KU’s Self announces signing of four recruits he says make up ‘top five, seven class’
Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self has announced the signing of four of the top 41 high school players in the recruiting Class of 2022 to national letters-of-intent.
Small forwards Gradey Dick and Marquise “MJ” Rice, power forward Zuby Ejiofor and big man Ernest Udeh Jr. signed with KU on Wednesday, the first day of the early, week-long signing period. Self could not comment on the signings until Thursday after KU’s compliance office reviewed documentation.
“I think it’s a good foundation,” Self said Thursday at a news conference held in advance of Friday’s 7 p.m. home game versus Tarleton State. “Nationally it’s probably a top five, seven class in America. We were real close to being even better than that.”
In fact at this time KU’s class is rated No. 3 in the country by Rivals.com and No. 4 by 247sports.com.
“I’m pleased with those guys,” Self stated, adding that KU would continue to recruit “a couple of high school kids, not a lot,” as well as recruit players from the transfer portal if needed.
“We got two bigs who can help immediately and we need them to help immediately based on what we are losing and signed two wings that are potential starters right off the bat.”
Self said the Jayhawks need a deep recruiting class because KU could lose “a lot of guys. We could lose as many as eight.”
The departures figure to include seniors Ochai Agbaji, Mitch Lightfoot, David McCormack, Jalen Coleman-Lands and Remy Martin. Also, Self has said Jalen Wilson and Christian Braun figure to consider entering the 2022 NBA Draft. There’s always the possibility of players transferring as well.
“We went out to sign five and we got four,” Self said. He didn’t name names. He could be referring to forwards Brandon Miller or Mark Mitchell or big man Adem Bona, who at one time considered signing with the Jayhawks. “I feel great about these four because they are all impact players for us next year. Where we stand right now moving forward will depend on how this year’s team continues to develop and who returns based on the success of this season. I’m very excited about where we are at.”
Rice, 6-foot-5, 200-pound senior from Prolific Prep in Napa, California, is ranked No. 20 in the country in the recruiting Class of 2022 by ESPN.com, No. 23 by Rivals.com and No. 25 by 247sports.com.
Rice committed to KU on Aug. 10. The Durham, North Carolina native chose KU over Oklahoma State, Pitt, North Carolina State, Duke, Louisville, Mississippi, Virginia Tech and others. He also had considered playing in the NBA G League for G League Ignite
“MJ is a big-time scorer. He’s got good height, has a very strong, mature body and is very explosive. He can flat out score the ball and would be your prototypical two or three guard,” Self said of Rice, who averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists a game his junior year at Oak Hill Academy. In June, he announced plans to play at Prolific Prep during the 2021-22 season.
“I believe MJ has a chance to be a top scorer for us early in his career. I’m not saying he is Mitch Richmond, but he reminds me of a very young Mitch Richmond.”
Dick, 6-foot-7, 195-pound senior forward from Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, is ranked No. 25 in the Class of 2022 by ESPN.com, No. 35 by 247sports.com and No. 37 by Rivals.com.
The Wichita native orally committed to KU on March 3 over Alabama, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Florida, Texas Tech, Purdue and others.
“Gradey is a terrific prospect. He has skill, athleticism, size and I believe he can be an outstanding collegiate player here early in his career. He’s one of the best prospects to come out of our state since I’ve been at Kansas. I anticipate him making an immediate impact and playing a huge role his freshman year.” Self said of Dick, who this past summer teamed with future Duke player Kyle Filipowski, future Baylor player Keyonte George and IMG Academy’s Eric Dailey Jr. in leading Team USA to first place at the Under 18 3-on-3 World Cup in Hungary.
Dick played two seasons at Wichita Collegiate before moving to Sunrise Christian.
Ejiofor, a 6-8, 215-pound senior forward from Garland (Texas) High School, is ranked No. 41 nationally by 247sports.com, No. 47 by Rivals.com and No. 77 by ESPN.com. He orally committed to KU on July 1, choosing the Jayhawks over Texas, TCU, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
“Zuby is a combo forward that can play to four or the five spot. He reminds me of a Jamari Traylor, Darnell Jackson-type player. He plays with unbelievable energy. He’s got good size. He’s an athlete that can rebound about as well as anybody. His skill level is improving and I believe he can become a very efficient shooter. We’re very fortunate to have him in the fold and he will be a terrific player for us.” Self said of Ejiofor. He averaged 21.0 points and 13.0 rebounds a game his junior year at Garland High School.
Ejiofor was born in the United States, but moved to Nigeria with his parents when he was very young. He moved back to the U.S. in sixth grade and started playing basketball for the first time in eighth grade.
His dad currently lives in Nigeria and his mom travels back and forth between the U.S. and Nigeria.
Udeh, a 6-10, 230-pound senior from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida, is ranked No. 27 in the recruiting Class of 2022 by 247sports.com, No. 29 by Rivals.com and No. 38 by ESPN.com. He committed to KU on Oct. 20 over runner-up UCLA.
He also seriously considered Baylor, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Miami, Michigan and Florida as well as the Overtime Elite pro hoops league.
“Ernest is big, long, athletic and he’s coming into himself as a basketball player. I would consider him one of the best true big men in the country with a chance to move up on that list as he gets more and more comfortable with the game. He will be an impact player for us considering what we will be losing. In time he can become a presence on both ends much like some of the best big guys that we have had here at Kansas,” Self said of Udeh. The native of Nigeria averaged 10.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game his junior season at Dr. Phillips High. He has a wingspan of 7-foot-2.
Kentucky (four players including top-ranked Shaedon Sharpe) and Duke (four players including No. 3 Dereck Lively, No. 5 Filipowski and No, 8 Dariq Whitehead) currently have the Nos. 1 and 2 ranked classes according to Rivals.com.
247sports.com has Kentucky and Duke 1 and 2, followed by Arkansas (five players including No. 9 Nick Smith) and KU.
At No. 3 overall, KU’s recruiting Class of 2022 currently is the Jayhawks’ best class since 2018. The group of Quentin Grimes, Devon Dotson, David McCormack and Ochai Agbaji were also ranked No. 3 by Rivals.com. Grimes, who transferred to Houston after one year, was ranked No. 8 overall in the class. Dotson was No,. 20, McCormack No. 35 and Agbaji No. 145.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 3:23 PM with the headline "KU’s Self announces signing of four recruits he says make up ‘top five, seven class’."
