Kansas basketball recruiting news: Prospect Zion Green sets September visit

Kansas basketball head coach Bill Self still hasn't locked down a commitment from any 2027 prospect. He has been active, setting up visits with a few players so far.

KU hosted small forward Fabian Kayser late last month and has a visit scheduled later this month with small forward Malachi Jordan. The latest recruit to set a trip to Lawrence is forward Zion Green, who told Sam Kayser from League Ready that KU was on his list. His visit is scheduled later this month.

In addition to the three SEC schools listed above, 247Sports lists as Auburn and Kansas State as other schools Green has on his list.

What would Zion Green bring to the Kansas basketball team?

Green stands a slender 6-foot-nine, 190 lbs. He obviously needs to add some weight and muscle to that frame. Still 17 years old, he has time to get bigger physically during his final prep season; then he will add bulk once he's on a college campus.

247Sports ranks him as the 36th best recruit in the 2027 class and the seventh best power forward. Their director of scouting, Adam Finkelstein, mentions Green's lack of strength and physicality in his scouting report. Most everything else is positive.

“Green is an extremely toolsy prospect with glaring natural talent. He has good positional size, is a very fluid mover, has soft natural touch, and some budding offensive skill. He’s most comfortable playing a finesse-based drive-first style at the moment. He’s smooth off the bounce, agile in the lane, has good footwork after his gathers, and can finish off either foot and with either hand....Even without great length, his size and movement skills give him an intriguing toolset to build off of defensively. He’s already generally active, valuable at the top of the press, and able to provide some weak-side rim protection (1.2 blocks/game)...”

He might have the potential to stretch defenses from beyond the arc, and Finkelstein mentions Green could be a great floor-spacer, which is something Self loves. Self will also be intrigued by Green's defensive upside.

Keanu Dawes will have another season of eligibility after this one if he stays at Kansas for his fifth season. Green looks like he might be a perfect developmental fit to play behind Dawes and Davion Adkins next season. While the lack of bulk and strength might be a negative now, he has plenty of time to put on weight and get stronger as his body matures.

From Finkelstein's report, his overall tool set is exciting, and it isn't too difficult to imagine him being a big contributor at the four spot down the road for the Jayhawks. He appears to be a good fit for Kansas defensively and as the athletic stretch four who can play from the outside in.

It would be nice for Self to lock down a couple of players before the season starts, but recruits appear to be more patient this year with their commitments. The issues college basketball and the NCAA are dealing with over the class of 2022's eligibility are throwing a cloud over the recruiting process. Recruits probably want to see how things play out before deciding where they will have the best opportunity.

Green appears to be a good fit for the Kansas system. Hopefully, he will enjoy his visit later this month.

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