Kansas Jayhawks Recruiting Rumors: Georgios Papagiannis Is A Dark Horse

The Kansas Jayhawks recruiting rumors continue to swirl around the top ranked recruits, but center Georgios Papagiannis could be a dark horse. If Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks miss out on some of the higher ranked big men, Papagiannis may be a player that could thrive at Kansas.

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Georgios Papagiannis stands 7’1″, and weighs in at 235. He is not ranked on ESPN’s Top 100 list of recruits, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t make a fine center for the Jayhawks.

There are some different opinions of just where the big fellow might land. ESPN has Kansas high on Papagiannis’ school list, but does not show that Self has offered a scholarship. 247 Sports has Kansas high on his list, but indicates Oregon (who isn’t even listed on ESPN) and Maryland may be the favorites to land him.

Here is a snippet from the ESPN scouting report:

"He has an incredible combination of size and skill. He’s got a super soft touch around the basket and is typically able to shoot over the top of most contesting defenders. He also owns a legit jump hook and shooting range that extends to the three-point arc"

This reports mentions some skills that might be appealing to Self. If he has range out to the three-point line, this would fit into Kansas’ secondary break that sometimes features a big man who can come up the court and pop off a three-pointer .

Given his size, and the fact he is not considered a top recruit, might indicate he would be a bit of a project for Kansas. It also indicates he isn’t a one-and-done, and might have a few years to develop into a player who can earn a living in the NBA.

It is no secret that the Kansas Jayhawks need at least one dominant big man. They are recruiting prospects Cheik Diallo, Stephen Zimmerman, and senior transfer from Charlotte, Mike Thorne Jr.

KUSports.com reported this morning that Perry Ellis, the Jayhawks’ leading scorer this past season, is returning for his senior campaign. This is probably the best move for Ellis himself, and it is certainly the best move for Kansas Jayhawks basketball.

With Ellis still in the fold, the second starting spot opposite Ellis is wide open. Landen Lucas filled in nicely after Cliff Alexander was shut down by an NCAA investigation, and could be the forerunner for the spot next season for this Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.

Lucas is a player that is hard not to root for, as he seems to give it all, but he may be approaching his ceiling. He is not a dominant scorer, but he did show flashes of being a force on defense at times.

If Self doesn’t land one of the remaining big men, Lucas may very well be the starter.

Georgios Papagiannis could challenge Lucas, if he is the big man Self brings in. It would not be surprising if several of the remaining centers or power forwards decided to make Kentucky their group destination. If that happens, Self may be scrambling.

The big guy from Greece may just be a dark horse recruit with a lot of upside for the Jayhawks.

Stay tuned for more Kansas Jayhawks recruiting rumors.

Thanks to loyal reader Reggie Flenory for his passion for Kansas Jayhawks basketball. Thanks for the head’s up.

Enjoy some international highlights of Georgios Papagiannis.

Next: Is Stephen Zimmerman A Fit For KU?

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