The Kansas Jayhawks are still in a place where they are finalizing their roster ahead of a crucial 24th season with Bill Self at the helm.
While things started off slowly as KU lost all but Kohl Rosario and Paul Mbiya, acquiring the likes of the nation’s top high school prospect, Tyran Stokes, and a loaded freshman class, combined with the additions made via the transfer portal in four-star power forward Keanu Dawes, four-star center Christian Reeves, four-star guard Leroy Blyden Jr. and most recently four-star guard Dennis Parker Jr. and the path to a viable 2026 campaign looks a lot less foggy.
What will Parker bring to the Jayhawks?
The first thing the name Dennis Parker Jr. brings to mind is his outlandish 53-point outing against Coppin State for the Radford Highlanders last season. However, Parker also adds elite rebounding (5.5 per game last season) and a stellar 48.4% field goal rate that comes along with a stern 37.7% mark from beyond the arc last season.
According to John Hollinger’s Game Score metric, a performance measured out to a 10 is “average”. Parker finished last season averaging a 13.0, three ticks above an “average” showing.
Parker describes his game to the Field of 68
“Two-way dog. Honestly, I love defense. I really love defense more than offense.”
Those are the first words Parker used when describing himself on The Field of 68: After Dark YouTube channel during his commitment.
Coming out of Richmond, Virginia, Parker played AAU basketball on Team Loaded, something Parker takes a lot of pride in.
“Coming from Team Loaded, we [are] based on just pride and energy. I'm just bringing all the energy. Like all the doggedness…I just get to it. “
Where will Parker play?
The 6-foot-6 Parker is an out-and-out shooting guard. A position that was recently thrown into the fray before Parker committed. His 41 assists to 72 turnovers show that he is not able to be the primary ball handler in the Big 12.
But in all honesty, this is what Kansas needs. There has been enough speculation on whether Blyden or Taylen Kinney will be playing the point next season, so to have someone like Parker, who is nothing more than an elite point-scorer and defender, fills in exactly what the Jayhawks needed.
Parker joins the Jayhawks, rated as the nation’s No.159 overall prospect according to 247Sports.
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