Arterio Morris was the best player for Kansas basketball in their Puerto Rico opener. What does it mean for the Jayhawks moving forward?
When the Kansas Jayhawks took the floor in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, in their first offseason scrimmage, nobody knew what to expect. The team is comprised of four transfers and three freshmen, yet their expectations are as high as anyone else’s. But even after they finished their opening match, plenty of questions surround Kansas basketball.
Returning players Dajuan Harris, Kevin McCullar, and KJ Adams played as well as you might expect them to. The trio of Jayhawks were an extremely consistent bunch in the 2022-23 season. But KU is now looking for production elsewhere after Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick headed to the NBA Draft — and they got plenty from Arterio Morris.
Morris, a transfer from Texas, had a rather underwhelming freshman season in Austin after coming out of high school rated the top point guard in his class. In 38 games, he averaged 4.6 points and 1.4 rebounds on 41.1% shooting. He showed flashes of potential but was stuck behind a crowded guard room.
READ: 5 takeaways from KU’s first exhibition game
In KU’s contest versus the Puerto Rico Select Team, Morris scored 20 points in as many minutes. The Texas native also assisted five buckets and grabbed five rebounds. He led the team in scoring and finished second in assists.
Morris excels in transition, at the rim, and is developing a respectable jump shot. He was also touted as one of the best defenders in the Big 12 last season.
When you look at the 2023-24 Kansas basketball roster, Hunter Dickinson’s name stands out above the rest. His 13-point, six-rebound outing was nothing to bat an eye at. However, it is even more encouraging to see other players stepping up to the occasion when he did not have his best game. It showed that several Jayhawks are capable of being “the man.”
Morris might be the best player for KU for several contests this season. Other games it might be Dickinson, McCullar, or others. At the end of the day, as long as everyone is playing their role well, the Kansas Jayhawks will be extremely difficult to beat this season.
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