North Carolina pre-season goaltender signs up for Kansas

Less than 24 hours after learning of the departure of two players from the 2020-2021 roster, the Kansas men’s basketball program caught wind of a replacement when Bobby Pettiford Jr., a 6-foot-1 point guard and 175 pounds from Creedmoor, NC, announced his commitment to the Jayhawks on social media.

“Thanks to all the coaches who recruited me during these difficult times,” Pettiford wrote on his Twitter page Tuesday afternoon. “Having said that, I am delighted to announce that I will be enlisting at the University of Kansas. The Jayhawk Nation is rising!

Louisville’s one-time enlistment, which reopened recruiting after a change to the Cardinals’ coaching staff, is ranked No.115 in the 2021 recruiting class by Rivals.com and in the Top 100 by ESPN (95), 247 Sports (88) and SI.com (82).

Rivals.com ranks him as a three-star prospect while 247 Sports ranks him as a four-star talent.

After announcing his withdrawal from Louisville, Pettiford heard from a few dozen schools who wanted to add him to their list.

Known primarily as an explosive athlete who plays best around the rim, Pettiford showed his best shooting touch during his senior season at South Granville High, hitting 53% from the ground, 39% from 3-point range and 80% in the free throw. double.

Pettiford, who hails from the same region as former KU point guards Devonte ‘Graham (Raleigh) and Devon Dotson (Charlotte), drew comparisons with Dotson for his offensive mindset.

“Pettiford is a top athlete and is really going down with the ball,” National recruiting analyst Eric Bossi wrote last year. “He doesn’t back down from anyone.”

Pettiford will be eligible to formalize his oral commitment by signing a Letter of Intent with the Jayhawks on April 14, the start of the regular signing period for Division I college basketball.

His addition to a 2021 class that already included four-star prospects KJ Adams (6-7, 220), Zach Clemence (6-10, 210) and three-star big man Sydney Curry (6-8, 265) moved the Jayhawks up to 5th in the 2021 team standings at 247 Sports.