Kansas basketball: 5 questions the Kansas Jayhawks must answer in 2020
4. Kansas basketball questions: Can Bryce Thompson star right away?
One of the hallmarks of Kansas basketball lately is their ability to recruit phenomenal one-and-done players who emerge as some of the best players in college basketball. Andrew Wiggins, Josh Jackson, Ben McLemore and Joel Embiid were some of the latest Jayhawks to spend one year in Lawrence before becoming high lottery picks.
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The next guy in that storied lineage is five-star guard Bryce Thompson, the 29th best player in the ESPN 100 for 2020. Thompson, who is also Kansas basketball’s highest-rated recruit, draws rave reviews for his ability to put the ball in the basket.
Playing for the Jayhawks is going to give Thompson the opportunity to follow the path of those previous one-and-done players to launch straight into the NBA. It remains to be seen if Thompson can reach the heights those guys did, making him a big question mark for the Jayhawks in 2020.
Given his pedigree, there is no doubt that Thompson will be productive, but to what degree will influence their odds significantly. If Thompson takes off like Wiggins or McLemore to be a Big 12 Player of the Year candidate it will significantly bolster the Jayhawks’ scoring punch.
There is risk involved with any recruit, however, as it may take a year or more for things to click at the college level. Figuring out how quickly Thompson can be one of the leading scorers and will be a huge key for the 2020 Jayhawks.