Kansas basketball: 3 starting lineup options for next season

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - MARCH 07: Guard Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks handles the ball during the first half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on March 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

2 of 4

Kansas basketball (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Best-case scenario

Point Guard: Devon Dotson
Shooting Guard: Bryce Thompson
Guard/Forward: Ochai Agbaji
Forward: Tyon Grant-Foster
Center: David McCormack

After the 2018-19 season, Dotson elected to test the NBA Draft waters and ultimately decided to return to Kansas for another year. Now coming off a season in which he averaged 18.1 points, 4.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, however, it seems as if he’ll at least test the waters again this offseason.

But if we’re talking about the best-case scenario for the Jayhawks next season, it starts with Dotson electing to return. Though Self has a strong group of both veterans and young, exciting players at point guard that could take over, they aren’t the proven stars that Dotson is. Subsequently, there’s no scenario where Kansas basketball is in better hands than if he returns.

Should Dotson come back into the fold (which is admittedly unlikely), the Jayhawks are going to be lethal. 5-star freshman and the No. 19 recruit in the 247Sports Composite rankings, Bryce Thompson, would join Dotson in the backcourt and create a tremendous 1-2 punch. Manning the middle and taking Azubuike’s place would be David McCormack, who appears primed to shine in a bigger role after averaging 6.9 points and 4.1 boards in only 14.7 minutes per game last season.

Where this lineup is interesting is at the forward spots. For my money, the best — or at least most talented — group Self could put on the floor includes Ochai Agbaji, who was their third-leading scorer this past season, and JUCO transfer Tyon Grant-Foster. While they would give up plenty in size, the scoring upside and versatility of that group would be a bear to deal with for any team in the country.