J.R. Giddens, a 6-5 guard from Oklahoma City’s John Marshall High, officially signed with KU on Tuesday at a ceremony at the Marshall High school library. It was a joint ceremony, as Adam Liberty, a 6-3 guard, signed with Wichita State.
Giddens averaged 25.0 points and 7.2 boards a game his junior season. He had orally committed to KU in April.
“J.R. was elated to finally sign. He was so happy to finally be a Jayhawk,” Giddens’ mom, Dianna, said, noting several relatives and friends attended, plus the entire Marshall hoops team and some media members.
Mike Sullivan of rivalshoops.com ranks KU’s class of Giddens, Jeremy Case, David Padgett and Omar Wilkes the No. 11 class in the U.S. behind Oklahoma, Arkansas, Maryland, Duke, Pitt, Michigan State, Arizona, LSU, Syracuse and DePaul. Giddens is Sullivan’s No. 37-rated player.
“J.R. is an athletic youngster with great enthusiasm,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “He talks more than anybody I’ve seen. He has a big-time flair for the game, runner, jumper with great athleticism.”
