Kansas Jayhawks: Projecting The Starting Shooting Guards

Kansas Jayhawks guard Brannen Greene (14) Credit: USA Today

THE UNDERDOG: BRANNEN GREENE

The 6’7″, 215 pound sophomore shooting guard/small forward is an intriguing option for the Kansas Jayhawks. Brannen Greene is rangy and athletic, with a quick shot. He averaged just 6.6 minutes a game last season, scoring 2.4 points an outing.

At one point in the season, Greene appeared to be in Bill Self’s doghouse, as he played little. In the first 18 games of the season, Greene only saw more than 8 minutes twice (14 against Florida and 16 against New Mexico in back-to-back games), and only saw more than 6 minutes two other games.

More from Kansas Jayhawks

• LOOK: First Renditions of David Booth Memorial Stadium and the KU Gateway District
• NBA Draft Prospects to Watch From Kansas, Missouri, and Kansas State
• Where Betting Markets Say Gradey Dick Will Land in the NBA Draft
• Kansas’ Christian Braun Wins Fifth Title in Seven Years, Joins Elite Company with NBA Championship
• The No.8 Jayhawks Get Hooked by the No. 20 Longhorns

In fact, in the first 18 games, Greene played 3 minutes or less in seven games, including 4 games that he did not play in at all.

The second half of the season, he seemed to play more – in fact, he had 5 games in which he saw double-digit minutes. The playing time was very sporadic though, as there were 7 other games in which he saw very little, or no playing time.

When he played, Greene brought an unmistakable energy and passion to the floor. For him not to have played more, Self may not have felt comfortable with his defense (in which case Naadir Tharpe should never have played) or he didn’t feel Greene was comfortable in the half-court offense.

A year’s experience, with the natural growth and maturity that comes with that, could propel Greene into a starting spot. The talent is certainly there, as well as the passion. If Greene develops quickly, he could be a star for the Kansas Jayhawks, starting this season.