By Travis Branham, 247Sports.com
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Rakease Passmore, the No. 48 recruit in country, has committed to the Kansas Jayhawks, he tells 247Sports.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pound small forward out of Charlotte (N.C.) Combine Academy chose Kansas over his other two finalists including Oklahoma and LSU.
“I believe in their coaching staff and the way they win so they can put me in the best position to go in and compete,” Passmore said as to why he chose Kansas.
Passmore took an official visit to Kansas over the weekend and the time spent with the program solidified his decision to become a Jayhawk.
“Some of the players on the team like Elmarko [Jackson], Flory [Bidunga] was there so all of them guys that I am cool with I feel like I can play with those guys, we get along and the chemistry will be there when I get there.”
Passmore is the third commitment for Bill Self in the 2024 class joining five-star big man Flory Bidunga and four-star guard Labaron Philon.
“Just come in, get coached up and probably play starting minutes or potentially start,” Passmore said of Self’s pitch to him. “Just impact as soon as I get there.”
The four-star wing is an explosively athletic wing who has continued to develop his half-court skillset over the last two seasons.
He can make shots off the catch, attack in straight lines, defend and finish with authority in transition.
“I will be bringing excitement and everything to Kansas,” he said. “I will give it my all!”
Passmore averaged 13.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam playing for Team Thad.
“He’s a joy to coach,” said Passmore’s Team Thad AAU coach Norton Hurd IV. “He’s arguably the most athletic guard in the country, an ultimate three-and-D guy that competes on both ends of the floor.”
Kansas now has the No. 3 overall class in the country.
