Senior small forward prospect from high school in Virginia visiting Kansas Jayhawks

Bryson Tucker, a 6-foot-6, 180-pound senior small forward from Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia, was scheduled to make an appearance at the KU-Manhattan men’s basketball game on Friday as part of an official recruiting visit.

A source close to the situation confirmed on Friday that Tucker indeed had started his official visit to KU.

Tucker’s dad, Byron, has a background in college basketball, which gives him a unique perspective. Despite his highly ranked status as the No. 19 recruit in the class of 2024 by Rivals.com, No. 20 by ESPN.com, and No. 26 by 247sports.com, Tucker’s recruitment has been somewhat of a mystery.

Originally from Bowie, Maryland, Tucker has attracted interest from coaches at KU, Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Duke, LSU, Georgetown, and others. He has already visited Michigan State.

There has been speculation by recruiting services that Tucker could potentially reclassify, making him available to play for a school in the second semester of this season.

“Tucker has also expressed interest in pro options and delaying his signing,” wrote Eric Bossi of Rivals.com. It is unclear yet if the Kansas visit could indicate a change in his timeline and outside of Michigan State, there hasn’t been much noise about any other programs recruiting him.”

Here is Bossi’s scouting report on Tucker: “Tucker is a big wing who has a pretty polished game on the offensive end of the floor. He is able to use his size to finish in the lane where he is also a very functional athlete who can get off the floor quickly in small spaces, changes direction well in traffic and has a great frame to build on in a college weight room.

On3.com’s Jamie Shaw described Tucker as a natural basketball player with a great size and IQ, showcasing composure and a strong work ethic. While Tucker’s jump shot could use more consistency, he excels in the mid-range, making him a player to keep an eye on as a five-star prospect.

The early signing period runs through Wednesday. KU has signed three promising players, and the addition of Tucker would be a significant boon to the team.