Kansas basketball: Predicting the 2020-2021 starting five

Kansas basketball is set to reload and return some talent after the abrupt end of the 2019-20 season. Here’s our projected starting lineup.

With the loss of Udoka Azubuike and Isaiah Moss to graduation, plus the likely departure of Devon Dotson to the NBA, the Jayhawks will have three spots to fill on their starting lineup next season. Still, the 2020-2021 Kansas basketball team is bringing back quite a bit of talent and adding some too.

Bill Self’s 2020 recruiting class is highlighted by five-star guard Bryce Thompson, who should be able to make an immediate impact for the Jayhawks. Kansas also signed four-stars Tyon Grant-Foster and Gethro Muscadin, as well as three-star Latrell Jossell.

In terms of starters returning, Kansas should have Marcus Garrett back for his senior year, plus Ochai Agbaji for his junior year.

Despite retaining a lot of talent, there’s no replacing Dotson and Azubuike. Many of the way-too-early top 25 polls have reflected the loss of the All-Americans by rankings the Jayhawks around eighth in the country.

READ MORE: Where the Jayhawks land in early top 25 rankings

After losing so much talent, staying in the top ten is quite the accomplishment. Obviously things will shuffle around in the top 25s due to recruiting and grad transfer signings, but it’s a safe bet that the Jayhawks should land in the top ten by the time the first AP Poll rolls around.

So now that we’re already planning for next season, here’s our way-too-early 2020-21 starting lineup for Kansas basketball.