KU Basketball Recruiting: Jayhawks Ink Udoka Azubuike

The KU basketball recruiting efforts were rewarded Thursday when word emerged the Jayhawks are signing big man Udoku Azubuike for next season.

The Kansas Jayhawks have plenty of scholarships to hand out and Bill Self has to be thrilled about landing this true center. Though Azubuike is still only 16 years old, he stand 6’11” and weighs 270 pounds.

This is the man Self has been needing to fill space in the lane.

Azubuike is ranked as the 22nd best recruit in ESPN’s Top 100, and their fourth highest ranked center. ESPN offers up the brief scouting report:

"Azubuike has great size, length, athletic ability, mobility and coordination. He runs the floor extremely well. He is an above the rim finisher with power when he receives drop off passes created by dribble penetration."

According to KUSports.com, Azubuike is a fan of former KU basketball player Joel Embiid, who is is now with the Philadephia 76ers. Azubuike has spoken with Embiid about the Jayhawks.

"“I talk to him sometimes. I talked to him this morning. He spoke to me about Kansas and all that,” said Azubuike, who said he did a “background check on Kansas. I just had that good feeling I’m going to be productive in Kansas.”"

A great thing for fans is that, according to the same KUSports.com article, is Azubuike will have at least two seasons at Kansas because of his age. No one-and-done here, folks. The young center will have the opportunity to develop his raw skills, at least for two years.

Playing time will be available to those who can earn it. Current KU basketball interior players Perry Ellis, Hunter Mickelson, and Jamari Traylor are all finishing up their time at Kansas.

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Landen Lucas will be a senior next year, and the Jayhawks have already signed Mitch Lightfoot, another frontcourt player. The biggest question marks about the current roster as it transitioned in the offseason will be what happens with freshmen Carlton Bragg Jr. and Cheick Diallo.

Both have shown flashes of their potential but neither have earned significant playing time. Diallo, in fact, has seen very little of the court in recent games.

These two players obviously need more time to hone their skills at the collegiate level. The question becomes if they will be willing to stay at Kansas, at least, one more season to improve their games?

The NBA is notorious for drafting players on potential, sometimes ignoring their developed skill level. Other than money, there is no reason for either Diallo or Bragg to consider the NBA at this time. Their stock should go up with more experience and polish.

If Bragg and Diallo stay, Lightfoot and Azubuike should have some time to develop their games as freshmen. It would give the Jayhawks another deep frontcourt, one that is probably more athletic overall than the current edition.

Udoka Azubuike gives the Jayhawks something they’ve lacked this season – a space-eating physical presence in the paint. It will be exciting to see him develop for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

With more scholarships available, it will be interesting to see who the KU basketball recruiting team will pull into the fold next. They need to add to the backcourt now.

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