Kansas basketball: Updated starting lineup predictions for the Jayhawks

Projected Kansas basketball lineup: Tyon Grant-Foster, PF

The second newcomer who should find his way into Kansas’ starting lineup is Tyon Grant-Foster, a junior college transfer. Grant-Foster, a 6-foot-7 wing who spent the past two years at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, was one of the nation’s best JUCO players this season.

After averaging 8.2 points per game as a freshman, Grant-Foster doubled his production last season, averaging 16.5 points per game. Grant-Foster’s length will be a matchup problem for opposing teams and he has demonstrated an ability to score pretty much at will.

Unlike Thompson, Grant-Foster does have some experience playing college basketball, which is a plus. The jump from a lower level school to a Division I powerhouse won’t be easy but Grant-Foster has demonstrated thus far that he is more than up to the challenge.

Kansas was able to land a commitment from Grant-Foster in part due to a longstanding friendship with one of his new teammates, Christian Braun. The pair figure to work in tandem at the four as Kansas can employ more athletic small-ball lineups.

Self will also have fun using Grant-Foster as a swiss army knife on defense due to his ability to guard the one, two and three positions with ease. That kind of versatility combined with scoring potential ensures a spot in the starting five for Grant-Foster.