IMG Academies announced Wednesday that Jamari Traylor is heading to Kansas next season. Here’s the release from Kansas:
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Jamari Traylor, 6-7 forward, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at the University of Kansas, KU head coach Bill Self announced Wednesday.
“We are so excited to sign Jamari,” Self said. “He is a Chicago kid that spent the last year at IMG Academy and was coached by Loren Jackson, who is a coach that I have known since my days at Illinois and certainly have great respect for as he has coached several good Division I players.”
Traylor played last season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots per game. He has been described as a hustle guy who fights for rebounds and loose balls, much like current KU forward Thomas Robinson.
“I’m really proud of Jamari,” Self said. “We have gotten to know him this spring and he’s worked very hard in the classroom. He’s a young guy that really wants to be good. He’s got a motor very similar to Thomas (Robinson) and he’s an athlete that at 6-7 can basically guard all five positions. We think we will be an immediate and major contributor for us.”
“I really liked coach Self and all the guys,” Traylor said. “I felt comfortable with them and I really fell in love with Kansas on my visit.”
Traylor attended Julian High School in Chicago before going to IMG Academy. Traylor chose Kansas over Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Indiana and Saint John’s.
“We were very fortunate in the spring period to get Braeden Anderson and sign Jamari inside because they both give us immediate contribution and depth,” Self said. “I really feel Jamari could be a sleeper that everybody will say `Where did you get him?’ a couple of years from now; in a similar way they did the Morris twins. He’s very young basketball-wise. He’s a sponge and wants to learn. I really think he’s going to get good, fast.”
“The year at IMG has helped him from a skill-set standpoint,” Self concluded. “He’s been very well drilled by Loren Jackson and his staff. I’m really excited to add his athletic ability to our mix.”
“Jamari is a high energy guy that is very athletic,” Jackson said. “He’s physically ready to play college basketball right now. He’ll add a lot of good things to the Jayhawk program.”
Traylor joins three other signees from the fall and spring in Anderson of Oktoks, Alberta, Canada, in addition to guards Ben McClemore of St. Louis and Naadir Tharpe from Worcester, Mass.
2010-11 Kansas Men’s Basketball Signees
Braeden Anderson, F, 6-8, 215, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada (Wilbraham and Monson Academy [Mass.])
Ben McClemore, G, 6-5, 185, St. Louis, Mo. (Oak Hill Academy [Va].)
Naadir Tharpe, G, 6-0, 170, Worcester, Mass. (Brewster Academy [N.H.])
Jamari Traylor, F, 6-7, 212, Chicago, Ill. (IMG Academy [Bradenton, Fla.])
His teammate, DeAndre Daniels, will announce his decision tomorrow on where he will go. It is said that he will choose between Kansas and Texas.