[After committing to KU in mid-July][1] and working tirelessly on his academics since then, Dajuan Harris got some good news this week.
The freshman point guard from Columbia, Mo., has completed the necessary classes for admission into KU and is expected to arrive on campus today.
A source with knowledge of Harris’ summer class load said the work he did this summer to clear the way for the move to KU was as demanding as anything he’ll face during any of his college semesters.
Harris, a 6-foot-1, 160-pound pass-first point who made a name for himself this summer with MOKAN Elite, told the Journal-World in a text message that he was heading to KU today so he could start classes Friday.
The plan for Harris, who had previously committed to Missouri State before receiving a release to reopen his recruitment in May, is to redshirt the 2019-20 season and have four years of eligibility remaining starting next year.
“We are very excited to have Dajuan,” KU coach Bill Self said in a Thursday afternoon news release announcing Harris’ addition. “He’s going to be in a limited capacity and this will give him the opportunities to focus on books, focus on getting stronger and put himself in the position to be a contributor right off the bat next year.”
With many expecting current KU point guard Devon Dotson to turn pro after his sophomore season, the timing of that plan could work out perfectly for both KU and Harris.
“Dajuan is a true point guard,” Self said. “His understanding and feel for the game would rival some of the better point guards we’ve had since we’ve been here.”
This is not the first time something like this has happened at KU. Back in 2011-12, when Ben McLemore and Jamari Traylor were freshmen, both were declared partial qualifiers before the start of the season and therefore were ineligible to play until the 2012-13 season.
Harris’ road has been a lot clearer from the time he committed through today, but the beginning of his KU career will follow a similar path as the one McLemore and Traylor walked.
Harris, who recently became a four-star prospect ranked No. 83 overall in the 2020 class by Rivals.com, told the Journal-World he will wear No. 3 with the Jayhawks.
Harris is the fifth freshman to join KU’s 2019 recruiting class (where he fit in naturally before exploring the idea of reclassifying into 2020 to attend prep school before receiving the KU offer) and the sixth newcomer to join the Jayhawks this offseason. He joins senior graduate transfer Isaiah Moss (Iowa) and a freshman class that includes Christian Braun, Issac McBride, Tristan Enaruna and Jalen Wilson.
Once Harris arrives in Lawrence, all 13 scholarship players on the 2019-20 roster will be in town working on preseason conditioning in preparation for the start of KU’s annual boot camp, which is scheduled to start Sept. 9.
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/tale-tait/2019/jul/16/point-guard-dajuan-harris-commits-to-kan/
