Kansas basketball: The five most impressive recruiting jobs by Bill Self

AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 04: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks stands on the court after Texas defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 75-59 at Moody Center on March 04, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 04: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks stands on the court after Texas defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 75-59 at Moody Center on March 04, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
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Frank Mason III #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Frank Mason III #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

1. Frank Mason (Ranked No. 116 in Class of 2013)

Mason was included in a recruiting class with three five-stars and the No. 1 player in the country. Who would have thought that a three-star guard who was less than 6-feet tall would be the best player there?

All the attention went to Andrew Wiggins, and the four others rated higher than him. Bill Self took him because he needed somebody else to take a scholarship.

That underestimate became a Wooden Award winner, and he will forever be considered a Jayhawk legend.

He gave Bill Self a new way to play basketball in Kansas, and he has been considered an inspiration for undersized point guards like himself. He has influenced many after his playing time to commit to Kansas and develop under Self’s hands. A year after Mason came Devonte’ Graham, who was also a consideration for this list.

Bobby Pettiford, Devon Dotson, Dajuan Harris Jr., and many more wouldn’t have even thought about being a Kansas Jayhawk if they never saw what Frank Mason did at the university, hence why he’s one of the guys that made it on this list. He created an environment for players like himself to strive in a successful basketball program.

The recruitment of Frank Mason III is unquestionably Bill Self’s best during his time at Kansas.