Transfer target Mike Thorne Jr. sets visit to Kansas

Kansas coach Bill Self is ramping up the pursuit of Charlotte center Mike Thorne Jr., one of the top graduate-transfer targets in the country.

Self, who previously visited Thorne Jr. in North Carolina, made a trip to visit Thorne’s parents earlier this week. Now Thorne says he will visit the KU campus in early May, according to 24/7 Sports.

If nothing else, it appears that Kansas’ interest in Thorne is very real.

The visit is set for May 1, Thorne told 24/7. But it could come earlier if his schedule allows. Thorne, who has spent four years at Charlotte, is set to graduate in early May and will be able to play right away under the NCAA’s graduate-transfer waiver.

Thorne is also set to visit Illinois on April 17-18, according to 24/7 Sports.

The Jayhawks currently have one open scholarship, but that number figures to change in the coming weeks. If freshmen Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander choose to enter the NBA Draft, the Jayhawks’ staff will have more flexibility as it pieces together its 2015 recruiting class. There is also always the possibility of a transfer or other roster defection.

Kansas is still targeting a collection of top high school prospects in the 2015 class, including New York big man Cheick Diallo and Mississippi combo guard Malik Newman.

This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 12:37 PM with the headline "Transfer target Mike Thorne Jr. sets visit to Kansas."