Kansas Jayhawks offer men’s basketball scholarship to Brewster Academy power forward
JP Estrella, a 6-foot-11, 210-pound senior-to-be power forward from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, has been offered a men’s basketball scholarship by Kansas, he reported Sunday on Twitter.
“Blessed to receive an offer from Kansas! Thank you to coach (Bill) Self, coach ‘Rob’ (Norm Roberts), and the rest of the staff for this opportunity! #GoJayHawks,” Estrella wrote on social media.
Estrella — he competed over the weekend at the Under Armour Future 60 camp at IMG Academy in Florida — also is reportedly being recruited by Missouri, Duke, Iowa, Illinois, Creighton, Houston, Marquette, UConn, Penn State, Cal, Notre Dame,. Wisconsin, Tennessee and others.
He is ranked No. 65 in the recruiting Class of 2023 by 247sports.com and not ranked at this time by ESPN.com or Rivals.com.
Estrella, who is originally from South Portland, Maine, averaged 20.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.1 blocks a game his junior season at South Portland High.
“The reality is that while Estrella’s rate of improvement has been extremely high in recent months, and even years, he’s still a work in progress. He’s a 6-11 big man who has good hands, IQ, and inside-out skill, but he’s just beginning to build up his body, learn to play through contact, and adjust to a faster and more physical style,” wrote Adam Finkelstein of 247sports.com.
“Nevertheless, on Saturday (at Under Armour event), he put all his tools on display — showing shooting range to the arc, finishing ability inside, a reliable post game, and just the right balance between budding confidence and humility. He even showed some athleticism by jumping over three players (albeit with a little help from the first one’s shoulder) in the dunk contest,” Finkelstein added.
Estrella has grown eight inches in the last two years. He’d never played AAU ball until this spring and summer season.
Chris Johnson wants to visit Kansas
Chris Johnson, a 6-6, 190-pound senior-to-be shooting guard from Montverde (Florida) Academy, is planning on visiting KU, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas and UConn this summer, he told Rivals.com.
He is ranked No. 25 in the recruiting Class of 2023 by ESPN.com, No, 33 by 247sports.com and No. 47 by Rivals.com.
Johnson— he attended Elkins High in Missouri City, Texas last school year, is headed to Montverde Academy for his senior year. Some analysts believe KU and Arkansas are the favorites.
“They (KU coaches) love my game and they’ve really been on me for a long time,” Johnson told Rivals.com. “They’ve really been on me hard since the school year. I really love their coaching staff and how they play together.
“Coach Case (Jeremy, assistant) is a real down-to-earth guy,” Johnson added. “He lets you know what’s real and doesn’t sugar coat anything for you. He’s just cool and easy to talk to.”
Middleton sets two visits
Scotty Middleton, a 6-7, 175-pound senior-to-be forward from Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, will visit Seton Hall and UConn this month, he told Zagsblog.com.
Middleton, who started his high school career at The Patrick School in New Jersey, is down to a list of five: Seton Hall, UConn, Kansas, Ohio State and Texas A&M.
Middleton is ranked No. 19 in the recruiting Class of 2023 by ESPN.com, No. 36 by 247sports.com and No. 96 by Rivals.com.
