KU draws interest of 2 hoops prospects, including guard from Italy, per reports
Kansas and North Carolina have been mentioned as the latest schools involved in the recruitment of Dame Sarr, one of the top international players in men’s basketball’s class of 2025.
Sarr, a 6-foot-7, 190-pound, 18-year-old shooting guard originally from Italy who in 2024-25 played for FC Barcelona in Spain, recently attracted the attention of college coaches: He scored 17 points and grabbed four rebounds in the international team’s 124-114 loss to Team USA in the Nike Hoop Summit in Oregon.
Sarr — he has a 7-foot-0 wingspan — hit 5 of 9 shots (1-of-2 from 3-point range and 6-of-6 from the line) against a U.S. team that included BYU freshman-to-be AJ Dybantsa (24 points), Arkansas freshman-to-be Darius Acuff (24 points) and Duke freshman-to-be Cameron Boozer (22 points, 16 rebounds).
Illinois has long been considered the favorite to sign Sarr. However the Illini already have corralled a talented group of prospects that includes international players David Mirkovic (Montenegro), Mihalio Petrovic (Serbia), Zvonimir Ivisic (Croatia and brother of current Illini player Tomislav Ivisic) as well as Andrej Stojakovic, a California native whose dad Peja is from Croatia.
Schools besides KU and UNC that allegedly have contacted Sarr include Oregon, Kentucky, BYU, Duke, Creighton, USC, Miami and Arizona.
“An athletic 6-foot-7½ (measured at the Nike Hoop Summit), Sarr is a two-way threat with the ability to guard 1 through 3 and create mismatches on offense. With a smooth 3-point stroke and a wiry-strong frame, Sarr can take defenders 1-on-1 but has the background to be more than comfortable in (Illinois coach) Brad Underwood’s up-tempo, pass-heavy scheme,” wrote Jackson Langendorf of SI.com.
Sarr, who turns 19 in June, recently scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting (3-of-5 from deep) while playing 24 minutes in an FC Barcelona victory over Breogan. He had 14 points in 22 minutes versus Andorra and 10 points against both Tenerife and Zaragoza. His Barcelona teammates included former NBA players Tomas Satoransky, Justin Anderson, Alex Abrines, Willy Hernangomez and Jabari Parker.
Playing for the Italian National team at the Under 18 EuroBasket championships in 2024, he averaged 18.3 points, 5.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game.
Claude on KU’s wish list?
Kansas this week also was mentioned as one of four finalists for Desmond Claude, a 6-6, 200-pound combo guard who led USC in scoring as a junior last season.
Claude averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season. He told Field of 68 and On3.com he had a list of Florida, KU, Virginia and North Carolina. The New Haven, Connecticut native has also heard from Gonzaga, UConn, BYU, Indiana, Mississippi and others.
He was to begin a campus visit to Florida on Thursday, On3.com reported.
Various recruiting analysts believe the defending national champion Gators are leading in the recruitment of Claude.
Claude was honorable mention all-Big 10 this past season for (17-18) USC. He hit 177 of 367 shots for 48.2%. He was 23-of-75 from 3 for 30.7%. He also hit 146 of 191 free throws for 76.4%.
In Big 10 play, he ranked ninth in scoring (17.3 points per game) and eighth in assists (4.4 apg).
“Claude’s combination of scoring ability, playmaking skills and Big Ten experience make him one of the most coveted guards still available,” wrote Aidan Gallardo of gatorswire.usatoday.com. “He has developed into one of the most consistent and dynamic guards in the country.”
Claude, who played for Xavier two seasons before transferring to USC, scored a career-high 31 points against Illinois. He had 30 and 28 points in a pair of games versus Rutgers. Also he had 26 against Utah, 25 against Iowa and Washington. He had 11 assists versus Washington. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
KU recruited Claude his senior year at Putnam Science Academy in Oakdale, Connecticut. Claude at the time had a long list that included KU, Kansas State, Xavier, Boston College, Boston University, Butler, California, Creighton, Louisville, Marquette, UMass, Memphis, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, Illinois, South Carolina, Wisconsin and others.
A look at the roster
KU at this time has 10 players on its roster for the 2025-26 season. The Jayhawks return four players (Flory Bidunga, Elmarko Jackson, Jamari McDowell and Noah Shelby) off last year’s team. KU has added incoming freshmen Darryn Peterson, Samis Calderon and Bryson Tiller. Portal additions thus far are: Melvin Council Jr. (St. Bonaventure), Jayden Dawson (Loyola Chicago) and Tre White (Illinois).
It is possible a federal court judge will “grandfather” in walkons who could lose their spots because of upcoming roster limits. KU walkons with eligibility remaining: Justin Cross, Wilder Evers and Will Thengvall.
Also Jaden Nickens, a 6-3 senior combo guard from Oklahoma City’s Douglass High School, has signed a letter-of-intent with KU football and has expressed his intention to play both football as a wide receiver and basketball at KU.
It is believed roster limits for men’s basketball will be 15 in a new setup that still must be approved in a New York district court case. KU will have a maximum of 14 players on the roster in 2025-26 to complete self-imposed NCAA sanctions.
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM with the headline "KU draws interest of 2 hoops prospects, including guard from Italy, per reports."
