By SAM LANCE
Santa Clara graduate transfer forward Parker Braun — the brother of national champion Kansas guard and current Denver Nugget Christian Braun — has signed with Kansas.
Braun, the 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward from Overland Park (KS) confirmed the news to Gary Bedore.
At Santa Clara last season, Braun averaged 7.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He also shot 57% from the field and 24.6% from 3.
The big man started his career at Missouri, where his mother, Lisa, played basketball. Braun spent two seasons as a Tiger and never averaged more than 10 minutes per game.
Now, he’s switched sides to be a Jayhawk.
Parker’s brother, Christian, was a legendary Jayhawk for his role in KU’s national championship season two years ago. But most don’t know his father, Donald, was also a walk-on at KU. The Braun family ties at Kansas run deep.
It’s also interesting to note that Missouri and Kansas are bitter rivals and recently restarted the Border Showdown game. Braun will have the uniqueness of experiencing both sides of the game. Kansas is set to play Missouri inside Allen Fieldhouse in December 2023.
Braun gives Kansas and Bill Self someone to slide into the back up five spot behind Hunter Dickinson. The Jayhawks needed someone to fill the void after losing former McDonald’s All-American center Ernest Udeh and four-star big man Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s) to the transfer portal.
Self now theoretically has two scholarships to work with. Remember, KU has a self-imposed loss of one scholarship due to the ongoing IARP investigation, giving them 12 roster spots instead of 13.
Here is an outlook on the Jayhawks 2023-24 roster…
NBA Draft (likely not returning): Jalen Wilson, Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar
Returners from last season: Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams
High School Recruits: Elmarko Jackson, Chris Johnson, Marcus Adams, Jamari McDowell
Transfer Additions: Hunter Dickinson, Nick Timberlake, Arterio Morris, Parker Braun
Transfer losses: Joe Yesufu (Washington State), Bobby Pettiford (ECU), MJ Rice (NC State), Cam Martin (Boise State), Zach Clemence (UCSB), Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s), Kyle Cuffe (uncommitted), Ernest Udeh (uncommitted)
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