AJ Storr awarded 17 minutes vs. K-State. Is the Kansas Jayhawks transfer trending up?
After playing 10 minutes or less in three of Kansas’ first five games of the 2024-25 Big 12 Conference season, AJ Storr logged 17 minutes in the Jayhawks’ 84-74 victory over Kansas State on Saturday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
“It definitely felt good to be out there with my team playing the game I love,” Storr, KU’s 6-foot-7, 205-pound transfer guard from the University of Wisconsin said after scoring seven points on 3-of-6 shooting with a rebound and a steal.
“Obviously we have one of our best players out right now. Somebody is going to have to step up and fill those minutes. I’m looking forward to going out there and playing hard every night, going out there and competing,” Storr added.
He was referring to injured senior forward KJ Adams who dislocated his shoulder in Wednesday’s loss at Iowa State. Adams missed Saturday’s game versus K-State and is expected to miss his second straight game Wednesday at TCU. KU coach Bill Self has said Adams’ status will be a “week-to-week” decision.
“Over the next couple games there may be a little bit more opportunity out there on the floor. I’m looking to take advantage of that. I know I will,” Storr stated.
On Saturday against K-State he was 1-for-3 from 3, hit a mid-range shot and flushed a lob dunk off a pass from Dajuan Harris. He did not get to the free throw line.
“I need to get downhill more and definitely shoot some free throws so I can get in rhythm, the flow of the game and be aggressive,” Storr said.
His seven points were the second most he’s scored in a game in Big 12 play. He had 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 15 minutes in KU’s 99-48 win over UCF on Jan. 5 in Florida.
“Any time I am on the court being able to play and making shots, that definitely helps the team,” Storr said.
KU senior center Hunter Dickinson, who scored 25 points on 12-of-19 shooting versus KSU, said a rejuvenated Storr could help his team as the season progresses.
“It was good having AJ out there,” Dickinson said of Storr, who for the year averages 6.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 17 games. Overall he’s started four games and has played 17.7 minutes per contest, 11.8 minutes per contest in Big 12 action.
“I know it’s been up and down for him but he has had such a great attitude through it all. I really commend him for that,” Dickinson added of the Rockford, Illinois native. “It could have been easy for him to jump off the ship early on (while playing much less than last season at Wisconsin). He has stayed with it. Obviously his role is starting to expand with KJ out. He’s had ups and downs like everybody but he played hard and really well today.”
Senior guard Zeke Mayo also complimented Storr after KU improved to 13-4 overall and 4-2 in the league.
“I think many guys can step up in that role (that Adams has filled). One guy that can do it for sure is AJ Storr,” said Mayo, a Lawrence native who hit four 3s and scored 24 points in his first Sunflower Showdown game.
“He is an incredible talent, a big physical guard He can play the 4 as well and stretch the floor. We expect him to continue to come along. He’s been doing great in practice, getting a lot more minutes. He is a natural scorer. I wouldn’t be surprised if his game propels here in the next couple weeks.”
Coach Bill Self said Storr “needs to be a good screener, a good ball mover. He needs to score when opportunities present themselves. He does not need to be a ball-holder and everybody watch play. He is really trying to become more of the things we want him to become. He is getting better at it.”
“He can improve in some areas,” Self continued. “I think the biggest thing is from a defense and rebounding standpoint. Can he be a lockdown defender? Can he play up under a 6-9 guy that he has more quickness and strength? Can he take away the initial shot off the catch and still be strong and quick enough (that his opponent) can’t go by him off the bounce? I think he is more than capable doing all those things. He will play a big role for us.”
Tipoff for KU’s next game, Wednesday at TCU, is 6 p.m. at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
