Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - BREAKING: Top-3 Center Davion Adkins COMMITS to KU | Jayhawks, Bill Self Score ANOTHER Top Recruit

Starting point is 00:00:00 This is getting ridiculous. KU.A.N's another commitment in the class of 2026. It's another good one. Davy on Adkins, one of the best centers in the class of 20206. We'll be joining the Jayhawks. You are Locked on Jayhawks, your daily podcast on the Kansas Jayhawks. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What's going on? Derek Johnson here. This is Locked on Jayhawks. A little bonus episode for you as Davyon Adkins is the newest member, newest future member, I guess you would say, of the Kansas Jayhawks. What a week it has been. It's been, you know, a week last Sunday, Taylor and Kinney, the five-star point card commits the KU.

Starting point is 00:00:47 And earlier this week, they get a four-star commit. And now they get another four-star commit in Davian Adkins, who was one of the five best centers, one of the three best centers in the class of 2026. And could he be the Floribodunga? placement for KU. We're going to break down his game, what he brings at the table, what this means, look at next year's roster and the future of the center position for KU on today's bonus episode of the show. But let's start right there. The news is Davion Adkins. He's a four-star recruit, top 35 overall ranked recruit in the class of 2026. And again, top five ranked center in the class. He's committed to Kansas and Bill Self for the 2026 season. You look at it, he kind of will remind you in terms of certain things. Again, we'll get more of his scouting important game, but I think some similarities

Starting point is 00:01:34 and between his game and Florida Badunga's game, he's 6'9, 205 pounds, really long arms. So he's originally from Dallas, Texas, and he plays now in Florida, I believe, for prolific prep. And he chose KU over Houston and Rutgers. And that on its own should, I don't know, I find it very interesting, this specifically the Houston one and winning over this because winning him over Houston is a big part of this as well like getting Davy on Adkins no matter who you were going up against was going to be

Starting point is 00:02:08 you know important and also a great get for KU regardless who you went up against but it becomes even a bigger deal to me that you get them over Houston from the standpoint of you know that's one of the top teams you're competing with they've won the big 12 the last two years um in your own conference. So winning a recruit against them is obviously important. But also, I find it interesting in terms of when you look at what Houston has had success with from the big man spot, it is big men who maybe they're not seven feet tall. Maybe they're six, seven, six, eight, six nine, but they have really long arms and they do a lot of, you know, good defensive things and rebounding things. And I think that'll tell you a little bit about Adkins game, just the

Starting point is 00:02:46 fact that, you know, Houston was was looking to kind of keep him in that line of of players that they've had so much success with there. But now Adkins becomes the third command. in this week for KU. Again, Talen Kinney, the number one center, you know of the number one point card, the number three center now in Adkins, and then Trent Perry, who's kind of your four-star wing to add on to the class here.

Starting point is 00:03:08 It is already a pretty loaded class for KU. Like in today's day and age with the transfer portal, if you just went, if you just finished up with this class today, we have the number one center, or gosh, the number one point card, the number three center, and another four-star recruit who we think we can try to develop into something and then we're going to hit the portal hard, That would already be a great starting point for KU.

Starting point is 00:03:28 But that's the crazy thing is that it doesn't feel like it's done yet. KU is still going after other players. They're still having other players visits. They've already had some players, a unique players visit. They're still trying to close on, you know, maybe another big time player up top. This has the chance to be a very special class for KU. And now you found your center with Davion Adkins. And certainly it seemed like, you know, KU kind of going between Ethan Taylor and Davy on

Starting point is 00:03:53 Adkins. Now, I'd imagine if you're KU, like if Ethan Taylor still would want to come to KU and you have even more talent, like, great, that's a good problem to have. But just from a standpoint of like, how are you using your money and what would Ethan Taylor want? Like, is he going to want to come into that situation? It does seem like KU kind of chose Adkins over Taylor in that regard. Okay, let's get to Davian Adkins scouting report and the future of the center position and next year's roster for KU basketball. This is locked on Jayhawks. these episodes brought to you by Mazda. Moving the game forward. For those who believe it's not just about playing the game, it's about redefining it. There's moments that do more than put points

