Who Could Join Ochai Agbaji in the Allen Fieldhouse Rafters: 2022 Players

We know Agbaji will have his KU jersey retired, but could other members of the national champion Jayhawks be in line for a similar honor?

In the first part of this two-part series, we looked at the Jayhawks from the past decade who could find their jerseys retired in the near future. Now, it's time to look at which national champions could also make it to this coveted and exclusive spot. 

National titles already cement players' legacies within the program. And in 2008, that led to additions in the rafters. Four members of the 2008 title team are now forever memorialized: two that were seniors on that squad (Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers) and two that still played afterward (Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich).

One is a lock. Others are up for debate or too early to tell. But it's the offseason and we're still basking in the glow of title glory, so let's get into it. 

Ochai Agbaji

© Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Career: 1,652 points, 537 rebounds, 200 assists, 117 steals

Accolades: Consensus First-Team All-American, NCAA Tournament MOP, Big 12 POY, Big 12 Tournament MVP

This is a foregone conclusion and deservedly so. Agbaji was a national player of the year finalist and one of the most accomplished Jayhawks over the course of a single season. And it capped off one of the great transformation and growth stories in an era where going from redshirt to first team All-American are few and far between.

David McCormack

© Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Career: 1,145 points, 681 rebounds, 100 assists, 88 blocks

Accolades: NCAA All-Tournament Team, Big 12 MIP, All-Big 12 x2

They may have started as jokes, but the more time passed after the national championship game, the more fans wondered if McCormack belonged in the rafters. The numbers likely don’t quite support it. But that’s ok, because McCormack will be a memorialized hero in Lawrence for the rest of his life for his performance in the Final Four.

While those two are the only ones who likely have a case RIGHT NOW, who else from the 2022 team are on pace to have the numbers to reach this status in a few years, should they stick around?

Christian Braun

© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Career (so far): 1,018 points, 506 rebounds, 183 assists, 97 steals, 53 blocks

Braun took a big jump in production as a junior (14.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg from 9.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg) and is a late-first-round projection. But if he returns, Braun could be in line for an Agbaji-like jump. If he takes another jump in scoring to 17 ppg and 7 rpg in 35 games next year, he would end his career with roughly 1,600 career points and 750 rebounds and would be in line for Big 12 Player of the Year and All-American honors.

Jalen Wilson

© Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Career (so far): 752 points, 505 rebounds, 125 assists, 45 steals

Wilson has two years of eligibility left. And while it seems unlikely that he would stay in college that long (he’s currently testing the NBA waters again), NIL makes it more feasible than it would have been a few years ago. Wilson has been consistent in his two years and established himself as an excellent rebounder. Hitting the ground running as a redshirt freshman (11.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg) means that from a sheer volume perspective, he has the chance to rack up solid numbers.

Then, the question is whether you think there is a Cole Aldrich of the 2022 team. Aldrich averaged 2.8 points and three rebounds on his way to a title as a freshman before dominating the next two years. It’s a little early to tell if Zach Clemence or KJ Adams can be that.

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