LAWRENCE, Kan. _ Bill Self has signed 22 McDonald's All-Americans in his 17 years as University of Kansas men's basketball coach.
While that's an impressive haul of the top high school players in the country, he's also awarded scholarships to seven players outside the Top 150 of Rivals.com, including Latrell Jossell in the recruiting Class of 2020 and Dajuan Harris in the Class of 2019.
It begs the question: What qualities does KU's Hall of Fame coach look for in recruiting both top 25-ranked players and "sleepers" alike?
"Three things," Self said on the recent Nick Bahe podcast. "There's off the court things (such as) character, IQ. From a physical standpoint we look for explosiveness, quick twitch, ability to shoot it _ I said shoot, not score _ and toughness."
Self said when watching high school games, AAU contests and film of prospects, he prefers to study players on days they perform very well, on days they are average and when having an off day.
"If you are recruiting (blue-chip Andrew) Wiggins, it doesn't make a difference," Self said of high school prospects considered "can't miss" by college coaches, NBA scouts and respected recruiting analysts.
"(But) if you are 'iffy' (on a player), you ask, 'Does he fit? Can he make us better?' That's why I want to see all three (examples). You don't want to watch a kid just play great. Anybody can play great. You want to see him when he's crap ... what he'll do when he faces adversity. Can he still help us win?"
That's because ... "when you go to college, it's about 'us,' " Self said. "With 14, 15 on the roster, it's not about you. It's about us ... what sacrifices are you willing to make? If a guy has a bad game is he still trying to help his teammates (and) help the team win?
"Now you can't win without talent. It trumps experience, trumps everything. But you also can't win without intangibles. When a kid walks into a room don't you want to be somebody who breathes life into it, has energy as opposed to someone who doesn't? We look for those things," Self said.
Of course in the current climate of the coronavirus, coaches haven't been able to travel this spring to watch players in person. Instead they currently are reviewing clips from the 2019-20 high school season and their own notes taken when watching prospects in person last season and during 2019 AAU campaign.
Also, college coaches have been allowed by the NCAA to speak to players on videoconference.
While he'd like to get on the road and recruit as soon as possible _ the NCAA has forbidden all recruiting travel through June 30 _ Self noted: "It's the same for everybody (other schools)."
By the way, here are the seven unranked players signed during the Self era: Milton Doyle, Dajuan Harris, Latrell Jossell, Merv Lindsay, Landen Lucas, Brady Morningstar, Lagerald Vick.
Here are the 22 McDonald's All-Americans signed by Self at KU. Note recruits David Padgett and J.R. Giddens committed to previous coach Roy Williams. They honored their commitments when Self became coach: Cole Aldrich, Cliff Alexander, Darrell Arthur, Udoka Azubuike, Carlton Bragg, Mario Chalmers, Sherron Collins, Cheick Diallo, Devon Dotson, Micah Downs, Perry Ellis, Quentin Grimes, Xavier Henry, Josh Jackson, David McCormack, Kelly Oubre, Billy Preston, Josh Selby, Wayne Selden, Bryce Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Julian Wright.
As far as the ever-popular topic of recruiting ... Self and his assistants are in on several players in the recruiting Class of 2021 (high school seniors-to-be) and 2022 (juniors-to-be). KU will have three scholarships to award to players in the Class of 2021, more if non-seniors turn pro or transfer.
KU has landed one commitment from the Class of 2021, from Zach Clemence, a 6-10 senior-to-be from Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kan. He committed to KU on Monday. He's ranked No, 31 in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com.
The Star has compiled a list of class of 2021 and 2022 players who have either mentioned KU as a possibility or been identified as KU prospects according to recruiting analysts from Rivals.com, Zagsblog.com and 247sports.com. Others could also be in the process of being recruited by KU right now, but Jayhawks coaches cannot comment on active recruiting, in accordance with NCAA rules.
