‘Great conversations’ highlight big man Ernest Udeh Jr.’s weekend visit to Kansas
One of the top big men in the high school basketball recruiting Class of 2022 says he had an outstanding weekend visit to the University of Kansas.
“The visit was really good,” Ernest Udeh Jr., a 6-foot-10, 230-pound senior center from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida, said Sunday night. “I honestly don’t have anything negative to say about it. You can tell that their fan base really loves the players.”
Udeh is ranked No. 27 nationally by 247sports.com, No. 29 by Rivals.com and No. 38 by ESPN.com. He has KU, UCLA, Baylor, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Miami, Michigan and Florida on his list of schools. He is also considering playing pro ball in the Overtime Elite League.
“Highlights, honestly, were the great conversations that I had with the team over meals, and just when we were hanging out,” Udeh added of his Friday-to-Sunday official visit to Lawrence.
He did not commit to KU on his visit, but he revealed what’s next in his recruitment.
“Getting back home and reviewing everything and deciding how I want to move forward with my recruitment process is all I’m doing as of this moment,” he said Sunday.
In a mid-September interview with SI.com, he spoke of his desire to play pro basketball.
“Me and my coaches, we’ve always discussed being a one-and-done, or maybe just two years, and just being able to be developed to do that is where I want to go,” Udeh said. “Going somewhere that can get me ready for the next level, but also going somewhere where I can win is what I’m looking into.”
Of Udeh the player, Travis Branham of 247sports.com wrote: “Ernest Udeh burst onto the national scene this spring and summer thanks to his big frame, long arms, athleticism and the high motor he brings on the floor each time out.
Noted Dan McDonald of Rivals.com: “He’s a strong, explosive athlete that both protects the rim on defense and tries to rip the rim down with dunks every time he’s in the paint on offense. His aggressive disposition and his willingness to work on his game and be coachable will take him a long way.”
Jordan Walsh, a 6-7, 195-pound senior small forward from Link Year Prep in Branson, Missouri, also visited KU over the weekend. The Cedar Hill, Texas, native has a list of KU, Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Arkansas, Memphis and Arizona State. He’s ranked No. 31 in the Class of 2022 by Rivals.com and No. 83 by 247sports.com.
Adem Bona has one trip left
Adem Bona appears intent on visiting UCLA before announcing his college choice.
The 6-11 senior center from Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif., visited KU Sept. 17-19 and Kentucky Oct. 1-3. He will travel to UCLA on Oct. 22-24, he told Zagsblog.com.
He recently told Rivals.com he’d sliced his list to KU, Kentucky, UCLA and Australia’s professional league. At one time, he was also considering Baylor, USC, Miami, Arizona State and other schools
“Kansas has been one of the top colleges for the past years in the NCAA,” Bona told Zagsblog.com. “They’ve put so many bigs in the league, like Joel Embiid and Udoka Azubuike. They are bigs just like me. They started basketball late, they played high school, went to Kansas and improved their basketball skills. And I feel like Kansas is going to prepare me well for the pros.”
Bona was born in Nigeria, then moved to Turkey when he was 13.
“I am making my decision weeks after my UCLA visit, not right after,” he told Kentucky.rivals.com.
This story was originally published October 11, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘Great conversations’ highlight big man Ernest Udeh Jr.’s weekend visit to Kansas."
