Kansas basketball freshman could be a sneaky spark plug off Jayhawks bench

Yesterday’s Kansas basketball scrimmage between the Jayhawks and Arkansas Razorbacks was very unusual. Bill Self and Co. were doomed from the start without All-American center Hunter Dickinson in the lineup. It was nothing more than a tune-up for the regular season in a hostile environment.

While those who watched would probably like to forget the game ever happened, there was one silver lining from which Jayhawk fans can draw hope. True freshman wing Rakease Passmore was extremely impressive, albeit in limited action. Is it possible he will play a larger part in KU’s 2024-25 plans than anticipated?

Rakease Passmore looked like a special player vs. Arkansas

A Florida native, Passmore played like he had a chip on his shoulder last night. He posted 11 points, six rebounds, one steal, and one assist in an 85-69 defeat. His four free throw attempts were a team-high, and he shot 4-for-7 from the field (1-for-3 from 3-point range). Self told the team after the loss that Passmore was its best player. That doesn’t say much for the kind of game Kansas was playing, but it is still high praise for the first-year guard.

Passmore, who Coach Self has compared to former Jayhawk Travis Releford, pleaded his case for a spot in the rotation this upcoming season. Considering Self was talking about redshirting him a few weeks ago, he certainly helped his chances against the Razorbacks.

He gained invaluable experience competing with the Blue Checks in Overtime Elite last year. He was practically playing two seasons at once between his time at Combine Academy, a top 25 high school basketball team nationally, and the Overtime Elite league games.

Alabama transfer Rylan Griffen missed the contest due to a hip flexor strain, which allowed Passmore to see extended time on the floor. However, Griffen is expected to jump into the starting lineup or become the first wing off the bench when he returns. Passmore must continue to perform at a high level to beat out some of Kansas basketball’s more experienced players, but it was quite encouraging to see him excelling in his first real college game action.