The Kansas basketball roster is starting to round out nicely after head coach Bill Self added guard Dennis Parker Jr., a transfer from Radford. The six-foot-six former North Carolina State player adds size to the backcourt, something the Jayhawks were somewhat lacking before his signing.
Parker is the second guard Self has reeled in from the portal, joining point guard Leroy Blyden Jr. from Toledo. KU now has seven perimeter players on the roster, giving the Jayhawks depth and talent and a nice mix of veteran experience and youth.
KU has five interior players on the roster, though probably only four will play much. That is still plenty of bodies for a solid rotation. Now, his group of backcourt players has the same kind of depth.
What does the Kansas depth in the backcourt look like?
The Jayhawks have two players clearly able to play point guard. Freshman Taylen Kinney and Leroy Blyden Jr. should both be able to facilitate. Blyden averaged 16.4 points a game as a freshman last season, so he can clearly score. It remains to be seen how easily Kinney can score, but he should be able to create shots when he needs to.
Tyran Stokes will most likely be a focal point for the KU offense next season. Self's tendency is to let players like Stokes stay on the floor and play plenty of minutes. Parker, however, brings another option, along with the returning Kohl Rosario, to maybe start or be one of the top reserves.
If Blyden and Kinney start next to Stokes, Parker gives Self a perimeter scorer off the bench, something that did not exist last season. In addition, returning sophomore Kohl Rosario will surely improve his game, giving the coach at least two strong reserves.
In addition, Luke Barnett and Trent Perry give Kansas even more perimeter depth. While these two may be more developmental players for Self, each has a niche that could give the team a boost when needed.
Barnett is a shooter, and the Jayhawks never seem to have enough shooters. If KU needs to loosen up a defense, it is nice to pull a player like Barnett off the bench and give him some opportunities to hit a three or two.
Perry is a defensive specialist with a high motor and a seven-foot-two wingspan. He's versatile and will bring high energy whenever he's on the court. Self loves having someone on the roster like this. Think KJ Adams, Elmarko Jackson, and Melvin Council Jr. as recent examples of players who give it all when they are on the court.
While Perry and Barnett might not get significant playing time in their freshman campaign, they both offer unique skills that could see them on the court in certain situations.
With the addition of Parker, Kansas is a deeper team, without some of the issues the Jayhawks have experienced over the past several seasons. Scorers like Parker and Rosario, plus skillful pieces like Barnett and Perry, round out the backcourt depth behind Stokes, Blyden, and Kinney.
Parker's addition probably eliminates Kansas' pursuit of the controversial James White, but who knows? Self still has three spots left to fill.
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