New Kansas commit is seeing his dream come true playing for Bill Self

Bill Self added yet another piece to the Kansas basketball roster when center Grant Mordini committed to KU on Thursday.

Self has done a fantastic job putting together his interior depth chart. Last fall he signed freshman forward/center Davion Adkins, then sophomore Paull Mbiya decided to stay at Kansas, then Self brought in transfer Christian Reeves from the College of Charleston, and now another freshman in Mordini.

The newest Jayhawk is 6-foot-10, and 210 pounds, so Mordini will obviously need to put on some weight and muscle. He's probably going to be a player that will need some time to develop his overall game as well as his frame.

He brings rim-protecting skills to the roster as well as the ability to stretch defenses with three-point shooting. He probably won't get many premium minutes this first season, but he could be incredibly valuable working as part of the scout team.

That experience will not only help the team but will also give him plenty of time in practice to hone his skills for the future.

Grant Mordini is excited to play for Kansas and Bill Self

Mordini, who doesn't have any stars as a recruit, probably knows what his role will be for the Jayhawks. Self will certainly have been upfront with him, but the young center knows this is a place where he will get the coaching he needs to develop.

Getting to play for Self and at a place like Kansas is a dream come true for Mordini.

It is possible he could have a career path like Mitch Lightfoot, who was a developmental player who ended up making considerable contributions late in his career at KU. Lightfoot has played for five years internationally and has been a double-digit scorer for most of his pro career.

The KU program needs dedicated players who want to be at Kansas, regardless of their level of talent, and Mordini wants to be a Jayhawk. Even if he just stays for a year or two, then moves on to a place where he might get more minutes, he will get to develop in one of the best programs the college game has ever known.

Maybe he'll develop into a player who can contribute as a top reserve or even as an eventual starter at Kansas. Mordini isn't a name that will wow the experts, but he will have a valuable spot on this roster. He might not even move the needle as far as class rankings go, but the program needs players like Mordini, and it won't be surprising if he becomes a fan favorite.

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