Kansas basketball: What kind of player are the Jayhawks getting in Arterio Morris?

Arterio Morris announced his commitment to Kansas basketball this past weekend. What kind of player are the Jayhawks getting in him?

The Kansas Jayhawks filled out one of their last remaining scholarship spots with the addition of Arterio Morris. While his questionable off-the-court history has some fans second-guessing the acquisition, he is an uber-talented player.

Morris, an incoming sophomore who transferred from Texas, was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. Bill Self’s coaching staff heavily recruited him, but he ultimately chose to play with the Longhorns for his debut season of college basketball.

His presence at UT was overshadowed by elite guards such as Marcus Carr and Sir’Jabari Rice. Morris averaged 4.6 points and 1.4 rebounds as a freshman while posting a 41.1/33.3/78.6 slash line. He would have had a more straightforward path to playing time had he stayed, but Morris moved on from the program after one season.

The point guard from Kimball High School in Dallas should have a more prominent role in store with the Jayhawks. After gaining invaluable experience with Texas, Morris will make a case to play alongside Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year winner Dajuan Harris in the starting rotation. Morris’ mentor, Jonathan Rivera, told JayhawkSlant that “Kansas will get an electrifying guard who will make winning, exciting plays.”

How often do you see a 6’3 point guard jumping that high? Probably not that often.

He gained a reputation for being a terrific defensive player at Texas. Playing next to one of the nation’s best playmakers will allow him to expand his offensive game. Although his jump shot is nothing special yet, he should see plenty of open looks — especially if Hunter Dickinson commits. The presence of a superstar big man will take off the pressure of other offensive players.

Jayhawk fans can expect a combination of athleticism, defense, and a quicker pace when Morris is on the floor. He and Harris could form one of the best defensive backcourts in the country. With Elmarko Jackson in the mix, the Kansas guard room is as stacked as ever.

Recruiting analyst from 247 Sports Brandon Jenkins wrote this about Morris in his high school scouting report:

"“Morris is an elite point guard prospect who is a raw talent that has the upside to potentially be the best player from the 2022 class. Morris has pop to his game and is elusive with his handle when breaking down defenders. His short-area quickness and burst coupled with his shiftiness grant him the ability to get where ever he pleases in the half-court game. He is at his best when playing downhill where he is an instinctual player when finishing creatively at the rim. Thanks to his length, quickness, and size, Morris can also be leaned upon as a multi-positional defender.”"

Like many other Kansas guards in the past, Morris has a knack for going hard to the rim. He is an NBA prospect looking to take his game to the next level, and there is no better place to do that than with KU’s Hall of Fame head coach.

If he can further develop his game with the Jayhawks, Arterio Morris will be a force to be reckoned with for opposing Big 12 schools.