Bill Self ranks Jalen Wilson is among most competitive Kansas players ever

Kansas head coach Bill Self is in the midst of his 20th season at the helm for the Jayhawks, meaning he’s coached numerous all-time great players in school history. From Mario Chalmers to Aaron Miles, there’s no shortage of former stars that have played under Self. But in regards to competitiveness, Self believes that his current star Jalen Wilson takes the top spot above them all.

“I think this about J, and I thought about this some the last couple of days, I really don’t know if we’ve had anybody more competitive,” Self admitted. “I really don’t, I don’t know if we’ve had anybody that wants to win, the will to win is any better than his.”

Wilson has been the unquestioned leader of the Jayhawks this season, leading the team and the Big 12 conference in points per game averaging 19.6 and rebounds per game with 8.4. He’s had a conference-leading nine double-doubles this season, giving opponents nightmares on a regular basis. But even when he isn’t, his competitiveness and will to win are still unmatched according to Self.

“He is a stud and even when he doesn’t perform his best there’s never a question in his will to win being compromised at all. I think that separates him from just about all of them when it comes to that from a toughness, from a competitiveness, all that stuff. But there’s an extra element when you talk about making winning plays at game point, and I don’t know if we’ve had anybody do it any better than what he has,” Self said.

Wilson arrived in Lawrence in 2019 but was redshirted after suffering a season-ending injury, breaking his ankle versus UNC Greensboro. Since then, he’s improved every season earning Big 12 All-Newcomer and All-Freshman Team honors in 2020, All-Big 12 Third Team the following season, and leading the Jayhawks in rebounding in three consecutive seasons.

He averaged 12 points per game and 9.7 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament last year, including four double-doubles, playing and key part in the Jayhawks’ National Title win last season. And he now has them poised for yet another run, as No. 4 ranked Kansas is now in sole possession of the top spot in the Big 12 standings with two regular season games left following their win over West Virginia.

“So I’m extremely proud of him and happy for him and he deserves hopefully the post season accolades that he will get. Who knows, there still remains to be seen what that is and there’s still another chapter or two to be written before that,” Self said. “But he’s been an absolute treat to coach.”