Kansas Jayhawks Q&A: McCormack finds summer-league spot + 2024 KU recruiting targets

Kansas Jayhawks fans have another former player to watch during the NBA’s summer league competition.

Former KU forward David McCormack will join the Toronto Raptors’ summer league roster, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported Thursday.

After leaving KU following the 2021-22 season, McCormack went undrafted and has spent time overseas playing for Besiktas JK, a Turkish Basketball Super League team.

Last summer, McCormack played for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2022 NBA summer league while on a non-guaranteed “Exhibit 10” contract.

An Exhibit 10 contract can become a two-way contract that allows players to compete in the NBA and the G League during the same season. McCormack will be hoping to earn such a contract.

McCormack was a key member of KU’s national championship team in 2021-22, averaging 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He was a third team All-Big 12 selection.

McCormack isn’t the only Jayhawks player on the Raptors’ summer league roster. He joins Toronto’s No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wichita native Gradey Dick.

Other former Kansas players set to participate in summer league games include Ochai Agbaji (Utah Jazz), Jalen Wilson (Brooklyn Nets), Udoka Azubuike (Boston Celtics) and NBA champion Christian Braun (Denver Nuggets).

... And now, the Q&A

With that, it’s time for another Kansas Jayhawks Q&A. As always, thank you for the questions!

I appreciate your enthusiasm for UConn winning the matchup (with you being a UConn fan and all), but I genuinely have no idea who wins.

Right now, I give the edge to KU because I think the Jayhawks’ roster is better. Still, The Huskies have a bit more continuity because Kansas has just three returnees.

So, KU might still be trying to figure out team chemistry by the time Dec. 1 rolls around.

I’m intrigued to see the matchup of Hunter Dickinson vs. future NBA lottery pick Donovan Clingan. At 7-foot-2, Clingan he has the size advantage, but Dickinson outclasses him in experience.

If UConn beats Kansas, it ultimately comes down to Clingan holding his own in this matchup.

My beat partner Gary Bedore actually wrote in-depth about KU’s Class of 2024 recruiting targets.

According to On3, KU coaches have evaluated Flory Bidunga and Liam McNeeley and juniors Cameron and Cayden Boozer and Cooper Flagg at the NBPA Top 100 camp in Florida.

Ranked No. 8 in recruiting Class of 2024 by Rivals.com and 247Sports, McNeeley has KU as one of his six finalists.

Another name to watch is Jalil Bethea, who has scheduled an official recruiting visit to Kansas starting on Aug. 31. The shooting guard is ranked No. 20 overall by 247Sports.

Honestly, winning three championships in a row is incredibly hard. The margin for error for Georgia football is small: If the Bulldogs lose a game with how easy their schedule is, they likely won’t make the playoffs.

The Dawgs also lost 10 players to the NFL Draft. Even with the stacked recruiting classes UGA brings in, it’s hard to replace all that talent.

I’m also intrigued to see how Georgia looks with a new quarterback. Yes, Carson Beck appears to be more talented than Stetson Bennett on paper, but that’s why they play the games.

Were you surprised to see us picked last in Big 12 in football, considering we have a large majority of the offense back from one of the better offenses in the Big 12 last year? — @crimson_blu_cru

A little bit.

I understand observers’ concerns — KU has a very tough schedule — but it was surprising nonetheless.

Perhaps Kansas football hasn’t earned the benefit of the doubt yet, but I’m a firm believer in QB Jalon Daniels’ talent and coach Lance Leipold’s ability to reshape programs. I believe KU will earn another bowl appearance and find itself in the middle of the Big 12 standings.