Kansas basketball guard Dajuan Harris recognized as one of NCAA’s 10 best playmakers

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 02: Dajuan Harris Jr. #3 of the Kansas Jayhawks looks on during warmups before the game against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 02: Dajuan Harris Jr. #3 of the Kansas Jayhawks looks on during warmups before the game against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Andy Katz formed a list ranking the best playmakers in the country. Kansas basketball point guard Dajuan Harris was one of the players recognized.

Bill Self has developed a skinny kid from Missouri who was ranked outside the top 100 in his class to one of the best point guards in the country. The Kansas Jayhawks are fortunate enough to have Dajuan Harris on their roster.

The 6-foot-1 senior has taken tremendous strides in each season he’s competed as a Jayhawk. During 2022-23, he averaged career-highs in points (8.9), assists (6.2), steals (2.2), and minutes played (34.2). His strong performance allowed for him to take home the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award.

Although defense is a strong point of his game, Harris makes his presence felt on both sides of the floor. He is receiving a ton of national recognition in what could be an All-American campaign.

Big Ten and NCAA analyst Andy Katz released a list of his ten best playmakers in college basketball heading into this year. Playmakers can be categorized by their ability to facilitate and quarterback an offense. The best of the best typically average high assists numbers and are the glue guys of their squads.

Kansas basketball PG Dajuan Harris ranked the No. 7 playmaker in NCAA

At first glance, this seems like a criminally low ranking for Dajuan Harris. The only player listed ahead of him who averaged more assists in 2022-23 is Tyler Kolek. Nijel Pack averaged 2.3 assists a year ago and landed in the top three.

I’m a bit confused by Katz’s ranking system. Perhaps he views playmakers as players who create shots for their teammates AND themselves. A personal definition of the word would have been helpful. Nonetheless, it’s nice to see Harris getting the recognition he rightfully deserves.

  1. Tyler Kolek (Marquette)
  2. Judah Mintz (Syracuse)
  3. Nijel Pack (Miami FL)
  4. Boo Buie (Northwestern)
  5. Jahmir Young (Maryland)
  6. Tyrese Proctor (Duke)
  7. Dajuan Harris (Kansas)
  8. Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)
  9. Ryan Nembhard (Gonzaga)
  10. Ace Baldwin (Penn State)
"“Harris is the lead guard for the likely No. 1 team in the country. He’s efficient and is the right distributor to feed Michigan-transfer, Hunter Dickinson.”– Andy Katz"