KU Jayhawks men’s basketball coaches check in on prospects during evaluation period

Kansas’ men’s basketball coaches hit the road to recruit some of the top-rated high school seniors and juniors in the country during open evaluation periods last Friday through Sunday and again Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

According to On3.com’s Joe Tipton, KU coaches were seen at Wednesday and Thursday games of high school seniors-to-be Flory Bidunga and Liam McNeeley, as well as juniors Cameron and Cayden Boozer and Cooper Flagg, at the NBPA Top 100 camp in Kissimmee Florida.

KU is one of six schools on the list for McNeeley, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward from Montverde (Florida) Academy who also is considering Oklahoma, Indiana, Michigan, Texas and Alabama.

Originally from Richardson, Texas, McNeeley is ranked No. 8 in the recruiting Class of 2024 by Rivals.com and 247sports.com and No. 11 by ESPN.com.

Of KU, McNeeley told On3.com: “I talk with coach (Norm, assistant) Roberts all the time. He sends me texts once every day or two days, so we keep in regular touch.”

McNeeley averaged 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game for Montverde last season.

Bidunga, a 6-9, 220-pound forward from Kokomo (Indiana) High School, has been recruited at the NBPA Top 100 camp this week by coaches from KU, Indiana, Duke, Michigan, Auburn, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Purdue, Michigan State, Florida and others.

Bidunga 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.

Of Bidunga’s play on Thursday at the NBPA Top 100 camp, Tipton of On3.com wrote: “Five-star Bidunga is an explosive athlete. The lefty moves in a way that other 6-10 players don’t. He caught the best dunk of the event, going chest-to-chest with an opposing 7-footer. He rebounds it well, he defends well, and he finishes with authority above the rim.”

Coaches from KU, Alabama, Villanova, Syracuse and others were spotted by Tipton in Florida watching games of Jalil Bethea, a 6-4, 175 senior-to-be combo guard from Archbishop Wood Catholic in Warminster, Pennsylvania.

Bethea, who has scheduled an official recruiting visit to Kansas starting on Aug. 31, 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 has also received offers from Alabama, Syracuse, Temple, Miami, Michigan, Villanova, Georgetown, West Virginia, Virginia, UCLA, Georgia Jalil Tech, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Rutgers and others. Hoopgate reports he has a visit set for LSU starting Sept. 9.

KU and Duke coaches in Florida also watched games of high school juniors-to-be Flagg and Cameron Boozer. Flagg, a 6-8, 195-pound forward from Montverde Academy, ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2025 by Rivals.com, competed against the No. 2-ranked player in the class, Boozer (6-9, 220, Columbus High, Miami Florida) in a NBPA Top 100 game on Wednesday.

Boozer scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds. Flagg, whose team won by three points, scored 14 points with 10 rebounds and four assists.

Flagg is considering KU, Kansas State, Providence, Duke, UCLA, Michigan, Iowa, UConn, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, West Virginia and others.

“The bigger, stronger Boozer dominated action at both ends of the floor and seemed to at times frustrate Flagg, who fouled out of the game,” wrote Russ Wood of Rivals.com. “Boozer can play the 4 and 5. He was very active and very efficient Wednesday scoring 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-3 from downtown, and led all players in rebounding with 14. Flagg posted a solid 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting – he missed all four of his three-point attempts – and 10 rebounds but many of those points came when Boozer was not in the game.

“Boozer wants to get to the rim on drives, he is better going right and can take defenders off the bounce, but can get to pull-ups and he will face you down for threes. He goes to the glass hard, is a very good offensive rebounder and shuts guys down on defense. His game is so refined that it doesn’t seem possible that he hasn’t turned 16 yet. Flagg, who gave up at least 20 pounds to Boozer, struggled to make shots but he did not allow that to impact the rest of his game. He led his team in rebounds and dished four assists to help his squad get a win,” Wood added.

Boozer’s brother Cayden (6-3, 190 junior), who is ranked No. 32 in the Class of 2015 by Rivals.com, also is being recruited by KU and Duke. The sons of former Duke standout Carlos Boozer are considering KU, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Miami, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Florida State and others. Duke may be the favorite.

Of Cameron Boozer, Tipton wrote Thursday: “He plays with one emotion, very even keeled throughout the course of a game. He did a lot of things on the ball here, initiating offense and getting his team into sets. He is a strong rebounder and an adept scorer. Substance over sizzle. He finished the second game with 26 points and 16 rebounds.”

Chase McCarty, a 6-6, 180 senior-to-be small forward from Westminster Christian High in Huntsville, Alabama who is ranked No, 111 in the Class of 2024 by Rivals.com and recently visited KU, also competed at the NBPA Top 100 camp.

“McCarty brought energy to all facets of the game,” wrote Brandon Jenkins of 247sports.com. “At 6-6 with long arms, the Alabama native made open shots, was alert on help-side defense, and always seemed to be at the right place at the right time on both ends of the floor. He recently completed a June official visit to Kansas as the Jayhawks were one of the many schools present at his afternoon match.”

McCarty has KU, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Houston, Illinois and others on his list.

KU continues to recruit seniors-to-be Dylan Harper and Tre Johnson who are playing for USA Basketball’s Under 19 World Cup team in Hungary.

Harper, a 6-5, 180 senior-to-be combo guard from Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., who is ranked No, 1 in the Class of 2024 by Rivals.com, has a final five of KU, Duke, Rutgers, Indiana and Auburn. World Cup teammate Johnson, 6-6, 180 senior-to-be from Link Year Academy in Branson, Missouri (originally from Dallas) is ranked No. 3 in the recruiting Class of 2024 by Rivals.com. He has a list of KU, Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Kentucky, and Texas.

“It’s very apparent that Dylan Harper is likely the best player every time he steps on the court,” wrote Tipton of On3.com. “The 6-5 guard is steady, consistent, and selfless. He loves to get his teammates involved, always making the right read/pass. He can also go out and get you a bucket (or several). The game comes easily to him. He doesn’t have to score to affect winning.”