Kansas basketball: Future Jayhawk provides some relief

The future of Kansas basketball looks good following Sunday’s Jordan Brand Classic. Jayhawks have a great history in this high school all-star event.

Kansas basketball fans are among the few who actually pay attention to high school all-star games. When was the last time fans of other schools in the sunflower state tuned in? They don’t want to see a future Jayhawk recruit showing their skills against the next great group of college basketball stars.

Sunday was just as much fun as the past few years. Jayhawk fans still mourning the Final Four setback found some relief watching the annual Jordan Brand Classic. It was well worth tuning in to see future Jayhawk Quentin Grimes. Last month, Grimes earned the title of Texas Gatorade Player of the Year. He follows Jayhawk Marcus Garrett who won the award last season.

Just as he did in winning the Lone Star State honor, Grimes followed a long list of Jayhawks with an outstanding performance in the Jordan Brand battle of high school stars.  The 6-foot-5 Grimes hit 7 of 11 shots, scored 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 25 minutes. Unfortunately, he also shot free throws similar to future teammate Garrett.  Grimes missed 3 of 4 from the line.

Just watching Grimes and his all-star teammate Romeo  Langford removed some of the disappointment of 6 days earlier.  The future is bright. Allen Fieldhouse fans will love watching Grimes this fall whether Langford decides for the Jayhawks or not.

Next: KU basketball wisdom for the KU football team

As a matter of fact, performance in the Jordan Brand event is not indicative of future results. In 2016 Udoka Azubuike hit 4 of 6 free throws in the event.  The Jayhawk 7-footer also scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in just 15 minutes of action. In 2015 Malik Newman started for the West team. He scored 8 points and dished five assists in just 17 minutes.  Newman’s West team defeated future Jayhawk Cheick Diallo. The 6-foot-9 Diallo scored 26 points in 20 minutes.