At this point in the recruiting game, with the 2017 class preparing to finish out high school and report to its chosen schools in just over a month, most of the focus is on the Class of 2018 and getting things lined up to make a run at the next crop of top talent.
There are, as always, a few in the Class of 2017 who remain undecided and none are bigger than 5-star point guard Trevon Duval, who has been on the Kansas radar for a long time and has pulled KU fans — as well as those at finalists Arizona, Baylor, Duke and Seton Hall — through weeks of waiting and wondering.
Duval, who is ranked as the No. 4 overall player in the class by Rivals.com, initially said he would like to commit and sign sometime in April. But it’s May. And he’s still undecided. Or, perhaps more likely, if he has decided he has yet to make that decision public.
That all may be changing soon, though — perhaps as soon as any day this week.
Over the weekend, Duval told Jason Jordan of USA Today that he was close to ending the madness and announcing his decision.
“I’m ready to get it over with. I’m gonna do it soon,” Duval told Jordan.
Soon, of course, is a relative thing and Duval technically has until the end of the spring signing period on May 17. But something about this latest batch of news sure makes it sound like Duval is ready to make his decision known.
From the sound of things, I don’t think the Jayhawks are expecting Duval to pick KU. There’s no doubt that they’d love to have him and, if he does want to play for Kansas, there’s also no doubt that they’d make it a priority to find him a spot.
The idea of pairing Duval with Devonte’ Graham and Malik Newman in KU’s backcourt remains awfully appealing.
Right now, though, with junior Svi Mykhailiuk preparing to go through the NBA combine May 9-14 in Chicago, the Jayhawks are in flux. If Mykhailiuk stays in the draft, Kansas would have one more scholarship to give before the 2017-18 season. If Svi elects to return for his senior season, Kansas is full.
There are always ways around this situation, particularly for a player of Duval’s caliber. But all indications right now are that Duke is the definite leader for Duval and Kansas won’t have to make any moves any time soon.
If Svi does decide to leave early, look for Kansas to use his scholarship on another big man, unless of course Duval decides that Lawrence is the place for him and then it’s an easy decision.
The waiting continues for now, but, at least today there does actually appear to be an end in sight.
No. 1 PG Trevon Duval on his impending decision: “I’m ready to get it over with. I’m gonna do it soon.” Duval’s Blog coming soon…
— Jason Jordan (@JasonNCJordan) April 27, 2017
