While many college basketball fans are clearly focused on John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats early on this offseason, as the Cats may be in the midst of securing the best recruiting class in history, Bill Self at Kansas is quietly formulating his very own All-Star incoming class for 2013 as well.
After a down year recruiting wise last season where virtually his entire incoming freshman class was ruled ineligible or forced to redshirt, Self and his staff was able to bring in stud power forward Perry Ellis for the upcoming season. Perry, paired with returning upperclassmen Elijah Johnson, Travis Relaford, and Jeff Withey, should make the Jayhawks at least partial favorites for the 2012 Big 12 crown once again.
But following the upcoming season, the Kansas backcourt was looking rather barren going forward until Self was able to secure PG Connor Frankamp and SG Shannen Green, both Top 100 rated recruits, earlier this Summer.
Adding to next year’s class is the recent commit from Top 10 rated SG Wayne Selden, who by experts’ opinion may have some of the biggest upside of any player in the 2013 class. Selden was in attendence last week at Kansas’ annual “Late Night at the Phog’ festivities and needed only a few days to choose the Jayhawks over Syracuse, Florida, Missouri and UCLA.
Selden originally was in the 2014 Class but reclassified to 2013 earlier this year. His stock rose despite being younger than most others in his class because he outplayed virtually everyone in various tournaments and camps throughout the Summer. Attending the Tilton School in Boston, Massachusetts and starring on the BABC AAU team, Selden was a teammate of University of Kentucky incoming freshman Nerlens Noel.
At 6’5 and nearly 230 lbs, he has outstanding size and athleticism allowing him to drive and finish rather easily over opposing defenders. Scouting reports say he is also a good passer with terrific vision and unselfishness. In addition, his long-range jumper is now a weapon and no longer a weakness. Whether it’s a drive, post up or an offensive rebound, when he gets near the basket, he can physically punish opponents in the mold of Josh Selby or dare I say Dwyane Wade.
Wayne Selden’s 2012 Summer Mixtape:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