Starting point is 00:04:33 on the board. They move crowds, move culture, and keep moving the game forward. And you know, we're going to make this week's moment to move the game forward. This commitment that we're talking about today with Davy on Adkins. In fact, we can pick one of the other commitments too. Now, let's just go back and pick the tail and Kenny commitment. Because if we're talking about moving the game forward, you're talking about the future. You're talking about bringing more players aboard. And it feels like Taylin Kinney opened the floodgates for all these commitments to come in to KU and start headlining things. So now you have three recruits, three commits in a week. That really moved the game forward for KU. When you follow what moves you, the unexpected is only

Starting point is 00:05:09 the beginning. And just like there's more to every highlight, there's more to a Mazda vehicle. Mazda move and be moved. Thanks for joining us on this bonus episode of Lockdown Jayhawks. You can make Lockdown College football, your second listen every day. And don't forget to check out of our normal shows right here with Locked on Jayhawks. You can check out our Trap Perry commitment episode. You can check out our Taylor and Kinney commitment episode. You can check out our KU football content all right here with Locked on Jayhawks.

Starting point is 00:05:38 So Adkins comes in. He is a six foot nine center, which I made, you know, some comparisons. And I won't be the last one to make comparisons to Florida Bedunga's game. But he is a, I guess it depends where you look. He's had three different measurements of what I can see, three different events that he measured at from 2024. All of them had him between like a 7-2 wingspan and a 7-3 wingspan. There was like a 7-2. There was like a 7-2 in chains. There was like a 7-3 wingspan. So basically somewhere between a 7-2 and 7-foot-3 wingspan, which I think actually

Starting point is 00:06:10 is like right at what Florey is. I think Florey is in the 6'9 is in shoes. I think Florey's 6'9 in shoes with like a 7-2 wingspan. So very identical there. He is the number three center in both the class on 247 sports and the 247 composite, which also ranks him as the number 30 overall player, which comes to mind for me, like when I think of a couple KU centers who were right around that 30 mark, I don't know that they were exactly 30, but I think Udoca was like around 28, 30, and I think Dave was right around there too. So that obviously worked out in both those situations for KU. From what I saw and watching, you know, different highlight reels. for Adkins, the aggression in going for offensive rebounds, the long limbs combined with kind of

Starting point is 00:06:58 that springiness and the want to on the offensive glass. He is, and he's going to be at the collegiate level, an awesome offensive rebounder. I think that the question is going to be, when you look at some of his rebounding numbers, you might say, okay, you know, he's a good offensive rebounder. Why is closer to five and a half rebounds per game or something like that? and I do think that's something where, okay, you're going to need to improve on the defensive rebounding, not that he's bad at it, but I do think the offensive rebounding is elite. I don't know that the defensive rebounding is elite, but if you can get like a good defensive rebounding four man next one, which makes me wonder, do we see a lot of two big

Starting point is 00:07:36 basketball with like Bryson Tiller at the four, Adkins at the five, that'd be two guys with seven, two plus wingspans at the four and five. It would kind of help you out because I don't know that Tiller is known for being the best rebounding big man of this. Although, I don't know, that's probably unfair. Tiller's averaging like double-digit rebounds at OTE. Um, that would gobble up a lot of rebounds though if you have those guys at four and five. So that would be certainly interesting if that's kind of something that you're doing. I actually think that Adkins has really nice touch. Like that is one thing that like, I think there's, there's certain things that, that Flory,

Starting point is 00:08:09 um, like it's, it's, it's good to know that with Flory at the end of the day, even though these are kind of similar prospects and how their games come about, Flory was a higher rated prospect and there's things that Florey is just to another level. But I do think Adkins actually has like more touch that you see there. You see in the free throw percentage, like really good free throw percentage for a center. And you see it in some some highlights of like shots around the lane, like even hitting like floaters, the occasional jumper that makes me think there's some potential there in what he could be as an offensive player. And in terms of even like shooting the occasional mid-range shot, he also runs the floor well in transition, which

Starting point is 00:08:46 is kind of a continuation with what we're talking about here with Florey. He has some fun dunks, even some like one-handed slams off catches or oops or rebounds, really good as a helpside defender and shot blocker and Romer where like he's really good at picking up, okay, they're about to do this. Like, I'm going to come over for my spot and I'm going to swat it away and help my guy on the defensive end. And it did feel like most of his hook shots and like post stuff were kind of tilting back as he shot it.

