5-star combo guard Quentin Grimes commits to Kansas over Texas

For the second time in five days, an elite wing talent has sided with a blue blood over the Texas Longhorns, as The Woodlands College Park guard Quentin Grimes announced his commitment to the Kansas Jayhawks on Wednesday.

Kentucky and Marquette were finalists, as well, although neither were considered a legitimate landing spot as of late.

A five-star talent from the Houston area, Grimes was among the top targets on Texas’ big board this cycle, despite being considered a heavy Kansas lean for quite some time. As other options trickled off the board, such as five-star Oak Hill Academy guard Keldon Johnson, who committed to Kentucky on Saturday, the ‘Horns intensified their pursuit down the stretch.

A Sept. 22 official visit to Austin was followed by numerous visits from Shaka Smart and the coaching staff, but of course, those extensive efforts on the recruiting trail fell short. As opposed to losing a recruiting battle against Kentucky or Duke, though, the cost of Grimes’ commitment will come in the form of at least two meetings with the Jayhawks each year for the next one-to-four years.

With Grimes now headed elsewhere, there’s reason to believe Smart’s four-man 2018 class is as complete as it’s going to get, although Texas is still in pursuit of four-star point guard and former Louisville pledge, Courtney Ramey.

Gerald Liddell, Kamaka Hepa, Jaxson Hayes and Brock Cunningham have each signed their National Letter of Intent to Texas, providing the ‘Horns with four four-star forwards and one three-star forward.

Despite the big misses throughout the past week, Texas still boasts the No. 10 class in the nation and the No. 2 class in the Big 12, trailing only Kansas.