KU Jayhawks entertained this basketball 4-star. Then he canceled UNC, Kentucky visits

Eric Reibe, the No. 4-ranked center in the men’s basketball recruiting class of 2025 per 247Sports, paid a visit to the Kansas Jayhawks last weekend.

On Thursday, Reibe — ranked 35th overall by ESPN and 45th by 247Sports — discussed his experience in Lawrence with The Star.

“Overall, the visit was good,” he said. “I was with my family and I enjoyed it a lot.”

The trip afforded the 7-foot, 230-pound senior from Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, a good look at coach Bill Self and his program.

“I spent a bunch of time with Coach Self and had a bunch of fun with the (KU) players,” Reibe said. “I talked to them a lot, asked them questions. I watched practice, they showed me their facility and they showed me the campus.“

Reibe said the KU coaching staff’s recruiting pitch was twofold: He fits the Jayhawks’ style of play and fifth-year center Hunter Dickinson’s spot will be up for grabs after the 2024-25 season.

The coaches, Reibe said, also emphasized the notion that he and current freshman Flory Bidunga would complement each other well.

Originally from Germany, Reibe said he was familiar with the prestige and history surrounding the Kansas hoops program before making his visit.

And that visit may have left a notable impression: He canceled subsequent visits to North Carolina and Kentucky after spending time in Lawrence.

Asked if it’s a positive sign for Jayhawks fans that he canceled those visits after seeing KU, Reibe answered coyly: “I can’t say that right now. I still have to go through my process and visit schools.”

On Thursday, Reibe said he plans to reveal soon the programs he considers his finalists. He said he hopes to make an official announcement about his decision in mid-October.

He talked about the factors he’ll weigh as he makes his final choice.

“(I want) a school where I can play immediately and get minutes as a freshman,” he said. “Where I can develop into an NBA type-talent. Obviously, academics plays a role. I want to go to business school. … My connection to players — how I vibe with them and connect with them on and off the court.”

Reibe said he hung out with all the KU players this past weekend but primarily spent time with big man Dickinson, guard Elmarko Jackson and fellow center Bidunga.

Reibe said the KU staffers mentioned that he could potentially play as a Jayhawk alongside Darryn Peterson, the No. 1-ranked shooting guard in the class of 2025. Peterson visited KU in July and recently produced a top-4 list that includes Kansas.

Reibe said his NBA player comparison would be Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics. He also mentioned Nikola Jokic, citing the way the Denver Nuggets run their offense through their superstar from Serbia.

Reibe said the KU coaches showed him clips of current Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid and Dickinson to illustrate how he might be utilized in a Jayhawks uniform.

Whatever choice he eventually makes, it sounds like Reibe had a fine time at KU.

“We had breakfast with the head coach,” he recalled. “I had a tour through all the facilities, talked to academic advisers and watched practice.

“One day we went to the (KU) football game. I got shots up at the gym. … I had a long meeting with the head coach, meeting with my parents, photoshoot and hung out with the players at night.”

Reibe doesn’t have a timeline for how long he plans to stay in college; rather, he said it will depend on how his first year goes.

“If it’s a clear one-and-done, that’s what it is going to be,” he said. “If I need one more year to develop, that is what is going to happen. … I first have to play my freshman year.”