While many Kansas fans are counting down the days to July 7, when Jayhawks Ochai Agbaji, Jalen Wilson and Remy Martin have to make final decisions about next season, two of their teammates are doing their best to leave the trio alone.
KU big man David McCormack and junior guard Christian Braun insist that they would be in touch with their teammates even if their futures were not hanging in the balance.
“I check in with them to see how they’re doing,” McCormack said Tuesday at Brett Ballard’s Washburn Basketball camp in Topeka. “Not just about basketball, (but) how their psyche is. ‘Are you feeling good? Are you OK?’ The season ended abruptly (and) everybody kind of went their own ways for a break.”
Since the final day of the 2020-21 season back in March, the KU roster has received a pretty healthy makeover — which Martin was a big part of — [McCormack has had offseason foot surgery][1] and Agbaji and Wilson have thrown their names into the NBA draft pool to test their stock.
Just this week, [Agbaji received an invitation to the NBA’s pre-draft combine in Chicago (June 21-27).][2] Wilson, along with former KU guard Marcus Garrett, was invited to the NBA’s G League Elite Camp (June 19-21), which also takes place in Chicago.
How the potential returners perform there, and the feedback they receive about their game, will play a big role in their decisions to stay in the draft or return to Kansas.
And while Braun has no problem saying that he wants both Jayhawks back for the 2021-22 season, he’s looking at the situation through more than just the basketball point of view.
“We don’t talk too much about their future,” Braun said at the WU camp on Tuesday. “I’m excited for both of them; I really am. Whether they take the next step in their career or if they come back and take our team to the next level, I am really excited for them. … We obviously want them to help the team and stuff, but I look at them as my friends first.”
For Braun and Agbaji, that friendship dates back several years to their days in high school. And the former Kansas City-area standouts both had big goals even back then.
“That’s what he’s dreamed of since he was a kid, playing in the NBA,” Braun said of Agbaji. “And I’ve gotten to know Jalen pretty well, too. So seeing them go through that, I’m just super excited for them. Whatever they choose to do, I’m happy for them.”
Asked directly if he has any feel for what Agbaji, Martin or Wilson might do, McCormack said he thought it was still too early in the process to make a prediction.
“I actually haven’t spoken to Remy recently, since after his commitment,” McCormack said. “I think he is enjoying the process now. Jalen and Ochai are seeing what kind of feedback they get to make the right decision for them.”
Having been around the KU program and its adoring fan base for a couple of years now, Braun said he believes Agbaji and Wilson will have the support of more than just their teammates and coaches no matter what they decide in the coming weeks.
“They’re both really good dudes,” Braun said. “Whatever they decide to do, everybody at KU is happy for them and we know they’re going to do great whatever they choose.”
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/jun/15/kansas-forward-david-mccormack-finding-new-ways-ma/
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/jun/15/kansas-guard-ochai-agbaji-receives-invitation-nbas/
