Another member of the Kansas men’s basketball freshman class is leaving the program.
Marcus Adams Jr., a 6-foot-8 wing from Torrance, California, who had reclassified from the class of 2024 in order to join the Jayhawks this season, announced on social media Sunday that he plans to request a release from his letter of intent and leave the program.
“It was a hard decision,” Adams wrote. “I decided it would be best for me mentally and for my family. I will re-open my recruitment as well.”
Adams’ departure follows that of Chris Johnson, a freshman combo guard who decided not to attend KU in early June. That leaves Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell as incoming freshmen for the Jayhawks.
KU is also back down to 10 scholarship players, one of whom — forward Zach Clemence, who decided not to transfer after initially committing to UC Santa Barbara — had been expected to redshirt. The Jayhawks may now need his depth at the forward position, as in terms of scholarship athletes, they otherwise have just Parker Braun coming off the bench.
As part of a self-imposed penalty, the Jayhawks are supposed to be three total scholarships under the cumulative limit of 39 over the next three seasons.
Adams, a four-star recruit, chose Kansas over Syracuse and UCLA. He arrived in Lawrence the second week of June almost immediately after graduating high school, and scored 12 points in the scrimmage at the Bill Self Basketball Camps on June 14.
In a message on his Instagram story Sunday, Adams wrote, “Whatever is next for me God got me I fear none.”
After his own decommitment, Johnson signed with Texas, in his home state. The Longhorns also earned a recent commitment from UCF transfer guard Ithiel Horton, who according to reports had previously been expected to visit KU.
Last month, after the reacquisition of Clemence, KU coach Bill Self had said of the roster, “I think we’re pretty set right now, but I will tell you this: If there’s an opportunity to recruit someone that will make us better, then I’m totally open to that.”