Future KU Jayhawks guard Chris Johnson’s Montverde team eliminated at Geico Nationals

Future Kansas men’s basketball combo guard Chris Johnson scored three points on 1-of-5 shooting in No. 1 seed Montverde Academy’s 46-45 loss to No. 8 seed Sunrise Christian Academy on Thursday at the Geico High School Nationals in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound senior originally from Fort Bend, Texas, had two rebounds and an assist while coming off the bench and playing 18 minutes for the Florida school. He was 0-for-2 from three.

Johnson is ranked No. 34 in the recruiting Class of 2023 by Rival.com, No. 35 by ESPN.com and No. 41 by 247sports.com. He chose KU over Arkansas, Texas A&M, Alabama, Texas, UConn, Auburn, TCU, Houston, Tennessee, UCLA, Creighton, Georgia and others in recruiting.

Johnson transferred to Montverde Academy for his senior season after earning All-Greater Houston honors at Elkin High School in Texas. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds for Elkin in 2021-22. His team went 30-6. His stats are not available at this time for this season.

Johnson played AAU basketball for the Houston Defenders along with future KU player Jamari McDowell.

In eliminating defending national champion Montverde Academy, Sunrise Christian Academy of Bel Aire, Kansas, advanced to the tourney semifinals. Forward Matas Buzelis had 17 points for the winners.

Of Johnson, KU coach Bill Self said during the past season: “Chris is a very good high school player out of Houston who transferred his senior year to be at Montverde. In the short amount of time he’s been there, we understand his game has just grown tremendously. He was MVP of the big preseason tournament out in Las Vegas ... with many of the top high school prospects in America participating. He’s also a guy that can play point guard. He’s 6-4 and much like Elmarko (Jackson, incoming freshman), very versatile, can score, get his own shot but at the same time be a distributor.

“The thing that people rave about with him is that he could be an elite defender, an elite collegiate defender. Coach (Jeremy) Case did a great job recruiting Chris and his family and he and Elmarko and Jamari will all complement each other so well because they’re all similar but they’re so different because of their versatility.”

Mock drafts include Gradey Dick in first round

Kansas freshman guard Gradey Dick is projected to be taken No. 10 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, according to the latest mock draft of nbcsports.com.

Dick, a 6-foot-8, 205-pound native of Wichita, has yet to declare for the draft, which is set for June 22 in Brooklyn, New York.

He’s long been considered a likely one-and-done college player but has not yet revealed his future plans, which still could include returning to college.

“Known for his clutch three-point shooting prowess and 40.3% deep-ball percentage this past year at Kansas, Dick has many skills that teams covet in a draft prospect,” NBC Sports’ Tyler Byrum wrote this week. “He plays hard, has good length that leads him to above-average rebounding and steal rates, as well as an assertive demeanor he brings to the court. Dallas would be an ideal spot for both parties with their need to surround Luke Doncic and Kyrie Irving with shooters.”

Dick was listed as the No. 11 overall pick (of Washington) in ESPN.com’s latest mock draft released by analyst Jonathan Givony on March 9. KU junior forward Jalen Wilson was projected by Givony to be taken with the 14th pick of the second round (by Portland). KU senior guard Kevin McCullar was projected to be the final pick of the draft (by Milwaukee) at No. 58 overall.

There are no No. 59 and 60 picks this year with Chicago and Philadelphia each forfeiting a 2023 second-round pick. Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson was listed No. 37 overall (seventh pick, round two, to Charlotte).

Dick is listed as the No. 8 overall pick (of Indiana) by nbadraft.net, which released its last mock draft on March 24. Wilson was projected to be taken No. 23 (by Portland) and K-State’s Johnson to Indiana at No. 29.

Jalen Cook on KU’s list?

Kansas has made recruiting contact with Jalen Cook, a two-time first-team All-American Athletic Conference point guard from Tulane University, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported Thursday. Cook entered the transfer portal Thursday.

Cook — a 6-foot-0 sophomore from Walker, Louisiana, started his career at LSU. He averaged 19.9 points a game last season at Tulane on 45.2% shooting. He hit 57 of 165 threes for 34.5%. Cook dished 128 assists against 75 turnovers.

Rothstein says Cook has heard from KU, Kansas State, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Gonzaga, Illinois, LSU, Memphis, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, TCU, UCF, Washington, Washington State and Xavier.

KU, K-State, Mizzou contact Shedrick

Former Virginia player Kadin Shedrick, a 6-11, 230-pound junior forward from Holly Springs, North Carolina, is receiving interest from KU, Kansas State, Missouri and many others according to Rothstein.

Shedrick — he averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds a game a year ago with a team-leading 43 blocks in 30 games — also has heard from coaches from Georgetown, Xavier, Houston, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and others.

Ex-Jayhawk Grant-Foster available

Former KU wing Tyon Grant-Foster of DePaul has been medically cleared to play basketball and has entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining, Rothstein reported Thursday.

Grant-Foster had an undisclosed medical issue that prevented him from playing at DePaul the past two seasons. He averaged 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds a game in 22 games during the 2020-21 season at KU. He is a graduate of Schlagle High School and was honorable mention All-America at Indian Hills CC in Iowa.