Kansas transfer Zuby Ejiofor saving visit for Kentucky -- if Oscar Tshiebwe doesn't return

On3 imageby:Jack Pilgrim05/13/23

Kansas transfer big Zuby Ejiofor would like to visit Lexington and plans on doing so — assuming Oscar Tshiebwe keeps his name in the NBA Draft, of course.

Kentucky was among the 40-plus schools to reach out to the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward after he hit the portal back on May 5. The program’s message? If Tshiebwe is out, they want Ejiofor in.

“The coaching staff just called to touch base and to let us know that they will come after Zuby if Oscar doesn’t come back,” a source close to the Kansas transfer told KSR.

Ejiofor currently has four visits scheduled, currently wrapping up a trip to Villanova (May 11-13), followed immediately by St. John’s (May 13-15), then TCU (May 27) and San Diego State (May 28-30).

From there, we’ll know the final move for Tshiebwe — the draft withdrawal deadline is May 31. If the star center keeps his name in the draft (or heads elsewhere via transfer), Ejiofor plans to schedule an official visit to Lexington to see where things stand with the Wildcats.

“(We) will save one for Kentucky,” the source said of the Kansas transfer’s upcoming visit plans. “They said he played great against Kentucky, but unfortunately, he got hurt.”

Ejiofor saw limited playing time against the Wildcats this past season, recording two points and a rebound in four minutes.

Overall, the native of Garland, Texas — home of former Wildcat Tyrese Maxey — averaged 1.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.2 minutes as a freshman in Lawrence. Playing in just 25 total games, he hit the double-figure minute mark four times — 10 vs. Duke, 11 vs. Texas Southern, 12 vs. Indiana and 10 vs. Oklahoma State. He finished with two points, five rebounds and two blocks against the Blue Devils, eight points, two rebounds and a block against the Hoosiers, and four points and three rebounds against the Cowboys.

A consensus four-star prospect out of high school, he was rated as the No. 51 overall prospect and No. 7 power forward in the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. The versatile forward originally chose Kansas over Arkansas, Oklahoma, TCU and Texas, among others.

Should be an interesting couple of weeks.

What do you think, BBN? Is Ejiofor a fit?

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2024-03-28