The Sporting News 2015-16 college basketball preview yearbook, which hits newsstands next Tuesday, has ranked Kansas University No. 1 in its preseason Top 10.
The magazine Tweeted a picture of the yearbook cover on Tuesday, the Top 10 emblazoned on the front for everyone to see.
KU is followed in the 2015-16 rankings by Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Iowa State, Arizona, Wichita State and Gonzaga.
KU’s Wayne Selden Jr., was named to the magazine’s second-team All-America squad on Monday. He was the only Jayhawk on the top three teams. Wichita State’s Fred Van Vleet was named second team and Ron Baker a first-team All-America. Other first-teamers: Malcolm Brogdon, Nigel Hayes, Georges Niang and Marcus Paige. Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield made third team.
The college basketball preview yearbook (featuring NBA this year) hits newsstands a week from today. pic.twitter.com/WjnXydsrrE
— Sporting News College Basketball (@sn_ncaab) September 15, 2015
He’s No. 10: Bol Bol, a 6-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore forward from Roeland Park’s Bishop Miege High, is officially a Top Ten player in the recruiting Class of 2018, Rivals.com announced Tuesday.
Bol, the son of 7-foot-7 former NBA player Manute Bol (who died in 2010 at the age of 47), checks in at No. 10 in the first ranking of the ’18 class. Bol Bol plays for KC Run GMC’s spring and summer youth program.
“I just really want to become a better player, I’m not focused on college right now. I want to get better,” Bol told Sporting News. “College can wait. The expectations don’t mean much. Getting bigger and stronger and improving my offense and defense is what I’m working on,” added Bol, who has been told to expect a growth spurt.
No other players from the state of Kansas are in the Class of 2018 Top 25 released on Tuesday. The No. 1 player in the class is Marvin Bagley, a 6-10, 210-pound soph forward from Hillcrest Academy in Glendale, Arizona. Bagley averaged 19.6 points and 10.3 rebounds, helping his high school team win its fourth straight Div. I state title last spring.
His grandfather, according to Zagsblog.com, is Jumpin’ Joe Caldwell, a two-time NBA all-star out of Arizona State. Bagley’s dad, Marvin Bagley Jr., is a former Arena Football player out of North Carolina A&T.
“Bagley has unbelievable instincts, length and fast-twitch muscles,” one college assistant coach told Zagsblog.com. “Surefire pro prospect in a few years.”
Shareef O’Neal, a 6-7, 190-pound soph forward from Windward High in Los Angeles, and son of Shaquille O’Neal, is not listed in the inaugural Top 25. Another yet-to-be-ranked son of a former NBA player in the class is Darius Garland, 5-10 soph point guard from Brentwood Academy in Nashville. His dad is Winston Garland.
Ballock No. 37: Eudora High junior guard Mitchell Ballock is ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2017’s updated rankings, Rivals.com’s reported last week.
The 6-foot-4, 175-pounder has received scholarship offers from KU, Indiana, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, UNLV and others.
Wendell Carter, a 6-10 junior forward from Pace Academy in Atlanta, is the No. 1 player in the class. His current list includes KU, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, Stanford, Florida State and Auburn.
“It will probably be sometime next year when I decide,” Carter tells Rivals.com. “I’m going to cut my list down soon, so I won’t be wasting the coaches’ time.”
Self on road: KU coach Bill Self on Tuesday night visited the home of Malik Monk, a 6-4 senior guard from Bentonville (Arkansas) High, who is ranked No. 6 nationally. Monk will visit KU for Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 9. He’s also considering Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, Florida State and Oregon.
Giles update: Kentucky coach John Calipari on Tuesday visited No. 2-rated senior Harry Giles (6-10, 220, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia), Zagsblog.com reports. Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said UNC’s Roy Williams and KU’s Self may visit today. Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Wake Forest’s Danny Manning visited last week.
Giles, who is down to those five schools, has scheduled a visit to KU for the Oct. 9 Late Night in the Phog.
Nooner hired by Terps: Former KU guard Terry Nooner has been hired as assistant women’s basketball coach at Maryland, the Terps’ athletic department has announced. He coached the last two seasons at Alabama.