One prep decision and one transfer visitor highlight busy Monday for Kansas basketball

By Matt Tait     Apr 22, 2019

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Stephen F. Austin forward TJ Holyfield (22) and Texas Tech forward Norense Odiase (32) battle for a rebound during the first half of a first-round game at the NCAA college basketball tournament in Dallas, Thursday, March 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

In a matter of hours, Class of 2019 shooting guard Cassius Stanley will make his decision official by announcing his pick from finalists KU, Oregon, UCLA and Duke around 2:30 p.m. central time.

Many recruiting analysts have Stanley headed to Duke, the last of the four programs to get in on the ultra-athletic shooting guard from North Hollywood, Calif.

While the Jayhawks wait for the official word, a player with a far lower profile but possibly even more importance will be on KU’s campus conducting an official visit and exploring the idea of joining KU’s roster in a few months.

His name is T.J. Holyfield. He’s a 6-foot-8, 215-pound graduate transfer from Stephen F. Austin. And while there’s no known time table for Holyfield’s announcement or decision, it’s possible that his visit could be among the more important events to take place on the recruiting trail during the next several weeks for a Kansas program looking to restock its roster.

Coming off a shoulder injury that cost him the 2018-19 season before it began and allowed him to become a graduate transfer in the first place, Holyfield represents the kind of size and experience that Kansas could need up front if Dedric Lawson stays in the NBA draft — as expected — and neither Silvio De Sousa (appeal) and Udoka Azubuike (uncertain future) are around to help Mitch Lightfoot and David McCormack hold things down in the post.

During the 2017-18 season, when he helped lead the Lumberjacks to the NCAA Tournament, Holyfield averaged 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while chipping in with an assist here, a block there and steal or two somewhere else just about every game.

Beyond those numbers, Holyfield flashed the type of versatility and consistency that fits well with today’s evolving game, shooting 55 percent from the floor and 41 percent from 3-point range (28 of 68) while also knocking down 75 percent of his free throw attempts.

Kansas is far from alone in its pursuit of Holyfield, the type of player who would receive automatic playing time and fit well into just about any roster for the 2019-20 season.

Holyfield visited Texas Tech over the weekend — a program that made it all the way to the national title game last season with two grad transfers (Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens) playing major roles — and, before that visit, the smooth forward told Jarett Johnson, of InsideTheRedRaiders.com, that he already had visited Miami (Fla.), as well.

Add Illinois and Oregon to his final five and expect Holyfield to make a decision after official visits to all five finalists have wrapped up.

Originally from Albuquerque, N.M., Holyfield played one prep season for Elev8 Sports Institute in Delray Beach, Fla.

When making his initial decision to attend Stephen F. Austin, Holyfield chose SFA over Southern Miss, Florida Atlantic, Boston College and Pitt.

Holyfield and Stanley — stay in touch with KUsports.com for the latest on his decision later today — are just two of the pieces in what could be a wild few weeks for Kansas recruiting.

The Jayhawks are targeting other grad transfers and still have a few highly ranked prep prospects on their wish list, as well.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.