Kansas basketball received four commits in the 2023 high school class. We offer a preliminary view of what each of these players might offer the Jayhawks.
After missing out on top-10 recruit Mackenzie Mgbako, the likelihood is that the Kansas Jayhawks high school class is finalized. Elmarko Jackson, Marcus Adams Jr., Chris Johnson, and Jamari McDowell are the four signees set to join KU.
The group of commits ranks No. 8 in the nation, bringing in one five-star and three four-stars.
While newcomer Hunter Dickinson will come with more recognition than all the freshmen combined, KU’s class should not be overlooked. All of these players can make a difference on next year’s roster.
This is a preview of each member of the 2023 KU Jayhawks recruiting class.
Rankings retrieved from 247sports.com
CG Elmarko Jackson (No. 18 player in the country)
The highest-ranked player in KU’s class, Jackson figures to have more of an impact than any other commit in year one. Although he can not be elated to see Bill Self bringing in two transfer combo guards, Jackson still has a chance to start alongside Dajuan Harris as the team’s secondary ball-handler.
Jackson is an explosive guard who has received high praise for his ability to rim-run. He can jump out of the gym and soar for an emphatic dunk at any moment. His game is similar to that of Arterio Morris, which could raise some questions regarding Jackson’s playing time. An advantage that Jackson has is that he is considered the better playmaker between the two.
He enters one of the most crowded guard rooms in the country, consisting of Harris, Morris, Timberlake, and two other players later on this list. It is far too early to make predictions about the starting five, but if Jackson cannot crack the first unit, expect him to play around 18-22 minutes per game off the bench. Even then, he would be a drastic improvement over last season’s bench guards, Bobby Pettiford and Joseph Yesufu. Jackson being a multi-year player at Kansas would make up one of Bill Self’s most talented guard rooms ever in 2024-25.
SF Marcus Adams Jr. (No. 45 player in the country)
Adams Jr. was an under-the-radar pickup for Kansas, and he re-classified to 2023 a day after KU’s season-ending loss to Arkansas. Unlike Jackson, Adams’ path to seeing the floor is crystal clear. He could emerge as a consistent contributor as a freshman with how few wings the Jayhawks roster holds.
The California native burst onto the scene as a junior, and Kansas began recruiting him very late in the process. Bill Self’s staff was impressed by how well Adams could shoot the ball at his size. His outside shot is perhaps the most promising part of his game as a 6-foot-8 forward.
Despite concerns about the competition he faced in high school, Adams should adjust well to college basketball under a Bill Self-run system. Three-point shooting and athleticism are transferable from high school to the NCAA, two aspects of Adams’ game that he excels in. He won the MVP of the Ballislife All-American Game, setting an all-time high in points with 44. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Adams will be a dependable contributor to the second unit.
CG Chris Johnson (No. 71 player in the country)
Johnson was once considered one of the best combo guards in the Class of 2023, but a subpar senior year dispelled any of those hopes. He transferred to Montverde Academy for his final high school basketball season and struggled tremendously. MaxPreps lists his 2022-23 statistics as 16.7 minutes per game, 5.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 rebounds on 35 percent shooting. It is a significant dropoff for someone who averaged 19.5 points per game as a junior.
He was once considered the No. 24 prospect in the nation and approached five-star status. Even if he wishes he never transferred from Fort Bend Elkins (TX), Bill Self might be able to get him right. Like Jackson, he prefers to score at the hoop and has not developed a consistent three-point jump shot yet. Johnson’s defense is his strongest aspect.
One year of high school should not make fans overlook his talent. Johnson still has not played a game in a Kansas uniform, and he is bigger and stronger than other guards on the roster. The only concern is that with how often players transfer from programs nowadays, no one knows if he is willing to take on a limited role as a freshman or if he wants to go somewhere where he will play immediately. That question should be answered at some point, but expect Johnson to see minutes early in the season as the coaching staff decides what role they want him to have on the team.
CG Jamari McDowell (No. 81 player in the country)
McDowell is perhaps the most intriguing player in the entire class. After hardly being nationally ranked coming into his junior season, he continued to shoot up the ranks as his time in high school progressed. McDowell is a long guard who could play the two in a Bill Self-system. Among the other two guard commits, he is by far the best shooter.
Even though he is technically the lowest-ranked recruit in the class, his upside is there. McDowell is the kind of player who can become a college basketball star by his third or fourth year –– if anyone even lasts that long with a school anymore. At 6-foot-4, he can create space for himself for open jumpers with his shifty dribble moves.
Bill Self complimented his defensive intensity and believes he could rival other players for minutes. He won’t make much of a difference as a freshman, but fans should be extremely excited about what McDowell can bring to the table in the future.
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