Kansas basketball: 5-star Bryson Tucker on campus for official visit

Bryson Tucker is the latest target for Kansas basketball on the recruiting trail. Tucker is currently on campus today for an official visit ahead of the team’s second game of the regular season vs. Manhattan. Bill Self went to go watch Tucker play Montverde Academy in Las Vegas on Oct. 13, and has since really ramped up the pursuit for his services.

Tucker is a 6-foot-6, 180-pound small forward from Bishop O’Connell high school in Arlington, Virginia. Tucker is the No. 19 player in the 2024 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

A quote from On3’s Jamie Shaw on scouting Tucker reads: “Simply put, Bryson Tucker is a basketball player. He has great size to go with a natural basketball IQ. Nothing in his game seems to ever be rushed; he plays at his own pace. He understands change of pace, and he makes good decisions with the ball. He is good on the ball in the half-court, makes solid decisions, and doesn’t put the ball in trouble off the bounce. Tucker has good length, and he is a good athlete. He can make shots with a confident pull-up. Tucker’s dad, Byron, is 6-10 and scored over 1,000 points at NC State/George Mason. You would like to see Bryson’s jump shot to become more consistent. He is really good in the mid-range, one to two dribble pull ups from the elbows. An explosive athlete, he is good in transition. He has a great work ethic and is one to continue watching as a five-star.”

There is a possibility of Tucker reclassifying and joining Kansas basketball over Christmas break this year and playing in the second half of this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Self pushed for a reclass, considering only nine scholarship players are available this year. Trilly Donovan mentioned he could be a midseason add.

Bill Self made a subtle comment that suggested another player could commit to the 2024 class, and that could now come to fruition. Looking ahead, Tucker could pair with Johnny Furphy as big wings who could play alongside each other in various points of time. Tucker could fit in nicely as a replacement for Kevin McCullar Jr. longterm and has high upside NBA potential.