KU freshman Gradey Dick discovers, saves note left by a former Jayhawk on move-in day

Lawrence

Kansas freshman guard Gradey Dick found a present within the high drawer of an in any other case empty cupboard subsequent to the closet in his new McCarthy Corridor condominium bed room throughout his 2022 KU summer season college move-in day on Saturday.

“Ochai left a notice,” Dick, the 6-foot-7 Gatorade nationwide participant of the 12 months out of Dawn Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, mentioned as he glanced at a message on the again of Ochai Agbaji’s Picket Award finalist card.

The notice was left behind on goal by former KU guard/present NBA lottery prospect Agbaji.

Agbaji, a first-team All-American, Massive 12 participant of the 12 months, MVP of the Ultimate 4 and chief of KU’s 2022 nationwide title staff, resided in that very same condominium room throughout the 2021-22 college 12 months.

“It says, ‘Whoever takes over this room be nice,’” Wichita native Dick added, smiling and nodding as he learn the cardboard to his mother, Carmen, and pop, Bart.

The second was captured on Kansas Men’s Basketball Twitter account.

“That’s loopy … motivation,” Dick mentioned, inserting the cardboard again within the drawer to learn within the occasion he wants any inspiration throughout his freshman season at KU.

Dick’s mother gave her son a hug after Dick learn aloud Agbaji’s message on the cardboard.

“(It) made my mother cry,” Dick mentioned with a smile.

It wasn’t all critical stuff on move-in day for Dick as well as fellow KU scholarship freshman Ernest Udeh, a 6-10 ahead from Dr. Phillips Excessive in Orlando, Florida and most well-liked walk-on Wilder Evers, a 6-3 guard from Oak Mountain Excessive Faculty in Birmingham, Alabama.

Scholarship freshmen MJ Rice and Zuby Ejiofor, who’re awaiting their commencement ceremonies, haven’t but arrived for Tuesday’s begin of summer season college on the KU campus. Ejiofor, 6-8 ahead from Garland (Texas) Excessive Faculty, is about to reach June 11; Rice, 6-5 guard out of Prolific Prep in California, on June 10.

KU assistant coach Jeremy Case, glancing at Dick’s garments on a desk, picked up a colourful Hawaiian shirt and mentioned to Dick: “Can I borrow this? The place’d you get this? I believe I need to get me one.”

Dick responded that he “acquired it on the Islands,” and identified he had a couple of to put on throughout the 2022-23 college 12 months.

In the meantime, Udeh additionally unpacked simply a few of his belongings in his new bed room at McCarthy Corridor as captured on the Kansas Men’s Basketball Twitter Account.

“One in all my baggage acquired left on the airport so it’s coming tonight. Thank God I didn’t put in all probability probably the most priceless factor in that different bag, PlayStation in fact,” Udeh mentioned jokingly in KU’s Twitter video.

“One of many requirements, nonetheless wrapped,” Udeh added, eradicating his PlayStation from a bag. “Laptop computer in fact,” he continued, taking his pc laptop computer out of his baggage.

Udeh says he’s joyful to be in Lawrence.

“A lot of the camps and AAU occasions I’ve been to in my life, you at all times get these butterflies. There’s no butterflies in any respect. I’m simply utterly joyful to be right here. Subsequent step in my life, so I’m glad,” Udeh mentioned.

Udeh took to Twitter to ask KU followers: “Hey Lawrence, the place ought to I’ve my first dinner? RockChalk.”

Incoming freshman class at KU

Right here’s a fast take a look at how members of KU’s incoming freshman class fared throughout the 2021-22 college 12 months.

• Gradey Dick: McDonald’s All-American averaged 18.3 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per sport for Dawn Christian Academy.
• Ernest Udeh: McDonald’s All-American averaged 13.2 factors, 9.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks at Dr. Phillips Excessive.
• Wilder Evers: Averaged 11.8 factors, 4.3 rebounds and three.0 assists per sport for Oak Mountain Excessive.
• MJ Rice: McDonald’s All-American averaged 17.1 factors, 8.1 rebounds for Prolific Prep.
• Zuby Ejiofor: Averaged 22.0 factors, 13.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, 2.0 steals for Garland Excessive.
• Dick Vitale ranks Jayhawks No.. 8 in nation

Kansas is ranked No. 8 within the nation in Dick Vitale’s newest “dazzling dozen” ballot upfront of the 2022-23 season.

Vitale put out his rankings Friday in recognition of the June 1 deadline for gamers to withdraw from the June 23 NBA Draft in the event that they want to proceed their faculty careers.

Of the Jayhawks, Vitale wrote: “The Jayhawks acquired an enormous increase when Jalen Wilson pulled out of the NBA Draft to return to Lawrence. KU reduce down the nets and would like to go back-to-back. Whereas Kansas loses lots (Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack), coach Invoice Self has expertise coming in. Forwards Gradey Dick and MJ Rice are high 20 prospects. Heart Ernest Udeh isn’t far behind. Dajuan Harris will be extra productive. You already know Self will add extra expertise by means of the switch portal.”

KU at present has a full roster of 13 scholarship gamers following the choice of Wilson and Texas Tech switch Kevin McCullar to exit the NBA Draft and play faculty basketball in 2022-23.

North Carolina is No, 1 in Vitale’s High 12 adopted by Kentucky, Arkansas, Houston, Gonzaga, Creighton, Duke, KU, UCLA, Texas, Baylor and Villanova.

This story was initially printed June 4, 2022 8:18 PM.