Bill Self identifies young talent ready to make an instant impact

Coming off a national championship season, it can be difficult to replicate results. Oftentimes, when you build a championship-caliber team, you lose a lot of talent, either to the NBA or graduation. Kansas is dealing with that problem now, as Bill Self looks to reload to make another run with the Jayhawks.

While speaking to the media at Big 12 Media Days, Bill Self was asked about young players who the team would be relying on.

“Yeah, I brought my vets today,” Bill Self said. “Jalen [Wilson] is a sophomore and Kevin [McCullar] is a junior and Juan [Harris] is a sophomore, I guess, by COVID and new eligibility rules.”

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“But we signed four freshmen. Zuby [Ejiofor] was probably the most unheralded one, but he’s going to be a terrific player. He’s got balance, he’s 6’8″ and has a body. He’s just time away. And then Ernest [Udeh] is 6’10”. He’s a rim runner and a really good lob catcher and defender. I think he’s got a chance to be a special guy.”

Bill Self then gave praise for freshman MJ Rice, who he says needs time to develop but will be great. Self also thinks that Gradey Dick is going to be one of the greats for his shooting ability.

“MJ Rice is kind of a young Wayne Selden type, and Wayne was a terrific player for us. Hopefully, MJ can become a reactor instead of thinker, because he’s thinking too much now. But he’s going to be a great player. And then Gradey Dick has been everything we thought he would be thus far. He’s got a high release. At 6’8″, he can get a shot off and certainly can really shoot the basketball.”

Whether or not these freshmen can help Kansas repeat remains to be seen. However, Bill Self’s track record of recruiting and player development speaks for itself. It’s impossible to not have confidence in him.

“So we’ll depend on all those guys and all of them will play,” Bill Self explained. “But right now I’d say Gradey probably has the biggest chance to have a huge impact early. But all of them will see action.”