Kansas provides status update on Ochai Agbaji ahead of game vs. Baylor

Kansas got some good news ahead of Saturday’s game against Baylor. Ochai Agbaji is back.

Agbaji cleared Big 12 health and safety protocols, meaning he’ll be available on Saturday, the school said. Jayhawks coach Bill Self said Agbaji will practice Friday after testing negative for COVID-19.

“As long as he feels up to it, he can participate in what we’re doing moving forward,” Self told reporters, via Phog.net’s Sam Lance.

Agbaji leads Kansas with 20.9 points per game on 51% shooting from the field. He missed the Jayhawks’ win over Iowa State earlier this week after entering health and safety protocols. Kansas won the game 70-61 in his absence.

Now, the Jayhawks can go into the matchup with No. 8 Baylor knowing they have one of their most important players. That matchup tips off Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Ochai Agbaji named to Jerry West Award watch list

Ten of college basketball’s top shooters have been named to the watch list for the 2022 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, as announced Tuesday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Jerry West Award, named after former West Virginia and Los Angeles Lakers standout Jerry West, recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men’s basketball.  A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in November, which is now down to 10.

Here’s a look at the 10 shooting guards that have been named to the 2022 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list.

1.) Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona

2.) Adam Flagler, Baylor

3.) Izaiah Brockington, Iowa State

4.) Ochai Agbaji, Kansas

5.) TyTy Washington, Kentucky

6.) Jaden Ivey, Purdue

7.) Buddy Boeheim, Syracuse

8.) Johnny Juzang, UCLA

9.) Justin Moore, Villanova

10.) Johnny Davis, Wisconsin

The Jerry West Award, which is in its eighth year, will be presented to the winner “on a to be determined date,” according to the Basketball Hall of Fame’s release. Former winners of the award include: Oregon’s Chris Duarte (2021), Seton Hall’s Myles Powell (2020), Duke’s RJ Barrett (2019), Purdue’s Carsen Edwards (2018), Kentucky’s Malik Monk (2017), Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield (2016) and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell (2015).