Although Billy Preston’s college basketball career has not even started yet, you’d never know it from listening to the 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward talk about his future school.
[In Chicago this week for the McDonald’s All-American Game,][1] the No. 8 player in the country, according to Rivals.com, has talked a lot about coming to Kansas, a program with which Preston signed during the early signing period back in November.
Judging from him filling Twitter with Tweets about his future team and talking in interviews about the Jayhawks, their 2016-17 season or run through the recent NCAA Tournament, it’s clear that, at least in his mind, Preston is already a Jayhawk.
During a recent interview in Chicago with Rivals.com’s Krysten Peek, Preston talked about the McDonald’s game, his time at Oak Hill Academy and, of course, the recent loss by Kansas in the Elite Eight.
In his answers to the questions about KU, which covered just 62 seconds, Preston used some form of the words “we” “us” or “our” 13 different times.
That wasn’t the only indication that he’s all-in with the Jayhawks. While in Chicago, Preston has both soaked up the experience and operated as a de facto recruiter for the Jayhawks with some of the players in the game who remain undecided, including point guard Trevon Duval, ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2017 by Rivals.com, and Brian “Tugs” Bowen, a 6-7, 195-pound forward ranked No. 19 on Rivals’ list.
“Definitely. I’m definitely recruiting,” Preston told Peek. “Brian, Tugs, he told me he doesn’t even have Kansas on his list, but it’s never too late to try. He’s definitely a player I’d like to play with, as well as Tre Duval. I’ve definitely been in both of their ears, both of their heads, trying to pick their brain, see where they’re at. I’ve definitely being doing some McDonald’s All-American recruiting for sure.”
While that may continue throughout the day, the main event is set for 6 p.m. tonight on ESPN from United Center.
Check out the complete Billy Preston interview below and be sure to check in with KUsports.com tonight and Thursday for more from Preston and this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game.
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2017/mar/28/versatile-billy-preston-gearing-mcdonalds-all-amer/
