How Dajuan Harris Jr. is looking to help lead Kansas basketball

LAWRENCE — Dajuan Harris Jr. is dealing with a Kansas basketball locker room that may look totally different from the one he simply received a nationwide championship with.

So many key voices and skills from that title-winning squad are transferring on to skilled careers, like Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot to call a number of. They received’t be donning Jayhawks uniforms as this system appears to defend its championship. And amongst these departures is Christian Braun, somebody who has been shut with Harris for years.

Harris, who hopes to see Braun chosen within the first spherical of the upcoming NBA draft, grew to become used to listening to Braun’s voice across the workforce. They every had their respective place on the roster the previous three seasons below head coach Invoice Self, even beginning the title recreation of the NCAA match collectively towards North Carolina. And as Harris appears to do his half to fill the management openings that naturally come up in conditions like this, he could have to take action with out Braun.

►Kansas basketball coach Invoice Self shares his ideas on defending workforce’s nationwide title

However Harris isn’t misplaced by any means. Harris has been across the program for some time now as a participant. He’s seeking to be one of many Jayhawks’ most vital leaders this season, and definitely could have the assist of these round him as he pursues that objective.

“We had been lucky final yr that we had good upperclassmen that had been good leaders, no query, however … I don’t know what number of occasions I stated this to you guys within the fall and preseason, Dajuan Harris’ workforce received daily,” Self stated. “They all the time received. He has to step up in that space, however he’s been doing it, too. I imply, it’s not like that’s one thing that’s going to be completely new to him.”

►Sharing the courtroom extra usually with Dajuan Harris Jr.? That intrigues Bobby Pettiford Jr.

Self identified that the place Harris goes, Harris wins. That was true in highschool, when Harris received a state championship at Rock Bridge in Missouri. That was true in Harris’ first season as the place to begin guard at Kansas, when the Jayhawks received a nationwide title again in April.

Harris can develop as a vocal chief, however the monitor document for fulfillment is already there. Harris additionally received’t need to do it on their lonesome, with Self mentioning Jalen Wilson and switch Kevin McCullar as two others to take a look at in that space. Self stated that whereas typically a workforce that’s stuffed with alphas can see athletes journey over one another in relation to who’s making an attempt to guide, he doesn’t assume there will likely be any doubt who’s seeking to who on this workforce this upcoming season.

Bobby Pettiford Jr., one other returner, highlighted Wilson, Harris and McCullar as leaders to look at for, too, along with Joseph Yesufu. Pettiford famous whereas Harris could not appear to be he’s main in the identical methods as others publicly, behind closed doorways Harris is dealing with his position. And Pettiford thinks Harris has the potential to be louder, relying on how Harris feels.

“Me and Dajuan have been speaking about it,” stated Pettiford, who additionally considers Harris to be probably the neatest basketball participant he’s competed with. “I don’t know why, final yr, all people gave him a tough time with how he performs. He’s form of laid-back and simply passes. However he’s, like, the center of this workforce. Like, with out Dajuan, I don’t assume we, like, make it as far.”

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As a degree guard, Harris stated the teaching employees has been preaching to him about management on a regular basis. That was true when he was a freshman, and he wasn’t even enjoying. There’s all the time been an effort, to develop his capability to be a frontrunner.

After redshirting the 2019-20 season, Harris began two of 30 appearances in 2020-21 earlier than beginning in 39 of 40 appearances in 2021-22. He’s turn into a stalwart defender, main Kansas in steals this previous season. If his trajectory as a expertise is mirroring that of his capability to guide, that’s a pattern that bodes properly for the Jayhawks transferring ahead.

Harris’ highschool coach at Rock Bridge, Jim Scanlon, stated he noticed Harris develop and mature every year they had been collectively there. Scanlon, who described Harris as having most likely the very best basketball IQ of anybody he is coached, has been so glad to see what Harris has been in a position to accomplish. Watching Harris win a nationwide championship at Kansas, nearly made Scanlon cry.

“I’d by no means had anyone in that place,” stated Scanlon, who thought of Harris a quiet chief in highschool. “I’ve coached a very long time. So, my spouse and I watched the entire match and we watched the semifinal recreation and watched the finals and it was simply actually thrilling for us. I imply, when you could have anyone there, concerned, it’s — you’re taking it a bit of extra critical.”

Jordan Guskey covers College of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.