Kansas basketball can’t afford to lose this 5-star recruit in 2021

Who is the can’t miss 5-star recruit Kansas basketball needs in 2021?

Kansas basketball recruiting hasn’t been entirely dependant on the flashy one-and-done five-star recruit in recent years like Duke, Kentucky and other NCAA basketball blue bloods and it hasn’t hurt their success.

The Jayhawks had the No. 15 recruiting class last year and were the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament before the season was canceled due to the coronavirus. Kansas did have the No. 5 class in 2018 that included Devon Dotson and former Jayhawk Quentin Grimes.

Bill Self signed the No. 19 recruiting class for 2020 and has the No. 18 class, according to the 247Sports Team Rankings. This is based on the lone commit thus far coming from four-star power forward Zach Clemence from Sunrise Christian in Wichita, Kansas. Self and Kansas basketball fans are hoping to see the 2021 recruiting class resemble one more like the 2018 class that finished in the top-five.

For the Jayhawks to get back to the Final Four and competing for a national championship, Kansas basketball can’t afford to let this five-star recruit get away.

Kansas basketball can’t let Kendall Brown leave the state.

The one five-star recruit that Kansas basketball recruiting efforts should be fixated on until locking up his verbal commitment is Clemence’s high school teammate, Kendall Brown.

A 6-foot-8, 205-pound small forward, Brown is the nation’s No. 14 recruit, No. 5 small forward and the top recruit in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Though Brown is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Kansas has to keep the top recruits in the state when possible and when it’s a five-star recruit like Brown, it’s of the highest priority to make sure he dons a Jayhawks uniform.

Adding the early commitment from Clemence bodes well for the two prep teammates to continue playing together in college. It doesn’t mean it’s a guarantee, however, but Kansas has the home-state advantage, high school teammate connection and would be able to guarantee him a starting job as a freshman at a program with national title aspirations and expectations.

Brown not going to Kansas would be a tremendous upset.

With the ability to slash to the rim and finish near the bucket and an ability to handle some point-forward duties and defend multiple positions, Brown could be a valuable player wherever he plays in college.

Jayhawks fans hope to see him in a Kansas basketball uniform.

Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Iowa State and Texas A&M are among the teams with scholarship offers on the table but expect those offers to soar over the next few months. Brown will have a number of attractive options for him to continue his basketball career and get him closer to his dream of playing in the NBA.

Kansas basketball may give him the best chance at that.

For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.