LaGerald Vick reclassifies, will join Kansas recruiting class for 2015
Kansas landed one of the top uncommitted prospects entering the spring signing period when Cheick Diallo picked the Jayhawks over Kentucky, St. John’s and a host of other schools in April. More than a month later, Kansas announced the addition of another highly regarded prospect for the upcoming season.
LaGerald Vick signed a grant-in-aid agreement after electing to reclassify from 2016 to 2015. That decision effectively reverses a move Vick planned to make when he committed to Southern Methodist last October. The 6’5’’ shooting guard decommitted from the Mustangs last month and began receiving interest from a number of high-profile programs.
Vick committed to Kansas after a visit to Lawrence in May, but it remained unclear whether he would join the program this season or in advance of the 2016-17 season after attending prep school for a year.
The Memphis, Tenn., native is highly regarded because of his athleticism, shooting and slashing ability. A four-star prospect according to Rivals.com, Vick has averaged 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range over 12 games with Team Thad on the Under Armour Association circuit this year.
"LaGerald is a terrific athlete that is going to become a terrific basketball player," Kansas coach Bill Self said in a news release. "He's got great size for a guard and has tremendous quickness and explosiveness for his size. We think he can be a guy that can get his own shot but also force a lot of help by driving the ball and could be an elite defender in time."
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The signing of Diallo set up Kansas to feature one of the top frontcourt in the country next season. Vick, meanwhile, upgrades a perimeter group that brings back rising sophomore Devonte’ Graham and rising junior Frank Mason, who project as the Jayhawks’ primary point guards; and rising juniors Brannen Greene and Wayne Selden Jr. and rising sophomore Svi Mykhailiuk, all of whom should log minutes off the ball.
Vick should benefit from Kansas' participation at the World University Games this summer. He'll have ample time to develop on-court chemistry with his new teammates, as neither Greene, who is recovering from hip surgery, nor Mykhailiuk, who is ineligible because he hails from Ukraine, will be able to play.
In addition to Vick and Diallo, Kansas will welcome in Carlton Bragg, a five-star power forward who attends Villa Angela St Joseph (Ohio) High, as part of its 2015 recruiting class.
