KU Basketball Recruiting: Is Marques Bolden Next Big Man Target

The KU basketball team still needs to add some big men for the 2016-2017 season. Could Marques Bolden be the next target for Bill Self and the Jayhawks?

The Kansas Jayhawks just lost out to Duke for top prospect Harry Giles. Head coach Bill Self will need to turn up the heat on some of his other key big men recruits. One of those players is Marques Bolden.

Bolden is ranked as the 20th prospect in the country by both ESPN on their Hot 100 list, and by 247 Sports. He is 6’10”, 240 pounds. ESPN lists him as the second-best center prospect for next season.

ESPN lists Kansas as one of several schools pursuing Bolden. Other schools include Duke, Kentucky, Alabama, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, and TCU. Bolden, who visited the Jayhawks last month, is also mentioned as a front-runner by 247 Sports.

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On their last Crystal Ball update, 247 Sports has Duke as a slim favorite to attain Bolden’s services. They have listed Duke first, with a 47 percent chance of signing him. Kansas is at 41 percent, and Alabama at 12 percent.

With their signing of Giles, Duke’s chances could drop if Bolden decides he doesn’t want to share the spotlight with Giles.

His ESPN scouting report indicates he might be just the type of interior player Self is looking for.

"Bolden is a long and mobile post that runs the floor extremely well. He has excellent touch in and around the lane where he can score with either hand with excellent touch and body control for his size…"

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express offered these notes on Marques Bolden.

"Strengths-Has impressive physical attributes. Measured between 6’10 and 6’11 with shoes in different settings, with a 7’4 wingspan. Has a strong, well-proportioned 254 pound frame-Mobile player-Has very good scoring instincts. Can score with either hand in the post using decent footwork and soft touch-Has good hands and is a solid finisher off two feet.-Has a nice looking stroke from mid-range. Should be able to develop this part of his game in time-Shows very nice potential defensively. Stepped out on the pick and roll and moved his feet impressively. Can block shots using his very long armsWeaknesses-Good, not great athlete. Lacks a degree of explosiveness-Energy level wavers at times. Doesn’t always look like he’s operating with the highest intensity level-Average defensive rebounder.-Career 52% free throw shooter in DX database"

The Jayhawks will lose three interior players to graduation after this season. Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor, and Hunter Mickelsen will all be gone, and who knows if Cheick Diallo will ever see the court for Kansas.

Carlton Bragg shows promise, and Dwight Coleby, who transferred from Ole Miss, will be eligible next season. Landen Lucas will still be on the roster, but he is more of a role player than a guy who can play a lot of minutes game after game.

The Jayhawks also added prospect Mitch Lightfoot early in the recruiting season.

There could be plenty of playing time for Bolden or whomever Self brings on board. The right player could step in and be a starter for the Jayhawks at the beginning of the 2016-2017 campaign.

Next: Do One-and-Done Players Hurt KU

The KU basketball recruiting rumors are starting to heat up. Stay tuned for updates.