KU’s Gradey Dick enjoying break from summer workouts at Gatorade Awards show in L.A.

Kansas freshman men’s basketball guard Gradey Dick is considered a possible one-and-done college player by both ESPN.com and NBCsports.com.

Jonathan Givony’s early 2023 NBA mock draft for ESPN projects the 6-foot-8, 205-pound Wichita native as the No. 18 overall pick in next June’s extravaganza. Meanwhile, Tyler Byrum and Chase Hughes of NBC predict Dick will be selected at No. 19, also in round one.

Of course, this type of publicity is nothing new for the former Sunrise Christian Academy wing, who arrives at KU as Gatorade national boys basketball player of the year, McDonald’s All-American and second-team Naismith All-American.

“I actually haven’t really focused too much on that (NBA Draft). I haven’t heard too much because my parents do a really great job keeping that where it is something I don’t need to focus on so I can keep my head on (straight) and focus on the season,” Dick said Tuesday afternoon, referring to speculation about a possible quick exit to the pros.

Dick was speaking in a Zoom call with reporters from Los Angeles, where he was preparing to attend Tuesday night’s Gatorade Athlete of the Year Awards Show in Hollywood.

Dick entered the awards show one of six Gatorade boys national players of the year (encompassing six sports) vying for overall boys national high school player of the year honors. Other boys national high school player of the year finalists: Nick Singleton (Pennsylvania, football); Colin Sahlman (California, cross country); Brock Porter (Michigan, baseball); Jacob Murrell (Maryland, soccer) and Cade Flatt (Kentucky, track and field).

Sahlman was named the all-around winner at the awards banquet. The girls Gatorade national player of the year was Kiki Rice, a basketball player from Washington, D.C.

“I think that (NBA) is just another part of my chapter that I’m really not focused too much on. I’m focused directly on the season, trying to make the team as good as we can. If that comes with it, sure,” Dick stated.

Dick — he had been in Lawrence since early June for summer school and summer team workouts — traveled to L.A. on Saturday. He’s being honored for his work in high school one final time prior to the start of the Aug. 22 fall semester at KU.

“I don’t ever feel because of accolades I’m different from anybody,” said Dick, KU’s second Gatorade national basketball player of the year. Andrew Wiggins was so honored in 2013.

“During the high school season I’d see something and take it more like motivation to work hard,” Dick added of local and national honors. “Just being recognized is special. I am thankful for everything. All this high school stuff is really great. I’m glad all my hard work paid off for that. But I’m starting this new chapter in my life. It’s something I kind of have to put back there and forget about and focus on this upcoming season. I get to college and it’s a clean slate.”

Dick, who could be one of the leading candidates for possible preseason Big 12 freshman of the year honors, said he’s actually been awed starting his college career at his dream school. The native Kansan grew up a KU fan thus knows all about the historic program.

“When I got here (to KU in June) I went in the locker room. I was just looking around. I’ve been in there multiple times. To be a player is a whole different feel (than a KU recruit). I’m never going to think I’m better than anyone.”

He feels the summer workouts have been productive for himself and the entire team. The last day of summer school is July 29 with the players heading to their hometowns after that until the start of fall semester.

“Seeing how everyone acts with each other … there’s no one person that’s separate on this team,” Dick said. “I’ve heard from a bunch of guys that this team is just hitting the ground running and that’s what our goal was. Coach (Bill) Self’s goal was — after the championship — to leave where we left off — or they left off — and bring the freshmen in and just help as much as we can. So the fact that we get along already at this early stage, I feel like that is huge.”

Self has said he envisions Dick earning a lot of minutes, maybe even a starting spot his freshman year. He is coming off a senior season at Sunrise Christian Academy in which he averaged 17.9 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. He hit 51.3% percent from the field and 46.7% percent from three-point range for a 22-1 team.

“It’s pretty similar to high school (being) on the wing, a lot like C.B. (Christian Braun), shooting wise,” Dick said of where he’s been playing at practice. “Right now he (Self) is trying to see where everyone is at. We kind of know our roles a little bit. Everyone is learning how to fit in everywhere.

“I think we are hitting the ground running pretty well,” Dick added of the 2022-23 Jayhawks. “No one has really taken any steps back, I feel like we have a special team.”

Of course, Dick knows KU has a roster full of highly capable players who also seek minutes.

“There’s a ton of energy for sure,” Dick said of the freshman recruiting class of guards Dick and MJ Rice and bigs Ernest Udeh and Zuby Ejiofor.

“A lot of guys are experienced,” Dick noted. “I know we are freshmen but most have played on that (elite) level: MJ at prep school (Prolific Prep) me at prep school, Zuby (at Garland High in Texas), Ernest (at Dr. Phillips High in Florida). Those guys are coming in ready to go.”

Dick said “practice has been great. I’ve been there since June 4. We’ve had good work every day, good lifts, getting back on the court with Coach Self. The team is looking great. I love everything about it. The guys … we have a lot of fun together. It molds together really well.”

On and off the court.

“To be honest, summer … I won’t say it’s boring. We make the most of it. Away from practice we had a little conditioning (run) on the graduation hill (Campanile Hill a week ago),” Dick said. “When that was done we went to one of the pools. Team bonding,” he added, smiling.