Kansas Jayhawks Basketball: Is Semi Ojeleye A Good Fit
By Joel Wagler
The Kansas Jayhawks have two scholarships, at this time, to award for the 2015-2016 basketball season. Local product Semi Ojeleye is leaving Duke, and is looking for a new school. The question is if he is a good for for the Jayhawks?
Duke Blue Devils forward Semi Ojeleye (30) – Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Gary Bedore of KUSports.com reported earlier in the week that Kansas was one of several schools to inquire after 6’8″, 230 pound forward.
Ojeleye is from Ottawa, Kansas, just twenty minutes south of Lawrence. If geography comes into play, then Kansas might just be a good landing spot. If it is immediate playing time he is looking for, he may want to look elsewhere.
Kansas has no scholarship seniors on their roster, and thus far, no one looks anywhere close to being ready for the NBA. Kansas will go from one of the youngest teams in the country (14th youngest, according to Stat Sheet), to a very experienced team nest season.
It is no secret Bill Self needs to recruit a point guard. With the defection of Conner Frankamp to Wichita State, and the injury to freshman, Devonte Graham, the Jayhawks suddenly find themselves short handed when it comes to options to back up Frank Mason III.
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Figure in the depth Kansas has inside, including Perry Ellis, Cliff Alexander, Landen Lucas, Jamari Traylor, and Hunter Mickelson, and it is difficult to see where Semi Ojeleye might find minutes.
Ojeleye wasn’t playing much at Duke. As a freshman last season, he played in 17 games but saw just 80 total minutes. He tallied 28 points and 15 rebounds for the year. This season, he has seen action in just six games for a total of 63 minutes. He has 18 points and 14 rebounds in this campaign.
Those numbers do not indicate he is significantly better than the players Kansas already has on their roster. Pulling in Ojeleye could be a nice move for the future, though.
He would not be eligible to play for the Jayhawks until a year from right now. Assuming none of the KU bigs go pro after this season, Ojeleye would only be buried on the depth chart for half a season. After the season is over next year, Ellis, Traylor, and Mickelson will graduate.
It is not stretching things to imagine Cliff Alexander developing enough to leave after his sophomore season, so suddenly all that experience depth will be gone, leaving Lucas, and possibly, Ojeleye.
If he is willing to wait it out for the last part of the 2015-2016 season, Ojeleye could move to the top of the depth chart for his junior and senior seasons.
Who knows what is going through the minds of Bill Self, Semi Ojeleye, and any other big men Self might be recruiting. Anyone can see it may be tough to crack the rotation next season, which might scare away some of the bigger names out there.
If Ojeleye wants to play for Kansas, and understands he might not see a lot of action after he is eligible next year, this could be a very good, long term fit. If Ojeleye sees that log jam next season, and doesn’t want to wait it out, he probably won’t come to Kansas.