Big 12 Basketball: Top 5 incoming freshmen for 2018-19

By Brian Rauf | Jul 10, 2018

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 28: Quentin Grimes #5 of The Woodlands College Park H.S. attacks the basket against Romeo Langford #22 of New Albany High School and EJ Montgomery #3 of Wheeler High School during the 2018 McDonald's All American Game at Philips Arena on March 28, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: David McCormack #33 of Oak Hill Academy looks on in a game against University School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

4. David McCormack, Kansas

McCormack is the first of three Kansas recruits on this list. Like Ramey, he’s also expected to come off the bench as a freshman behind Udoka Azubuike in the frontcourt.

That might be a good thing for the 6-10, 225-pounder, who is talented but still raw in many aspects of his game. He’s a strong, athletic center who has mostly utilized those attributes – which were overwhelming at the high school level – to produce.

He’s shown flashes of shooting ability but needs to become more consistent both offensively (when he’s not dunking) and rebounding.

Playing for head coach Bill Self might be the best thing for him in that sense, as Kansas has developed and produced more NBA-level big men than any other school (except for maybe Kentucky) under Self. From Cole Aldrich to the Morris twins to Thomas Robinson to Joel Embiid and now Udoka Azubuike, KU has traditionally had a high-level big man because of Self’s ability to develop that position.

This season, expect McCormack to be a high-energy player off the bench who energizes the Allen Fieldhouse crowd with a few electric dunks and blocks every game. However, he should be one of the better players in the country as a sophomore.

Check out his highlight tape below, courtesy of Courtside Films.

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