The Kansas basketball offseason has been quite eventful. Bill Self and the coaching staff have brought in some key talent to help recover from last season’s failure. The Jayhawks already landed transfer guards Jayden Dawson and Melvin Council Jr., who will join 5-star freshman Darryn Peterson in the backcourt.
However, the work is not done yet in Lawrence. One name fans should keep an eye on is Desmond Claude. The 6-foot-6 guard from USC has entered the transfer portal and is now one of the top players available. According to a report from On3, Claude will be visiting Florida this Thursday and is also considering Kansas, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Desmond Claude is a potential transfer target for Kansas
Claude initially broke out during his sophomore season at Xavier, where he led the Musketeers in points and assists. After transferring to USC, he continued his stardom, averaging 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in 2024-25. Claude proved that he can score at a high level and create for others, something Kansas could certainly use more of.
College basketball analyst Travis Branham provided an update on Claude’s recruitment on the College Basketball Show. “Claude is taking a visit to Florida this week, beginning on Thursday," Branham said. "Florida is frankly the team to beat. When Denzel Aberdeen hit the portal, things really opened up for Florida. Todd Golden is in big need of an impact guard, and Desmond Claude absolutely fits that bill.”
Branham also mentioned that KU is still in the mix, but taking a “back seat” right now. Still, that could change depending on how the Florida visit goes.
Claude would join a growing list of talented guards if he chose Kansas. With Council and Dawson already in the mix, it would be interesting to see how he fits alongside Peterson. For now, Jayhawk fans should watch this recruitment closely, especially if things fall through with Florida.