a scholarship offer from Kentucky.
“Sallis is in no rush to make a commitment and has not make the complete decision on whether or not he will sign in the fall, which could equate to a prolonged, drawn out recruitment,” Corey Evans of Rivals.com wrote on Sunday.
Sallis reportedly would like to take up to five official visits. Currently the NCAA prohibits in-home and campus visits because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Evans calls Sallis, “a 6-5 lead guard with tremendous talent, versatility, and upside. Valued for his ability to create offense in the halfcourt as both a playmaker and scorer, Sallis is one of the best prospects that the state of Nebraska has produced this century. Kansas and North Carolina were perceived as the favorites prior to the offer from Kentucky, though things remain relatively wide open for the gifted five-star.”
Sallis eliminated such schools as Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Wisconsin and Colorado, among others.
“We were ahead of the curve with him and he is showing that we are correct with his 11th overall ranking,” wrote Evans of Rivals.com. “He is the embodiment of the new-age guard that has the size, length, shot-making and passing qualities that would allow for him to play all three spots along the perimeter and he has only gotten better each step of the way.”
Of Sallis, Blake Cockrum of keepingitheel.com wrote Sunday: “Sallis is a quick, athletic guard with nice ballhandling skills and an excellent crossover. He’s got a quick first step, and gets to the goal with speed and efficiency. He drives the lane well in traffic and through contact and can finish above the rim with ease. He can score at all three levels, rebounds exceptionally well for his position and plays pesky, tenacious defense.”
The Jayhawks have three scholarships to award in the Class of 2021, more if players turn pro or leave the program. KU coach Bill Self so far has landed verbal commitments from two frontcourt players.
They are: K.J. Adams, a 6-7, 220-pound senior power forward from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, who is ranked No. 83 in the recruiting class of 2021 according to Rivals.com and Zach Clemence, a 6-10 senior-to-be from Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, who is ranked No, 29 nationally. KU is bringing in a guard in preferred walk-on/football signee Keon Coleman, a 6-4 guard from Opelousas (Louisiana) High School.
KU is recruiting several guards including Sallis, plus Tamar Bates, formerly of Piper High School, now IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida; JD Davison, Calhoun High School, Letohatchee, Alabama; Jaden Hardy, Coronado High School, Henderson, Nevada and Trey Alexander, 6-4, Heritage Hall High School, Oklahoma City.
The Jayhawks are still after several frontcourt players including Daimion Collins, Atlanta (Texas) High School; Sam Ayomide, Phelps School, Malvern, Pennsylvania; Michael Foster, Hillcrest Prep, Phoenix, Arizona; Franck Kepnang, Westtown (Pennsylvania) School; Efton Reid, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida; DaRon Holmes, Montverde (Florida) Academy; Arthur Kaluma, Dream City Christian, Glendale, Arizona and Sydney Curry, Logan Community College, Carterville, Illinois.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 10:22 AM with the headline "Nebraska combo guard Hunter Sallis includes Kansas on list of 12 schools."