Starting point is 00:09:14 I mean, maybe that's just because, okay, he's six, nine. he's not a seven foot center, but I do wonder if that's something that, you know, self will coach out of him. But again, he showed, you know, kind of good touch around the rim, which I think is certainly encouraging there. This is from Adam Finkelstein of 24-7 sports, a long and athletic southpaw. Adkins now measures that six foot nine with shoes on has a massive seven-foot two wingspan and nearly nine-foot standing reach and huge hands.

Starting point is 00:09:38 He runs the floor well, is a bouncy vertical athlete and a major lob threat who can rise up up for emphatic finishes. He's also a major shot blocker. or major shot blocking presence, 2.3 per game with a wealth of defensive upside. And going back to the Florey thing, if I substituted Florey's name for Adkins in that write-up, like if I didn't say Adkins, if I just said, right, I just opened today's show and went a long and athletic south paw, six foot nine with shoes, has a massive seven-two wingspan, runs the floor well, bouncy vertical athlete, major lob threat, major shop blocking presence,

Starting point is 00:10:16 All of those things, you would think that I was describing Flory Bedunga. Those are all identical. And it applies for Adkins as well. So that's why you're going to hear that comparison. Now, Finkelstein goes on to say this, and this is where I think it's a little bit different with Flory. The single biggest variable in Adkins game is his motor. When he's fully engaged and committed to being a rim runner, shoplocker, and lob threat,

Starting point is 00:10:41 he can control the paint on both ends of the floor. When he doesn't play with the necessary energy, that's why. when his production falls off. That feels like something where it's like, okay, Florey, it feels like he always has that motor on. So maybe that's the big difference between the two players, because, again, Flory was somebody who was like a 98 rated recruit, and I think Adkins is like a 95.

Starting point is 00:11:01 So you're trying to figure out, okay, he's similar in how he plays, but why is Florey the higher rated prospect there? Now, Finglstein also goes on to say, again, with 24-7 sports, once his motor becomes a constant, there are secondary areas of improvement that can take his game to new levels as well. He's much more a play finisher than playmaker. He's just started to develop some footwork around the paint and a jump hook, but needs to continue getting stronger. Raise his release point in the lane, improve his right hand and ability to put the ball on the floor when facing up.

Starting point is 00:11:28 He also has a soft natural touch, 73%, and may be able to space the floor both vertically and with his shooting eventually. But isn't yet consistent from long range, just one of 16 from three. He's a more active rebounder on the offensive end and has yet to fully embrace his significant defensive upside. But again, this sounds like to me a more raw version of Floribodunga, but I think the good news is, again, when you look at the Houston recruitment side, like Houston doesn't bring on people or big men, either one, that are going to settle with not having a good motor. So that to me almost like dispels that part of it. And the other thing is when you look at the center position next year for KU, it could possibly have some other interesting pieces that, you know, you might not have to count on Adkins as much. in year one as you did with Flory Budunga. So let's get to what that future roster and future of the center position looks like for KU next.

Starting point is 00:12:23 This is Locked on Jayhawks. Today's episode of the show is brought to you by DoorDash. It is the weekend. Time to look back from this week's MVP on Who Delivered Powered by DoorDash. Just like you can win every Saturday with DoorDash streaks, saving more every time you order these players delivered when it mattered most. Let's break it down. We're going to continue with the recruiting theme here. Bill Self has delivered in a big way here for Kansas.

Starting point is 00:12:52 He's delivered three commitments over the last week for KU at this point in time. And just like Bill Self has delivered for Kansas, DoorDash delivers for Saturdays. With DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order. Stack it up all season. You could save up to $250, including $100 in DoorDash credits. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your game day only with DoorDash.

Starting point is 00:13:15 Terms apply. promo period through November 18th. Today's episode of the show is also brought to you by Peloton. That's right. Peloton is shaping the future of fitness with the brand new Peloton cross-training Tread Plus, powered by Peloton IQ. It's the most advanced equipment yet designed to give you real-time guidance and endless ways to move, whether you're running, lifting, cross-training with your favorite

Starting point is 00:13:39 instructors. This is training reimagined. Peloton is built for breakthroughs with tools that help you plan, stay motivated, and reach peak performance. I have a Peloton at my house. It is great. You can really make it your own journey. There's a lot of different great trainers and classes that you can take that help you.

