Kansas scored a huge commitment — literally and figuratively — on Thursday when Udoka Azubuike made a verbal pledge to the Jayhawks.
Kansas scored a huge commitment — literally and figuratively — on Thursday when Udoka Azubuike made a verbal pledge to the Jayhawks.
The 6-foot-11, 280-pound Azubuike out of Jacksonville (FL) Potter’s Christian is a newly-minted McDonald’s All-American who also considered North Carolina and Florida State.
“This was a very tough decision, but I fell in love with the team when I saw them play,” Azubuike told ESPN. “I was very comfortable with coach Bill Self, assistant coach Norm Roberts and the entire coaching staff on my visit.”
Azubuike is Kansas’ second pledge in the Class of 2016, following 6-8 Arizona power forward Mitch Lightfoot. The two recruits visited Kansas together in September.
Kansas now has the No. 14-rated recruiting class in 2016, according to ESPN.com.
Kansas loses bigs Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor and Hunter Mickelson to graduation and could lose freshman Cheick Diallo to the Draft. He’s projected as the No. 21 pick by DraftExpress.com.
Azubuike nearly brought down the backboard with this two-handed dunk in a loss to Mohamed Bamba and Westtown (Pa.) at the Hoophall Classic. North Carolina head coach Roy Williams and assistant Steve Robinson sat courtside, and Kansas assistant Jerrance Howard was also at the event.
Oh. My. Goodness. Udoka Azubuike shook the whole gym on this slam pic.twitter.com/QHMdvtZg7T
– Tim Culverhouse (@culvey13) January 17, 2016
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Speaking recently with Zach Smart, Azubuike said of Kansas: “Kansas is interesting with all the history and all the basketball tradition. I’ve been there and experienced it. Bill Self, everyone knows what he has done. I mean, you can’t go wrong with any of the three schools.”
