Elite high school combo guard from Pennsylvania to visit Kansas Jayhawks in August

Gary Bedore
·3 min read
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Jalil Bethea, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound senior-to-be combo guard from Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in Warminster, Pennsylvania, has scheduled an official men’s basketball recruiting visit to Kansas starting on Aug. 31, according to Jayhawkslant.com.

Bethea is ranked No. 15 in the recruiting class of 2024 according to Rivals.com, No. 18 by 247Sports.com and No. 40 by ESPN.com.

He also is being pursued by Alabama, Syracuse, Temple, Miami (Florida), Michigan, Villanova, Georgetown, West Virginia, Virginia, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Rutgers and others. Hoopgate reports he has a visit set for LSU starting Sept. 9.

“They (KU coaches) are basically saying that they can use me as an all-around player. If I go there, I could be the next big player to come out of Kansas and they showed me all the players they produce. I guess they’ve been watching me since last season and now they are getting a little more serious,” Bethea told Rivals.com.

Of Bethea, Jason Jordan of Rivals.com wrote: “He’s shown great range and efficiency on his jump shot, the ability to get into the lane and create his own shot, find open teammates and the willingness to compete on the defensive end.”

Bill Self, Jeremy Case watch Flory Bidunga over weekend

Lafayette Jeff Bronchos’ Ethan Smith (10) and Parker Rosi (32) attempt to box out Kokomo Wildkats center Flory Bidunga (40) during the IHSAA boy’s basketball game, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Lafayette Jeff High School in Lafayette, Ind.
Lafayette Jeff Bronchos’ Ethan Smith (10) and Parker Rosi (32) attempt to box out Kokomo Wildkats center Flory Bidunga (40) during the IHSAA boy’s basketball game, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Lafayette Jeff High School in Lafayette, Ind.

KU coaches Bill Self and Jeremy Case were in Indiana on Friday to watch high school senior-to-be big man Flory Bidunga compete for Kokomo (Indiana) High School at the Charlie Hughes Shootout in Carmel, Indiana.

Coaches from Indiana, Duke, Michigan, Auburn and others also attended the event according to 247Sports.com.

Bidunga, a 6-9, 220 senior-to-be from Kokomo High School, is ranked No 4 in the recruiting class of 2024 by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com.

A native of Democratic Republic of Congo, Bidunga recently made an official visit to Duke. He visited KU in May.

He’s also considering Michigan State, Cincinnati, Florida, Arizona State and others. Some recruiting analysts believe Duke is the leader.

Bidunga told On3.com he grew up playing soccer. He’s only been playing basketball four years.

“An explosive leaper with a lightning-quick second jump, he’s a terror around the basket offensively. He essentially looks down at the rim on jump hooks and looks to tear it down entirely on dunks,” wrote Jack Pilgrim of On3.com.

“If that doesn’t impress you, just wait until he gets back on defense at the other end of the floor. Bidunga is a truly exceptional shot-blocker with impeccable instincts, timing and length. Attempting to score on him inside takes guts (followed by a psych evaluation). If there was ever a kid to bet on as a college star, it’s this one. The floor is simply too high.”

Of KU, Bidunga told Pilgrim: “It’s a blue-blood program that’s pretty good. I liked the facilities and I love the coach. He’s been there for years. The experience at Kansas was pretty good. It’s one of the top programs in college basketball.”