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Perry Ellis' return solidifies Kansas as a top team next season
As Kansas celebrated its accomplishments this past season at its team banquet Monday night, Perry Ellis gave the Jayhawks some good news for next year.
The 6-foot-8 all-conference forward is returning for his senior season.
Ellis' decision was likely a wise one for several reasons. He probably would have been a second-round pick had he entered the draft and he has a chance to elevate his stock as a senior while playing a leading role on what could be a special Kansas team.
Thanks to the anticipated return of point guards Frank Mason and Devonte Graham and wings Wayne Selden, Brannen Greene and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Kansas appears pretty loaded on the perimeter. Ellis' return ensures the Jayhawks have a low-post scoring threat to pair with all that perimeter talent.
Ellis averaged 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season, shot 45.7 percent from the floor and hit 39.1 percent of his 3-pointers. A sprained right knee suffered in Kansas' regular season finale against West Virginia limited his effectiveness in the postseason, contributing to the Jayhawks' early Big 12 tournament exit and round of 32 NCAA tournament loss to Wichita State.
With Ellis back, top frontcourt recruit Carlton Bragg faces less pressure to emerge as an impact scorer as a freshman and veterans Jamari Traylor, Landen Lucas and Hunter Mickelson can each contribute in the reserve roles for which they're best suited. There's also less urgency for Bill Self to land one of the frontcourt targets he's pursuing this spring, though the Jayhawks would gladly find minutes for Stephen Zimmerman, Cheick Diallo or Thon Maker if one of those five-star big men decide to come.
Regardless of whether Kansas adds anyone this spring, the Jayhawks appear poised to begin next season solidly in the top 10 in the polls and perhaps in the top five. They have two quality point guards. They have an array of talented wings. And now with Ellis back, they retain the low-post scoring threat and senior leader they need to make a serious Final Four push.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
