KU basketball’s Parker Braun & Zach Clemence earning positive reviews in Puerto Rico

Running the court fluidly on a fast-break opportunity, 6-foot-10, 235-pound Kansas super-senior forward Parker Braun accepted a pass from guard Nick Timberlake and connected on a deep 3-pointer from the wing.

That came during the Jayhawks’ 1-hour, 20-minute Puerto Rico tour practice session Wednesday in the spacious gym on the Academia del Perpetuo Socorro campus, located 12 minutes from KU’s team hotel.

Braun, a a two-time state champion at Blue Valley Northwest who announced plans to transfer to KU on May 17 after playing two years at Missouri and two at Santa Clara, then hustled back to snare a defensive rebound on the ensuing possession.

Later he caught a sensational lob pass from guard Arterio Morris and, instead of dunking, tipped it in with one hand, looking like a contender for meaningful minutes not only during KU’s three exhibition games on this trip to Puerto Rico but also during games that count.

“It was good,” Braun said of Wednesday’s first practice in Puerto Rico in an interview with The Star. “We got in last night. So many guys had to shake a little rust off, shake the jetlag off, but it was good. We came out here and competed. We’ve got a tall task (against Puerto Rico Select on Thursday). We finally get to play someone else. The guys are excited to get up and down, get a feel for the air in the gym and the ball out here and try to get ready.”

That Thursday game will take place at 11 a.m. Central. It will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network and streamed at kuathletics.com.

Braun — like his younger brother, former Jayhawk guard Christian Braun — grew up following the Kansas basketball team closely. Now in his fifth and final year of college, he will find out what it’s like to play for the Jayhawks, starting with Thursday’s exhibition at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

“It’s going to be fun,” said the 23-year-old Braun, who has been with his new team for practices and pickup games since June during the summer-school session at KU.

“Getting 10 extra practices together (prior to the trip) and some early game action is an opportunity a lot of programs don’t get, so being able to do that will kind of prepare us for a great year. It’s something I’m looking forward to,” Braun added.

Braun likely will play both inside and out on this trip to Puerto Rico. He’s a threat not only in the paint but from beyond the 3-point line after hitting 14 of 57 3s (24.6%) at Santa Clara a year ago. He was 13 of 38 (34.2%) from 3 as a junior at the West Coast Conference school.

“All the guys are doing fine. I wouldn’t say anybody right now has been playing great,” KU coach Bill Self told The Star at the conclusion of practice Wednesday. “Parker is getting used to us. He’s getting comfortable. He’s going to be a good player.”

His teammates are convinced Braun will contribute as a member of the rotation.

“Parker has been pretty consistent shooting. It’s been fun to see,” KU senior guard Nick Timberlake said.

“He’s athletic,” added super-senior guard Kevin McCullar. “You throw the ball to him he’ll catch it. He can shoot, but also does all the little things. We’re going to need that.”

Of Braun, redshirt-junior point guard Dajuan Harris said: “He actually can shoot the ball pretty well. He catches lobs and is an athletic big.”

Braun has been one of the Jayhawks assigned to guard newcomer big Hunter Dickinson, formerly of Michigan, at practice, though on Wednesday that assignment mostly fell on Dillon Wilhite’s shoulders.

Dickinson, a 7-2, 260-pound senior from Alexandra, Virginia, averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds a year ago for the Wolverines.

“He’s obviously a very hyped and very talented player,” Braun said of Dickinson, who mainly did his offensive damage in the mid-range and by dunking Wednesday more than shooting 3s.

“(I’m) pushing him every day and he pushes us every day,” Braun added of the big man group that includes Zach Clemence and Wilhite. “Going at it and being competitive is something he brings to the table. He’s awesome for sure. He is really talented and really skilled, but he is really tough.”

Braun also noted Dickinson is a “really good defender” who can “play above the rim, ... play the 4 (and) has great touch from the outside.”

“I’m excited for everybody to see him,” Braun concluded of Dickinson.

Braun also is a fan of Clemence, a 6-11, 230-pound junior from San Antonio, Texas, who is ticketed to redshirt this year. He returned to KU after first announcing a transfer to Cal Santa Barbara.

“Zach is really good.” Braun said of Clemence, who had some nice drives to the hoop from the wing at practice Wednesday. “Coach (Bill) Self always talks about (how) he’s a completely different player than when he came in. We’re excited to see him grow this year. He’ll compete all year with us too (at practice).”

Clemence is allowed to play in the exhibition games even if he takes a redshirt this season. Self has said even though he’s down to 10 scholarship players on the 2023-24 team, the plan remains to redshirt Clemence.

Back to Braun … the biggest thing he brings to the team in his own eyes is “versatility. I think just playing hard, being able to do whatever coach asks me to do is something I bring to the table.”

There has been a bit of an adjustment to make from Santa Clara to KU.

“I think probably just getting up to speed,” Braun said. “Obviously this is high level basketball. You are playing against the best at this college level. Getting up to speed, making sure everybody is prepared.”

Braun is pleased to follow in the footsteps of his brother Christian, who actually won three titles at BV Northwest prior to winning it all at KU in 2022 and winning it all with the Denver Nuggets as an NBA rookie.

“I got two (at BVNW) with Christian. He won one without me,” Braun said with a smile. “Obviously he did a lot here and won a national championship. That’s kind of what I’m here to do, the same thing. It’s a legendary program. I’ve got some great teammates, a lot of talented players, a great coach, great program. I’m exited. Hopefully we can do something great here.”

NCAA guidelines allows teams to take foreign trips once every four years. This classifies as a foreign trip even though Puerto Rico is unincorporated territory of the United States. Kansas last took an overseas trip in August 2017, when the Jayhawks went to Italy, touring Rome and Seregno.

Braun says this trip will be important for the players to finally get a chance to play against somebody besides their teammates.

“We’re all excited to beat up on somebody besides ourselves,” Braun said.

Of the summer workouts he said: “We all came in, grinded, competed. I think we are all starting to come together.

“We have to go out there and play hard. This is our first go-round. We don’t know exactly what to expect. As long as we go out there head-first playing aggressive I think everything will play out well.”

And after Thursday’s game, it’s more fun in the sun scheduled for the beach.

“It’s great,” Braun said. “I love being by the water.”