Another KU visitor? Top-50 big man, also considering Kentucky, will see Jayhawks
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Josh Irving will visit Kansas this September as part of six scheduled campus trips.
- Irving ranks No. 40 in the Class of 2026 per Rivals and No. 101 by 247Sports.
- Analysts cite Irving's size, athleticism and shooting as key development assets.
Josh Irving, a 6-foot-11, 200-pound senior center from Pasadena (California) High School, will take an official recruiting visit to Kansas on Sept. 12-14, his agent, Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports and Entertainment, confirmed to The Star this week.
Irving, who is currently ranked No. 40 in the recruiting class of 2026 by Rivals and No. 101 by 247Sports, will visit SMU this weekend followed by trips to KU, Louisville (Sept. 19-21), Texas A&M (Sept. 27-29), Kentucky (Oct. 10-12) and USC (Oct. 17-19), Gaines indicated in a direct message.
The Kentucky visit coincides with the Wildcats’ season-opening “Big Blue Madness” event.
Irving, who recently took a visit to San Diego State, also has received scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Arizona State, TCU, Cal, Washington and others.
“The tradition stands out right away,” Irving said of KU in an interview with Jayhawk Slant. “They’ve had so many great players come through there and the fan support is crazy. I really like how consistent they are every year and the way they develop players to reach the next level.”
Irving said he’s “talked to coach (Kurtis) Townsend a little bit, but I’ve talked to coach (Jacque) Vaughn a whole lot more than anyone.”
New KU assistant coach Vaughn is a graduate of Muir High in Pasadena.
Irving said being recruited by a blue blood such as KU “definitely means a lot. It motivates me to keep working hard and shows me that what I’m doing is paying off.”
In July, Irving helped Clint Parks Skills Academy win the Puma PRO16/NXTPRO 17-and-under tournament in Texas.
“In the frontcourt, Irving has emerged as one of the standout performers of the weekend,” 247Sports analyst Brandon Jenkins wrote after watching the Puma 17-and-under event. “Irving’s blend of size and athleticism has made him a major X-factor, impacting games as both a lob threat and a rim protector. He’s also shown touch from behind the arc, knocking down a few shots from 3-point range. Over the past 10 months, his game has taken major strides, though his biggest asset remains his long-term upside.”
On3.com’s Jamie Shaw has said Texas A&M and Kentucky may currently be leading for Irving.
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Another KU visitor? Top-50 big man, also considering Kentucky, will see Jayhawks."
