Kansas Basketball: Reviewing Jayhawks' 2013 Class After Joel Embiid Commitment

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The Kansas Jayhawks received their fifth commitment for the Class of 2013 on Tuesday as Joel Embiid, a 6'11" center from The Rock School in Gainesville, Fla., pledge to join Bill Self in Lawrence next season (via ESPN's Dave Telep).

The Cameroon native joins four other prep stars that plan to play for the Jayhawks beginning in 2013, giving them perhaps the deepest class in the country and one of the most prolific in Self's tenure.

Following a 2011 class that was left nearly empty with only Naadir Tharpe after Jamari Traylor and Ben McLemore redshirted, KU is showcasing a host of freshman this season. 

With three seniors departing via graduation along with McLemore to the NBA draft potentially, Self and his staff have done an incredible job of reloading once again with these five talented players.

Read on to find out more about them.

Brannen Greene

Via cityleaguehoops.net

Brannen Greene, a 6'6", 215-pound shooting guard from Tift County High School in Georgia is one of the best shooters in the Class of 2013. 

He becomes Self's second straight sharpshooting 2-guard to join the Jayhawks, joining freshman Andrew White. 

Depending upon Ben McLemore's decision to enter next year's NBA draft, Greene could get significant minutes alongside Naadir Tharpe and soon-to-be freshman Conner Frankamp in the Kansas backcourt.

Wayne Selden

Via basketball.themarsreel.com

At 6'5", Wayne Selden is considered a little undersized for a small forward in big-time college ranks, but he is one of the most physical forwards in his class.

He certainly can hit the perimeter shots, but most have called him a pure athlete as opposed to a shooter, making him a perfect complement to the future Kansas power forwards and lights-out shooting guards.

Frank Mason

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Frank Mason's recruitment slightly mirrored former Kansas recruit Milton Doyle, although Jayhawks fans are hoping Mason does not end up a Loyola Rambler weeks before the season begins.

It is unlikely Mason will see immediate playing time, especially considering point guard Naadir Tharpe's role, but he will provide much-needed depth as a true point.

He could be a poor man's Russell Robinson after a couple seasons in Self's pass-heavy system.

Conner Frankamp

Via ny2lasports.com

Like freshman Perry Ellis, it feels as though Conner Frankamp has been a Jayhawk for life. 

The 6'0", 170-pound point guard is a Wichita native, and he was integral to the United States' 2011 FIBA U-16 gold-medal team.

He is arguably the best shooting point guard in the 2013 class. With incredible versatility and improved defensive adjustments, Frankamp can slide over to play as an undersized 2-guard alongside Tharpe if needed.

Joel Embiid

Via scout.com

Kansas head coach Bill Self was able to successfully lure Joel Embiid away from Florida head coach Billy Donovan, and he became the fifth member of the KU recruiting class.

As a raw 6'11", 230-pound center, the Cameroon native is either unranked or ranked low by most recruiting services because he is still learning the game and has not had ample opportunities to showcase his talent. 

However, his ceiling is very high. Justin Harden, his high school coach, said, "His combination of size, athletic ability, and coordination is something" (via ESPN).

Landen Lucas, Zach Peters, Jamari Traylor and Perry Ellis are expected to shoulder the load on the block for the next few years, but Embiid will bring a new dimension to the Kansas offense in 2013.