Kansas point guard Dajuan Harris named one of top college seniors by national analyst
Now in his fifth year at Kansas, Dajuan Harris is starting to be recognized as one of the top men’s basketball players not only in the Big 12 Conference, but the entire country.
Harris, an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick the past two postseasons and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23, was named first-team preseason all-league by the conference coaches on Oct. 12.
The 6-foot-2 Columbia, Missouri native was one of 20 players included on the 2023-24 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year watch list on Monday. The only other Big 12 players on the list were Houston’s Jamal Shead and Texas’ Max Abmas.
And on Tuesday, Andy Katz of NCAA.com deemed Harris the fifth-best “true senior” in college basketball. Harris is listed as a redshirt junior on the KU roster because he has a year of eligibility remaining in 2024-25. Katz listed him as a senior because this is his fourth year playing in actual college games.
Katz listed Purdue big man Zach Edey the No. 1 senior in the country, followed by KU center Hunter Dickinson, Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek, Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner and KU’s Harris.
Ranked 6 through 10: Houston guard LJ Cryer, Alabama forward Grant Nelson, Virginia guard Reece Beekman, Colorado forward Tristan da Silva and Michigan State guard A.J. Hoggard.
Asked what he thought about being named first-team preseason all-league, Harris, who redshirted in 2019-20, said recently: “I think I deserved it. I think I proved it, but that’s just an award. You never know what will happen during the season. I’ve got to keep getting better, make sure that was the right choice for them to pick me.”
Harris said his goal is “just getting better, getting consistent with my 3-point shot, just shooting the ball more. Now I really have the keys to the team. I can do whatever I want with the ball.”
Also receiving preseason acclaim was KU senior Kevin McCullar, who on Tuesday was named one of 20 players on the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year watch list.
Other Big 12 players on the West watch list: Cryer and Ja’Kobe Walter of Baylor.
Kansas has 12 players on NBA rosters
McCullar and Harris join a group of KU players that will hope to carve out NBA careers in their post-college days. McCullar in particular tested the NBA Draft waters this summer before returning to KU.
Meanwhile, KU begins the 2023-24 NBA season — which began on Tuesday — with 12 former Jayhawk players on NBA rosters, fourth most of any college.
Kentucky leads the way with 26 players on NBA teams, followed by Duke (24), UCLA (15), KU (12), Michigan (11), Gonzaga (11), Arkansas (10), Arizona (10), Texas (10) and Villanova (10).
The 12 Jayhawks on opening day rosters: Ochai Agbaji, Utah Jazz; Udoka Azubuike, Phoenix Suns; Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets; Gradey Dick, Toronto Raptors; Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers; Devonté Graham, San Antonio Spurs; Marcus Morris, Los Angeles Clippers; Markieff Morris, Dallas Mavericks; Svi Mykhailiuk, Boston Celtics; Kelly Oubre, Philadelphia 76ers; Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors and Jalen Wilson, Brooklyn Nets.
