LAWRENCE (AP) — Conner Frankamp and Kansas seemed like the perfect match, the high-scoring guard and one of the state’s top recruits playing for the school that he grew up watching.
Their marriage lasted just over one season.
Frankamp announced Friday that he will transfer at the end of the semester in the hopes of more playing time. His departure should help to alleviate a logjam in the backcourt of the fifth-ranked Jayhawks, where an influx of high-profile recruits is competing for playing time.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” Frankamp said in a statement. “I love my teammates but I just don’t feel like it’s the right fit for me. We have many good guards and so many big-time players. I want to be at a place where I could play a bigger role.”
Coach Bill Self said he met with Frankamp and his father, Martin Frankamp, to discuss his future on Wednesday. Frankamp decided the following day that he would transfer.
Frankamp, who broke Jayhawks forward Perry Ellis’s city scoring record in Wichita, Kansas, played in 27 games as a freshman. He seemed to break out in the NCAA tournament, hitting seven 3-pointers and averaging 11 points in two games before the Jayhawks were ousted.
“This is disappointing news to us. Conner is a fine young man, a very proud basketball player and certainly part of what we had envisioned not only for our future but also as an impact guy for this upcoming season,” Self said. “We wish him the best in his decision-making of his new school and in his future basketball endeavors.”
The Jayhawks, who play their exhibition opener Monday night against Washburn, still have six guards vying for playing time. Sophomores Frank Mason, Wayne Selden and Brannen Greene have been joined by high-profile freshmen Kelly Oubre Jr., Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk.
Mason and Graham are expected to get most of the minutes at point guard, and the others are more prototypical shooting guards. But they will also be called upon to handle the ball, and Greene and Mykhailiuk have the size at 6-foot-7 and 6-8 to play one of the forward positions.
“We still have six other very good perimeter players,” Self said. “We look forward to all six of those guys contributing in a big way and playing meaningful minutes.”