• 🏀 International targets for the Jayhawks

• 📝 Quick Links: New football stadium feature installed

• 🔒🏀 Latest on KU’s top target 

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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.

New International Targets for KU

The board keeps shifting, and KU's been forced to play a patient game. While doing so, a pair of international prospects with NBA potential have landed on Bill Self's radar.

First, this is why it's been a quiet recruiting stretch for KU:

1. The NBA Draft Waiting Game
Several key targets are going through the NBA Draft process. With the Combine running May 11-18 and the withdrawal deadline set for June 15, KU's staff .

2. The Stealth Recruitment Strategy
Beyond the NBA prospects, KU is working quietly on under-the-radar targets to help fill out the roster. The Jayhawks are connecting with numerous players, keeping their top priorities as confidential as possible to avoid competition.

The combination of these two factors has created what feels like a lull after the transfer portal frenzy.

But there’s a newer development I’m Hearing about:

While the Jayhawks wait out the Draft hopefuls, a pair of European prospects have emerged as possible targets with big-time potential.

🆕😲 Dame Sarr | 6’7” Guard | Formerly with FC Barcelona

• The Sarr recruitment is a new development with some serious potential.

• I’m Hearing there’s mutual interest between the Jayhawks and Sarr, a 6’7” guard who is currently the No. 31 NBA prospect on ESPN’s Big board.

  • The Italian-Senegalese guard recently parted ways with FC Barcelona after a reportedly attending the Nike Hoop Summit without the club's approval, leading to a mutual agreement to split for the remainder of the 2024-25 season

  • Sarr impressed at the Nike Hoops Summit in April, scoring 17 points on 5/9 shooting with 4 rebounds in 25 minutes.

• Sarr’s got major potential after developing in Europe's top leagues. His length, quickness, and two-way versatility make him a potential first-round NBA talent.

• Kansas, Oregon, Duke, and UNC are thought to be the top players.

  • Duke and Illinois were the early favorites, but recent signings make both schools more of a question mark. Duke is thought to still be in the game, while Illinois is likely out.

• While Sarr could make the immediate leap to the NBA, his original plan was to play college basketball.

  • I’m Hearing Sarr is currently recalibrating after Duke and Illinois’ roster changes. Kansas has emerged as a late contender who can offer a starting spot.

• This would be an unexpected recruiting win for the Jayhawks. Think of Sarr as a potential Day 1 starter who could give KU another offensive creator with positional size.

📊 Outlook: I’m Hearing KU is in the game, but I’m not convinced just yet. Sarr’s going to have a number of options and international players are much harder for me to gauge.

It’s an exciting idea for now, and I’ll keep you posted if this keeps moving forward. Check out his highlights 🎥👇

🆕🤔 Bassala Bagayoko | 6’10” Big | Congo

• Bagayoko is a bit of a longshot for KU with some serious potential.

  • The Mali-born big man made history as the youngest player ever in Spain's top league (ACB) at just 14 years old (breaking Ricky Rubio’s record).

• This is a Bill Self type of swing at the center spot. He’s not a star today, but he’s someone who would play real minutes next season.

  • Kansas can't rely on Flory Bidunga alone in the frontcourt. Bidunga would get tired as game's progressed last year (and it’s reasonable to expect some foul trouble).

  • Even if Bidunga's doesn’t get tired, he'll be at his best if another player can reliably share playing time with him.

• Bagayoko is a mobile big man, with all the makings of an exciting defensive prospect today with offensive potential long-term.

  • His quickness allows him to switch onto multiple positions and would instantly raise the athletic profile of any team he joins.

  • He’s the kind of rim-running, athletic big man that KU loves to develop.

• I’d Heard Bagayoko’s original plan wasn’t to go the college route, but I was also told that plan could easily change fast.

  • I think the Jayhawks could be taking a look to see what it would take for Bagayoko to give Kansas a shot.

📊 Outlook: Early interest only. Worth keeping an eye on.

🎥 Watch his 1 minute, 15 second highlight reel

📉 Paul Mbiya | 6’11” big | France

• I’d Heard KU was taking a look at the Congolese big man with got a 7’8” wing span.

• While I think there was interest from KU, I think this one is trending elsewhere.

• Oregon was considered the favorite for Mbiya. The Ducks can offer more playing time and he recently visited Eugene.

Watch his highlights here.

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🏈 The football stadium’s seats spelling of “ROCK CHALK” is complete… and it really looks great. Check it out this closer view and a zoomed out look here.

⚾️ Watch KU baseball finish off Mizzou and win its ninth game in-a-row. The Jayhawks already have their most wins since 2009.

⚽️Shout out to KU women’s soccer who got their Big 12 Championship Rings.

🔒 Here’s the latest on KU’s top target:

⏳ Darrion Williams | 6'6" Wing | Texas Tech | Rising Sr.

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