A look at the Kansas Jayhawks basketball roster for 2020-21 ... as it stands now
The Kansas men’s basketball season ended abruptly on Thursday afternoon when the NCAA announced the cancellation of the 2020 postseason tournament because of coronavirus pandemic concerns.
When the shock subsides for KU fans — it may take a while considering the Jayhawks (28-3) on Sunday were going to be named the overall No. 1 seed in the 68-team March Madness tournament — there naturally will be questions about KU’s look and outlook for next season.
While there’s no way of telling what the future holds — especially considering KU’s program is facing an NCAA infractions hearing with a verdict and possible appeal ahead concerning five Level I violations — there’s certainly room to speculate what the 2020-21 KU roster will look like.
Two 2019-20 seniors — starting center Udoka Azubuike and starting shooting guard Isaiah Moss — are expected to begin their pro careers. Current projections list Azubuike as a potential second-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft; Moss likely will be undrafted and play overseas or in the NBA G-League.
Azubuike is not expected to consider returning to school for a fifth year even if the NCAA ultimately allows players who had their senior seasons cut short to return for an extra season. Azubuike wrote Friday on Instagram: “Lord knows I’ll miss putting on that uniform and representing this great university. So sad it ended the way it did. We were so close in accomplishing something special this season, but God knows best. Thank you all for a remarkable season.”
Sophomore point guard Devon Dotson is expected to also turn pro and is at this time projected to be an early second-round selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Of course it’s possible Azubuike and Dotson improve their stock in coming months and ascend to first-round status.
Dotson’s dad, Dana Dotson, told The Star on Friday no decision had been made on whether his son would enter the draft or return to school. The assumption of those close to the program all season is Dotson will head to the NBA after a sophomore campaign that included him emerging as a first-team all-Big 12 selection.
“We’re still trying to get over the shock (of not having a 2020 NCAA Tournament). We need to talk to coach (Bill) Self and talk as a family back home,” Dana Dotson said of family discussions to be held at some point in Charlotte, North Carolina.
If the 6-foot-2 Dotson, who went through the “testing the waters” process a year ago and ultimately decided to return to KU, announces for the NBA Draft, KU will have 13 scholarship players on the 2020-21 roster, which is the NCAA mandated limit. It is possible other non-seniors could turn pro or transfer, opening a scholarship or two. KU is currently one over the scholarship limit if Dotson returns.
The Jayhawks will welcome back seniors-to-be Marcus Garrett and Mitch Lightfoot. Garrett, who played combo guard his junior season, averaged 9.2 points a game. The 6-5 Dallas native was second on the team in steals with 56 in 31 games.
He will enter the offseason with an opportunity to work on his outside shot. Garrett, who was quite effective his junior season on drives to the goal, hit 17 of 52 threes for 33%. He made 44% of his shots overall and was 56 of 92 from the free throw line for 61%.
The 6-8, 225-pound Lightfoot redshirted this past season in the hopes of significant playing time, maybe even starting, at forward his senior campaign. The Gilbert, Arizona native averaged 2.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12 minutes a game in 2018-19, which was his junior season.
The squad’s other senior-to-be, 6-9, 245-pound Silvio De Sousa, has not yet made his intentions known, but could be leaving KU to begin his pro career after three seasons. De Sousa, who sat out his sophomore season because of NCAA eligibility concerns, missed 12 games his junior season because of a suspension handed down by the Big 12 for his role in a melee against Kansas State. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 boards (in 8.2 minutes per game) while playing in just 18 games.
Two juniors-to-be — forward Ochai Agbaji and power forward David McCormack — figure to return to school. However as players with NBA aspirations, one or both conceivably could test the waters.
McCormack, who expanded his shooting range to about 12-feet or so, and was a developing force inside in 2019-20, is expected to take over for 7-footer Azubuike at the starting 5 slot. McCormack, 6-10, 265, averaged 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes a game this past season. He hit 53% of his shots and was a steady 81% from the line (39 of 48)
The 6-5 Agbaji started and averaged 10.0 points on 43% shooting while playing stellar defense, He was not consistent from beyond the arc, hitting 46 of 136 three-pointers for 34% and may need another year to further develop his outside shot.
KU’s sophomore class is led by 6-6 combo guard Christian Braun, who started five games and came off the bench in 26 games his freshman season, averaging 18.3 minutes per outing. The former Blue Valley Northwest standout averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds and looked the part of a future starter at KU.
Small forward Tristan Enaruna averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds while playing an average of 11 minutes per game (in 30 games). He did not reach double figure scoring in any game. The 6-8, 200-pounder from the Netherlands is considered an NBA prospect because of his length and athleticism.
Jalen Wilson, a 6-8 wing from Denton, Texas, redshirted his freshman season because of injury. He was the No. 47-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2019 by Rivals.com.
Redshirt point guard Dajuan Harris, 6-1 out of Rock Bridge High in Columbia, Missouri, received high marks from Self for his work on the scout team at practice second semester. Self has said Harris has a bright future at the point. He was a four-star unranked player coming out of high school. He’ll be listed as a freshman in 2020-21.
“He’s good. He’s fast. He’s got the best hands of anybody on our team including Marcus (Garrett),” Self said recently of Harris. “He’s not a shooter but he’s a true point guard. He has vision. All our guys will love playing with Dajuan. He will not be a guy to get you 15 (points) a game,” Self added. “But he’s an excellent free throw shooter, excellent floater and layup shooter and I’m hoping will make wide open shots. I think he will be an impact player for us,” Self added.
The Jayhawks’ incoming recruiting class is headed by freshman Bryce Thompson, a 6-5 senior combo guard from Booker T. Washington High in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is Rivals.com’s No. 19-ranked player in the Class of 2020 and considered a candidate for an immediate starting spot. He was chosen to play in the 2020 McDonald’s All-America Game, which has been canceled because of coronavirus.
“The kid is a McDonald’s All-American, one of the best guards in the country. We’re happy and fortunate to get him. He will come in from Day One and help our program,” said KU assistant Kurtis Townsend in a late-season interview on Self’s Hawk Talk radio show.
Gethro Muscadin, a 6-10, 215-pound senior forward from Aspire Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, originally from Haiti, is ranked No. 134 in the Class of 2020 by Rivals.com.
“He is a little raw, has some work to do to beat out some guys,” Townsend said. “He visited Texas Tech, K-State, Minnesota, Louisville. He’s long, can shoot the ball, one of the guys we think has a good upside, will develop and be a really good player for us down the road.”
A late signee from the high school ranks was Latrell Jossell, a 5-11 senior point guard from Keller Central High in Dallas. Jossell is a redshirt possibility.
“He’s one of the best shooters we saw out there,” Townsend said. “He can shoot the ball. He’s a smaller guard, quick. We didn’t shoot great this year. We will be improved next year.”
KU also is bringing in juco sensation Tyon Grant-Foster, a 6-7 wing who averaged 16.0 points a game for Indian Hills Community College in Iowa this past season. He played his high school basketball at Schlagle High.
“He is a long wing who can score and pass. He’s a good shooter. He’s the No. 1 junior college player in the country,” Townsend said on Hawk Talk. “I think he will come in and be an impact wing from Day One, a tall, athletic wing who can shoot it. It’s great his family (from KC) will be able to come and see him play.”
The Jayhawks also return walk-on players Chris Teahan, Elijah Elliott and Michael Jankovich.
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