Johnny Furphy experienced rapid ascension from Kansas freshman to NBA draft prospect

Johnny Furphy at this time last year had one scholarship offer — from Sacramento State — to play college basketball.

Because of his December birthdate, the Australian-born Furphy wasn’t even sure he would enroll in college for the 2023-24 season. He thought he might spend another year at Australia’s Centre for Excellence, an elite spots academy in Canberra, and then explore college or pro possibilities.

But a 2023 summer basketball tour in the United States with Centre for Excellence changed Furphy’s trajectory.

“My coaches sat me down at the beginning of the week,” said Furphy who turns 20 Dec. 7. “They said, 'We've seen players in the past really blow up from this tournament in particular.’ And then I had a really good week and then they sat me down at the end of the week and showed me a list of schools that were interested, which I remember that really well. It was like I had to pinch myself. It was pretty crazy.

“Kansas a reached out to me and said, ‘We've got a spot for you this year.’”

Jayhawks coach Bill Self explained to USA TODAY Sports that he was looking for a player during the summer recruiting period. He called his contacts and learned about Furphy. One of Self’s assistants, Norm Roberts, saw Furphy play in Atlanta, and then Self watched him play in Las Vegas.

He committed to the Jayhawks — “sight unseen,” Furphy said.

“He went from being a guy that we thought was a prospect when he first got here, and by January, we really believed he was a player,” Self said. “And he just played lights out during our conference season. And that's what got everybody excited.”

Furphy is a projected first-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft whose draft status continues to rise given his size for a shooting guard/small forward at 6-9. He is the projected No. 18 pick to Orlando in USA TODAY Sports’ post-NBA Finals mock draft. Besides the draft combine in Chicago, Furphy has worked out for seven teams, including several in the Nos. 9-20 first-round range.

Furphy averaged 9.0 points and 4.9 rebounds and shot 49.6% from the field, 36.5% on 3-pointers and 78.5% on free throws in Big 12 games. Once he became a starter in late January, he averaged more points and rebounds and shot a better percentage on 3s.

“The light came on,” Self said. “We knew it would come on eventually, but we didn't know it was going to come on that quick and that bright. He goes from being a guy that we hope could handle being a starter to everybody having him on the NBA draft board in one week.”

Said Furphy: “Coach Self was super enthusiastic about me, and he knew how good I can be. He really saw that potential. Coach Self giving me an opportunity, let alone just letting me come to Kansas and then giving me an opportunity to play, all the credit goes to him.”

Kansas used him primarily as a spot-up shooter at the 3-point line (he possesses a fluid, quick-release jump shot) and cutter to the basket so developing an off-the-dribble game that includes shooting and playmaking are focuses.

“Everybody would agree with this, his best ball is well down the road,” Self said. “You look at him and you say, ‘Gosh, he's young.’ But he can run. He's got length, he can finish with both hands. And he's got range. He's got some things that are very attractive to a lot of folks.”

Furphy comes from an athletic family. His dad, Richard, played professional Australian Rules Football, and his mom, Liza, was an elite diver. His sister, Holly, plays soccer at Santa Clara, and his brother Joe is a professional Australian Rules Football player.

“That was my second sport growing up,” Furphy said. “I stopped playing before I hit my growth spurt, so I was never really thinking about it too seriously. But it was something that I tell people if basketball wasn't a thing, that would be my sport.”

Since the end of Kansas’ season, Furphy has spent a majority of his time in Chicago working out with trainers and player development specialists.

“Having this routine really suits me,” he said. “I'm pretty much just working out every day, getting in the weight room and having one thing to focus on — and that's hoops — I've really, really enjoyed.”

Playing in the NBA was Furphy’s goal. It’s just happening a little sooner than he expected. At 17, he moved from his family home in Melbourne to attend the Centre for Excellence. At 18, he moved from Australia to Lawrence, Kansas, to play for the Jayhawks. At 19, he moved to Chicago to prepare for his rookie season, and by the time he turns 20, he will be in an NBA city two months into his rookie season.

The speed in which he went from one scholarship offer to projected first-round pick is as joyful as it is unexpected.

“The NBA has always been my motivation,” Furphy said. “When I got to Kansas, I really had no expectations. I wasn't putting pressure on myself. I knew I was such a late addition. I knew it was going to take time to find my rhythm and find my feet. It was more of a 'maybe in a couple years.' But I didn't have a set timeline in my mind.”