Breaking🏀 KU lands 4-Star Commit

• 🏀🔒 Breaking: KU lands 4-star forward 

• 🏀 KU-MSU: 2 Quick Things

• 📝 Quick Links: Celebrating Bill Self

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EVERYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BASED UPON WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE I TRUST. PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR FACT OR FOR ACTUAL JOURNALISM, WHICH HAS VERIFICATION STANDARDS THAT I HAVE NOT ADHERED TO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT.

Breaking: KU Lands Commit from 4-Star Forward ⭐️

The Jayhawks landed a commit from 4-star SF Samis Calderon out of Brazil. The 6’8” wing currently plays for Overtime Elite in Atlanta.

Calderon is a lanky wing with a big wing span and good-looking shot. He’s the kind of player who may not make a huge impact in year one but has the length and skill that projects out well over time.

“He has great size and can play multiple positions on the perimeter,” Self said in a release. “Samis has a really nice shooting touch that can stretch the defense.”

“We feel his best ball is ahead of him.”

I started Hearing KU was closing in on Calderon after he visited the first week of November. VIP subscribers got word on Nov. 6 when I predicted Calderon would be KU's next commit. ✅ 

I’m working on getting more about Calderon. It’s an interesting commitment…

And I don’t think the Jayhawks are done.

There’s another fun one brewing…

I shared the text below with VIP subscribers on Tuesday.

You can upgrade now to get the very latest below and always stay ahead — without fluff and without bias.

2 Quick Things for KU Hoops ⛹️‍♂️

Here’s what stood out from KU’s 77-69 Champions Classic win vs. Michigan State:

1) Bill Self and Winning Ugly

On the night Bill Self passed Phog Allen's all-time school win record, his team won in a way the Hall-of-Fame coach values most: ugly as hell.

The box score tells you plenty.

• Shots weren’t falling (29% from three).

• An important player fouled out (AJ Storr).

• KJ Adams and Dajuan Harris went a combined 3-14 from the field.

• 0.97 points per possession.

Self may have preferred a prettier game, sure. But take this quote from 11 years ago.

And Self doubled down one year later.

The Jayhawks didn’t play great on Tuesday night in Atlanta, but they found a way.

KU’s win while scoring 0.97 points per possession stands out when you look at what happened last year.

When KU scored under 1.00 PPP (10 games):

• Record: 3-7

• Points in wins: 66.7

• Points in losses: 57.9

• Three 29+ point losses

• Average margin: -8.9

So while Tuesday's win wasn't pretty, it was significant.

KU toughed out a victory when shots weren't falling — exactly the kind of win you’ll need in March.

(Just try not to make it a habit).

2) Plus/Minus for the Rotation

KU’s rotation is gonna be a story for a while. The Jayhawks should have the right pieces — but Self is still toying with how to fit them together.

To go deeper, I looked at KU’s most efficient three-man player combinations so far this year. These numbers are from PhD Statistician and college hoops expert Evan Miya’s website.

KU’s most efficient (offense and defense) three-man combinations:

1. Dajuan Harris, Zeke Mayo, Flory Bidunga

2. Zeke Mayo, AJ Storr, Flory Bidunga

3. Dajuan Harris, Zeke Mayo, AJ Storr

KU’s most used three-man combinations

1. Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams, Hunter Dickinson

2. Diggy Coit, KJ Adams, Hunter Dickinson

3. Zeke Mayo, KJ Adams, AJ Storr

It’s still too early for major takeaways, and these numbers might be over indexed from one game (Hunter Dickinson’s UNC numbers likely hurt him here).

But it’s worth noting that Bidunga, Mayo, and Storr are all over KU’s most efficient trios.

It’s something we’ll keep track of moving forward.

Help Spread the Word:

If you enjoyed this breakdown, please share this link with other KU fans.

Here’s some of the best content celebrating Bill Self’s historic win.

🐐 Watch Bill Self get the Gatorade bath in the locker room by his players after the win.

🐐 Watch dozens of former KU players sent in their congrats to “stud” Bill Self.

🐐 The numbers for Self are getting crazy.

🐐 Here’s Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris on Self. The Harris quote is special.

Self will somehow leave KU better than he found it. Rock Chalk.

And help KUHearings by sharing this link with Jayhawks you know.