Kansas Basketball Recruiting: KU adds 5-star PF Billy Preston

Billy Preston, all 6’9” and 220 lbs of him, has committed to Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks.

A consensus top-20 recruit, Preston chose KU over other finalists Syracuse, Indiana, and USC.

Eligibility may be a concern for Preston, as he is on his fifth school in five years. He is finishing his prep career at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.

Preston commented that his familiarity with Kansas and the coaches was a big selling point. Per the LJW:

“Coach (Bill) Self and Coach (Kurtis) Townsend are both great coaches,” Preston told HoopPhenomReport.com recently. “I couldn’t say anything bad about them because they have been recruiting since my 8th grade year. All through adversity, they still stayed with me through the process and the coaches want me to come there and play my game.”

Preston is only the second player for the 2017-18 class to commit to Kansas, joining PG Marcus Garrett.

Bill Self could have to replace as many as three guards (Mason, Graham, Svi) and three forwards next year (Lucas, Bragg, Jackson). KU is still in the hunt for several other top players, including point guards Trae Young, Trevon Duval, and Matt Coleman, shooting guards Hamidou Diallo and MJ Walker, and SF Jared Vanderbilt.

Enjoy some Billy Preston highlights!