Starting point is 00:13:57 If you just want to take an easy ride, you can do that and kind of stroll. You can even pull up, like, sometimes I'll even go on there. You can pull up like Netflix or you can pull up like sports games, like NBA games and stuff on there and just watch while you're riding. I love my Peloton. So let yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton cross-training tread plus today at OnePeloton.com. Thanks to joining us on this bonus episode, Locked on Jayhawks. Again, KU getting another commit, this time Davion Adkins, the four-star center.

Starting point is 00:14:30 So you look at the roster now for 2026 to 2027. Talen Kinney, El Marco Jackson in the back court, you have, you would think Colorsario maybe moves into that starting three spot. You got Jamari McDowlin, Corbyn Allen, kind of behind them. We'll see what they can develop into. And obviously, you never know who's going to transfer after a year. But this is just on paper right now. And then you have Samis Calderon, who could be a three or a four.

Starting point is 00:14:57 It's the big man spot that becomes very interesting. Now, first of all, I do think a lot of us are assuming that Florida Bedunga is going to have a big enough season and go pro. And that is my assumption right now. So I'm not like penciling him in to be back as junior. But still, at the same point in time, we are talking about a center in today's day and where, you know, spacing is so valuable that, and don't get wrong, there are exceptions to this, like you think of like a Clint Capella and those types of players who have very long careers in the NBA, but it's just like, what if, what if NBA teams do go, hey, you know what,

Starting point is 00:15:30 Florey is only like 6-8 without shoes and he doesn't really have much to the offense or shooting? We'll take you in the early second. And he goes, you know what, I'm going to make more money back at Kansas. Again, I'm assuming he's going to go pro at the end of here, but I don't think it's like a home run that I'm going to completely wipe that away. So there is a world where, you know, he's a junior and just a baller for KU and you have Adkins who can kind of learn along from him. You've got a sophomore, Paul Mbia, you've got a redshirt sophomore, Bryson Tiller, and where Adkins is, you know, kind of playing sparingly among that group of players as a true

Starting point is 00:16:04 freshman. But again, I think the idea is that Florida Bidunga is going to go pro. And then from that perspective, you wind up with Tiller, Mbia, and Adkins. And from there, you know, we'll see this year. We'll have a year under the belt of Mbilla and Tiller to kind of get an idea of like, are those guys going to be ready? Or is Adkins going to have a real chance to come in right away and be a starter? But I'll say this.

Starting point is 00:16:25 Even if Adkins doesn't come in right away and be a starter, there are minutes there certainly because, you know, even if Mbia looks good enough this year that you're going in next year, you're going, yeah, we feel good about starting him, is he going to be a 30 minute per game guy or is he probably going to be a 20, 22, 25 minute per game guy at that point, right? And so there's a lot of minutes to be had there. And then with how you want to deploy Tiller, which could be more as a four than a five, that does leave more of those minutes untouched. So I think Adkins is going to play a very big role as soon as he is a freshman at KU.

Starting point is 00:16:54 And maybe he is kind of on that floor Bidunga path where it's like, okay, he's a two and done player. He's a possibly three and done player. But if Mbia looks that good, then do you end up with a situation where you have like two or three years of those guys, you know, kind of playing a 2020 split where you feel good about it. But that's the thing. You look at the future of the center position. It's all guys with long arms. Tiller, a little different than these.

Starting point is 00:17:16 But in terms of Mbia, Florey, and now Adkins, all rim-running fives. They're going to throw down dunks. They're going to get their blocks. They're going to get their offense rebounds. Certainly seems like that the style that Bill Self wants to continue recruiting to. All right. That'll go for this episode of Lockdown Jayhawks. You can find her show anywhere.

Starting point is 00:17:32 You get your podcast, including on our YouTube page where you can like and subscribe to the show. See you next time with LOJ.

Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - BREAKING: Top-3 Center Davion Adkins COMMITS to KU | Jayhawks, Bill Self Score ANOTHER Top Recruit

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.