Kansas University freshman J.R. Giddens has soared for dunks off alley-oop passes. He has swished jumpers from beyond the three-point line.
The slender 6-foot-5 guard from Oklahoma City, who also has shown the ability to ice the pull-up jumper, has shown flashes of excellence from all angles on offense early in his freshman season.
He has done enough so far — averaging 10.6 points and four rebounds a game — to impress coach Bill Self.
“He has a chance to be one of the best guys I’ve ever coached … in time,” said Self, stressing the words “chance” and “in time.”
“I have coached freshmen more prepared to play,” Self added Sunday, “but have only coached one player as athletically gifted as J.R., and that’s (former Oklahoma State player) Richard Dumas.
“J.R. has a very bright future, but is still a long way from being a complete player. If he stays hungry and coachable and puts in the work, he has all the gifts to allow him to be very good.”
The next opportunity for Giddens to impress is Wednesday’s Big 12 Conference battle against Kansas State. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
Giddens, who is the first to admit he needs a lot of fine-tuning, especially on defense, is humbled by his coach’s comments.
“I think that’s a big honor. I appreciate him saying that,” Giddens said of potentially one day passing Brian Cook, Frank Williams, Cory Bradford and Robert Archibald — among others — to be considered Self’s finest player. “I will keep working so hopefully that can come true.”
Giddens averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds last year for state champion John Marshall High. This year, he has made 44 of 92 shots (47.8 percent). He cashed a team-leading 19 three-pointers in 56 tries (33.9 percent).
“J.R. still does some things hopefully he won’t do in year two, year three or even later on this season because he is so young,” Self said. “I thought he did a good job of stepping up the first time on the road in the Big 12 against Colorado.”
Giddens hit six of 10 shots, including three of six three-pointers, in KU’s 77-62 victory over the Buffaloes.
“I think when guys are taking away his initial shot, he’s driving past people better,” Self said. “It is really positive to see that, but the strength of his game is still shooting off the catch. His defense is getting better. He probably gave up six to eight points the last game due to breakdowns on defensive transition and not jumping to the ball or having his head turned. He still has a ways to go, but has improved in that area. He’s learning every day.”
In fact, Giddens likes to say he’s a “sponge,” soaking up knowledge.
“Coaches are helping me every day,” Giddens said. “Every day I’ve got something I can improve on. Even though I know I’m going to get yelled at or run a couple sprints, I’m trying to be the best, as well. Every night in the Big 12 is going to be tough ballgame. It’s something I’m ready for.”
Giddens is outgoing in his dealings with the media, but doesn’t do a lot of talking about himself, more about the team, which is 9-2 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play heading into the game against K-State (8-3, 0-0).
“We’re a hungry ballclub,” Giddens said. “They’ve got us rated in the top 15. I think we’re a better team than that. We’ve got stuff to prove. We’re going to go out every night and try to take it to people.”
Not exactly bulletin board material for opponents.
“I think J.R. has toned down quite a bit,” Self said of the player’s personality with the press. “He’s very vocal and will be a media favorite. He will give you a good quote every now and then. I think he has really matured a lot. His energy and how animated he is are his biggest pluses. I love that. I would much rather coach a guy with energy than a guy that you have to prod all the time. He has always taken coaching well. He’s tough and competitive.”
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Recruiting: Joe Krabbenhoft, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound high school junior guard/forward from Sioux Falls, S.D., who has been out all season with a stress fracture in his foot, might return to action this week. Krabbenhoft, who has made an unofficial visit to KU, has narrowed his list to KU, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Notre Dame.
“Wisconsin and Minnesota want me to give them a commitment, but I am not prepared to do that yet,” Krabbenhoft told Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com, realizing Self needs to see him play before possibly offering a scholarship.
“If Kansas likes what they see after watching me play, and if they want me as bad as Wisconsin and Minnesota, I will probably give them a commitment if they want me to.”
Self Sunday went to New York to watch 6-1 signee Russell Robinson, who plays for New York City’s Rice High.
