Five-Star Power Forward Billy Preston Commits To Kansas


Five-star power forward Billy Preston has committed to the Kansas Jayhawks. He’s ranked No. 3 at his position and is the No. 16 overall recruit in the 2017 class.


Kansas coach Bill Self can add another prized recruit to the list of them he’s collected in Lawrence.

Five-star power forward Billy Preston announced in a video released by Bleacher Report that he’s committed to the Jayhawks, choosing them over Syracuse, Indiana and USC. Preston is the No. 3 power forward and the No. 16 overall recruit in the class of 2017.

Preston visited Lawrence on Oct. 1 and came away impressed. He visited Syracuse on Oct. 15, Indiana on Oct. 22 and USC on Oct. 29, but the 6-foot-10 big man from Oak Hill Academy ultimately decided his first visit was the best.

“I felt comfortable and I felt they had my best interest at heart,” Preston said, according to Scout. “Hopefully next year we can win the national championship.”

Every five-star recruit has one-and-done aspirations, but Preston’s unique abilities make him a legitimate candidate for the 2018 NBA draft. He has surprising athleticism for his height and plays just as well away from the rim as he does close to it. Preston’s passing accumen also sets him apart from players of his, as does his ability to blow by defenders with a quick first step.

Preston isn’t much of a traditional post player and likes to face up to the basket. He still has a knack for rebounding, though, and the Kansas coaching staff likely will work with him on improve his back-to-the-basket game.

Preston joins four-star point guard Marcus Garrett as Kansas commits from the 2017 class.

Note: Scout.com photos, rankings and ratings used in this article.

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