KU basketball signee Billy Preston is an ‘amazing artist,’ mom says

Billy Preston is the latest Kansas basketball signee to possess talents that extend off the court.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward with guard skills from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., who Friday announced for KU over Indiana, USC and Syracuse, “loves to dance, sing. He is an amazing artist,” said Preston’s mom, Nicole Player.

“I say ‘amazing’ with just as much emphasis as you can make on ‘amazing.’ He is very talented. One of his favorite classes is creative writing. He’s able to tap into the artistic side of himself, to just become someone else (besides a basketball player). That’s what he enjoys,” Player said.

Preston follows in the footsteps of KU sophomore Carlton Bragg, who is proficient at the piano, and freshman Josh Jackson, who plays the saxophone and also a mean game of chess.

“Flashy? No,” Player said of the style of Los Angeles native Preston, who spent his freshman year at St. John Bosco in Bellflower, Calif., his sophomore year at both Redondo Union in Southern California and Prime Prep in Dallas, and his junior year at Advanced Prep International in Dallas.

“He is the polar opposite of that. He’s the kind of kid who wears basketball shorts in the snow. He is far from flashy. He’s humble, laid back, a guy of few words. He lives by the mantra actions speak louder than words,” Player said.

As far as how long Preston, the No. 8-rated player nationally by Rivals.com, will elect to stay in school before entering the NBA Draft … well, Player has no idea.

“You know what? I’m not sure. Whatever is in God’s plan is what I’m following,” she said.

Preston pleased with choice

Preston on Saturday wrote on Twitter, “Good day to wake up and be a Jayhawk.” He also wrote, “All my Jayhawk fans, can we get @TheTraeYoung to come to KU as well? Let him know.”

Young, a 6-2 senior guard from Norman (Okla.) North, who is considering KU, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, retweeted the post.

Self on Preston

KU coach Bill Self was asked if Preston would remind fans of “Marcus Morris as a freshman.”

“He’ll be better than Marcus as a freshman. He’s three inches taller, two inches at least and probably 20 pounds (heavier than Morris of the Detroit Pistons who is now listed 6-9, 235).

“He’s really big,” Self added of Preston. “He can handle it like a guard. He can do a lot of things. Next to Jo (Embiid), he is probably as talented a big guy as we’ve had coming in. He’s really a talented guy.”

Self on recruiting

KU has filled two of three available scholarships in the Class of 2017. The Jayhawks have signed Preston and Marcus Garrett, a 6-foot-5 senior combo guard from Dallas Skyline High. Garrett chose KU over Baylor, Texas, Connecticut and Oklahoma State. KU has one scholarship left to give, more if any non-seniors turn pro.

“I would say it means we held serve,” Self said of how the Jayhawks fared in recruiting during the early signing period. “We’ve got to get a couple of guards still. If we can get a couple guards, the right guard, I’d feel really good about everything.”

KU is still in the hunt for No. 14-rated Young and No. 3 Trevon Duval, a 6-2 senior from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., who is ranked No. 3 nationally.　

Jayhawks sport ‘honor’ uniforms

The Jayhawks wore the same jerseys during Friday’s 86-65 victory over Siena that they wore in an overtime loss to Indiana at the Armed Forces Classic in Hawaii. “Honor” was on the back of the jersey instead of the player’s last name.

“That was something mentioned to me three months ago. Naturally I was excited to see us wearing something we just lost in,” Self said, smiling. “That went over real well. It was fine.”

The Jayhawks honored various military members during the game on “Salute to Service Night.”

This story was originally published November 19, 2016 at 3:45 PM with the headline "KU basketball signee Billy Preston is an ‘amazing artist,’ mom says."