Kansas missed out on Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones, but secured a pledge from Cliff Alexander on Friday.
The 6-foot-9 Chicago Curie power forward angered a lot of Illinois fans by reaching for a blue Illinois hat before picking up a Kansas cap. He also considered DePaul and Memphis.
“I feel that they’re going to develop me, get me where I want to be and expand my game to the next level,” Alexander said of Kansas on ESPNU.
It turned out to be a rough day for Illinois coach John Groce and his staff, who earlier lost out on point guard Quentin Snider, when he signed with Louisville after committing to Illinois.
Asked how much pressure he felt to pick Illinois, Alexander said: “I did what was best for me and my family. [Coach Bill Self] is going to coach me and get me where I want to be.”
Alexander had long been linked to Kansas and former Illinois assistant Jerrance Howard, who first offered him when he was at Illinois.
He joins Findlay Prep wing Kelly Oubre in Self’s 2014 recruiting class as the Jayhawks will have to replace Andrew Wiggins and likely several other departing stars.
ESPN now has Kansas ranked No. 7 among 2014 recruiting classes.
Draft Express projects Alexander as the No. 3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, behind fellow bigs Okafor and Myles Turner.
USA coach Don Showalter said Alexander can be dominant.
“Cliff is dominating play in the paint,” he told SNY.tv previously. “His jump hook is unstoppable and he is making shots from 12-15 feet. Terrific timing on blocking shots. He will continue to get better as his left hand develops. And he’s a great person.”
