LAWRENCE, Kan. _ Barring any setbacks, Kansas center Udoka Azubuike should be able to participate in summertime basketball practices and pick-up games, Kansas coach Bill Self said on Thursday.
"We are hopeful Doke will be on the court with no restrictions by the time summer school starts (on June 4)," Self said from his eighth-annual Bill Self Basketball Fantasy Camp at Allen Fieldhouse.
"It's limited," Self added of Azubuike's being able to shoot the ball four months after his Jan. 9 surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right hand/wrist area. "He is able to catch the ball," Self added.
Azubuike, a 7-foot, 270-pound native of Delta, Nigeria, announced on April 22 his plans to return to KU for his senior season. His hand injury prevented him from attending the NBA combine and taking part in individual workouts with NBA teams.
Thus, Azubuike will be back after averaging 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in nine games his junior season. As a sophomore in 2017-18, Azubuike averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while playing 36 games.
"I believe this ... I don't think there's a more dominant or powerful or better back-to-the-basket player in college basketball than Udoka Azubuike. When he got hurt, it was a big blow to all of us," Self said recently. "I am so proud how he has handled everything (including torn tendon in his left hand his freshman year). I tell Doke all the time he's going to get the last laugh on everybody," Self added.
Self, who has awarded three scholarships (guards Christian Braun, Issac McBride and guard/forward Tristan Enaruna) in the recruiting class of 2019, is hoping to add a few more players to the 2019-20 roster.
"We are obviously very excited about Tristan, Christian and Issac, but it's still incomplete," Self said. "We are still actively pursuing multiple guys."
KU on Wednesday announced the signing of Enaruna (prounounced Eh-nuh-Roo-nuh), a 6-8 senior guard/forward from Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah.
"Maybe Kelly Oubre and a little bit Wiggs (Andrew Wiggins)," Self said of former KU players that may remind him of Enaruna, who has a 7-foot wingspan.
Self cannot comment on individual recruits who remain available (until they sign), in accordance with NCAA rules.
It is known that KU finds itself in a recruiting battle with Memphis (and others) for three highly-sought prospects: guards Rayjon Tucker and RJ Hampton and forward Precious Achiuwa.
Tucker, a 6-5 graduate transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock, has a final five of KU, Memphis, Auburn, Iowa State and West Virginia. Hampton a 6-5 senior guard from Little Elm (Texas) High School who is ranked No. 6 in the recruiting class of 2019 by Rivals.com, has a list of KU, Memphis, Kentucky and Texas Tech.
Achiuwa, a 6-9, 215-pound senior power forward from Montverde Academy in Florida, who is ranked No. 17 in the class of 2019 by Rivals.com, has a list of KU, Memphis, North Carolina, UConn and Georgia.
It is believed KU is not heavily pursuing TJ Holyfield, a 6-8, 227-pound graduate transfer out of Stephen F. Austin, who recently announced a list of KU, Illinois and Texas Tech. Johnny Juzang, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound senior small forward from Harvard Westlake High School in North Hollywood, Calif., is expected to announce for Kentucky on Friday over KU, Virginia and Oregon.
The spring signing period ends Wednesday. Players still can sign financial-aid agreements if they decide on a school after that date. Teams are allowed 13 scholarship players.
Scholarship players who at this time are expected to be on the 2019-20 KU roster: Azubuike, Marcus Garrett, Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot as well as McBride, Braun and Enaruna. Freshman point guard Devon Dotson is testing the NBA waters, but there is a strong possibility he will return to school.
Freshman Quentin Grimes and junior Dedric Lawson are expected to remain in the NBA draft. Sophomore Silvio De Sousa has said he will pull his name out of the draft pool if he wins an eligibility appeal with the NCAA.
