These 3 Kansas men's basketball players are poised to earn larger roles next season

LAWRENCE — The 2022 NBA draft hasn’t even taken place yet, but a recent ESPN mock draft for 2023 shines a light on Gradey Dick’s potential at Kansas.

Dick, one of the Jayhawks’ four high school signees for the 2022 class, will start his collegiate career as a freshman this upcoming season. Kansas basketball coach Bill Self expressed an anticipation that Dick, a 247Sports Composite five-star prospect and a McDonald’s All-American, would play a significant role in year one. According to the ESPN mock draft, Dick is projected as a first-round pick and 18th overall selection next year.

But while Dick and his fellow signees — all top-45 prospects nationally — will certainly challenge those returning for the Jayhawks for playing time, the departures from the national championship team open opportunities for a number of players. That’s true regardless of whether either Christian Braun or Jalen Wilson turn pro. So, considering Kansas doesn’t have a transfer leaving the program at this point, here’s a look at three returners who are poised for larger roles next season.

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Zach Clemence

The void that would be created by the departures of David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot, without any other front-court additions on top of the high school signees, sets up a chance for Clemence to take a step forward as a sophomore. Clemence, as a freshman forward this past season who missed time due to injury, appeared in 24 games off the bench and averaged 4.9 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest. The way the roster is shaping up there are certainly minutes, and even potentially a starting spot, to be had.

Clemence will have to become a much more consistent shooter, considering he finished with marks of 37.5% from the field, 27.3% from behind the arc and 48.3% from the free-throw line. But with more regular minutes and opportunities one would expect those marks to improve, which only adds to the potential weapon he could be for the Jayhawks offensively. And with the experience a year in college provides and the possible strides that can be made in physical development, one would expect for him to be better defensively as well.

“Zach’s a good player,” Self said during the team’s banquet in April. “Zach’s an NBA prospect, and he got hurt in January, I believe, and he sat out, I think, about four-to-five weeks and didn’t do anything. And then, the coach, after he hadn’t done anything in practice one day in five or six weeks, decided, ‘Hey, Zach, why don’t you check in in the second half and go win the game against OU.’ And he checked in and he won the game (Feb. 12) against OU. So he’s got a chance to be a terrific player.”

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Bobby Pettiford

Pettiford, a freshman guard this past season, saw his initial year at Kansas end early due to injury. He finished with 14 appearances off the bench, in which he averaged eight minutes, 1.4 points and 0.9 assists per game. He certainly contributed to the Jayhawks’ run, which included Big 12 Conference regular season and tournament titles, but not to the extent he would have if healthy throughout.

Next season, though, that could change significantly. Pettiford could develop into the first option off of the bench to spell returning veteran guard Dajuan Harris Jr., in addition to someone who plays alongside Harris if Self decides to play two smaller guards together. In hindsight a redshirt during 2021-22 might have been a better route for Pettiford, but there’s still a lot of promise for what next season and beyond could bring for him.

“This kid’s got talent,” Self said about Pettiford during the team’s banquet in April. “He’s got a low center of gravity. He’s quick. He can change direction. He’s got great balance, and is going to be the next great guard here.”

KJ Adams Jr.

Adams played more than any other freshman at Kansas this past season, as the forward ended up with 37 appearances that included one start. The potential he has defensively was evident, and that ability certainly had to play a part in why he ended up on the Big 12’s all-freshman team. But his role was still a limited one, and he averaged 4.8 minutes, one point and 0.8 rebounds per game.

Adams should surely remain someone Self can turn to when defensive flexibility is paramount. Ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, Adams will have time to develop offensively and potentially improve his ability to space the floor. Self clearly already trusts Adams to an extent, and the months ahead of the opener will dictate how much that’s able to progress.

“KJ probably didn’t play as much as he’d like to play, but God when he played he was good,” Self said during the team’s banquet in April. “And we look at that Texas Tech game (Jan. 24), when (Ochai Agbaji) went off, and we don’t win that game without KJ Adams. So, KJ, I just want you to know how happy and proud we are to have you here. And don’t ever forget, you were on the court at the end of the game in the national championship.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: 3 Kansas men's basketball players poised for larger roles in 2022-23