Thanks for hanging with us during the dog days of Summer.

It won't be long until we're back with a daily curation of KU news and basketball notes.

Rock Chalk Jayhawks!

8/13/13, 3:36 AM
I'll love ku 4 ever !!
@Trobinson0


Great day at coach selfs camp always good to come back and help these baby jayhawks #rockchalk
@Trobinson0


8/17/13, 12:10 PM
Working the Bill Self Pro Camp at the Fieldhouse with @humb1e_hungry23 and Thomas Robinson!
@Jeff_Hawkins_KU

If Robinson wants to feel at home, he can always come back to Lawrence, where he’s still the same indestructible power forward who led Kansas to the Final Four.

“I was just thinking about that the other day — walking on campus, coming to games, getting ready before the season, the Big 12 Tournament, everything I miss about here,” said Robinson, who was back in Lawrence on Sunday to help with a youth basketball camp run by Academy Sports.

The NBA has been a dose of cold reality for Robinson, who averaged 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds during what he described as the “rookie roller coaster.”

The Kings moved on from their top pick midway through his rookie season, sending Robinson to the Rockets for a package of players that included Toney Douglas, Patrick Patterson and former Jayhawk Cole Aldrich.

Robinson was on the move again after the 2013 draft as the Rockets tried to clear space to sign free agent Dwight Howard. Now on his third team, Robinson has barely had time to unpack his things in each city.

“You don’t feel settled at all,” he said. “Before I even got settled, I was being traded. It’s a unique situation, but unique things tend to happen to me, man. I’ll be fine.”
TCJ


“I think he (now) realizes who he is. He is a rebounder who can score as opposed to a scorer who can rebound,” Self said Sunday. “If he can just worry about the things he can control, he’ll become an even better shooter.”

Robinson hit 43 percent of his shots and 52.3 percent of his free throws for the Kings and Rockets after canning 50 percent of his shots and 68.2 percent of his charities his final season at KU.

“Thomas can shoot,” Self said. “Thomas for me was a volume shooter, though. Since he had the green light his last year, he knew if he missed it didn’t matter because he was supposed to keep shooting.

“In the NBA, it’s a little bit different when you are not the first option,” Self added. “So he has to be able to make one out of two wherever he shoots from.”

Of course, it’s hard for a rookie to make shots when he’s constantly on the trading block.

“I think his head is right, not that his head was ever bad. Sometimes when things don’t go well, you get (put) in different spots, you get a little down,” Self said. “I think his batteries are charged. He’s excited to be in Portland. He had a great summer league. He was probably the best rebounder in the summer league. That’s what I’ve been told. He’s excited to get started. He has new representation. It seems to me he has a new lease on everything.”

..Self said it was great to work with former KU guard Ben McLemore on Saturday and Robinson on Sunday at his pro camp. “I didn’t have to convince them. They want to come back,” Self said. “These guys love coming back. They look for an excuse all the time to come back.”
LJW

“I feel I come in with a chip on my shoulder,” former Kansas University guard McLemore, top pick of the Sacramento Kings in the June draft, said Saturday at the Bill Self Basketball Pro Camp for youths in Allen Fieldhouse. He is working the camp with former KU forward Thomas Robinson of the Portland Trail Blazers.

“I feel I’ve been through a lot. I feel I am going to work hard to get Rookie of the Year. I know the mindset I’m going to come in and show everybody I could be the alpha dog and win that Rookie of the Year. I’m definitely going to work hard to get that,” McLemore added.

…Since the early-August transition program, McLemore has been shopping for a house for his mother “somewhere outside of St. Louis” and also a house or condo where he’ll live in Sacramento. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity to attend Self’s camp in Lawrence.

“Coach Self ... after I entered the draft he said he’d love for me to come back and work his camp. I told him I would and I’m here,” he said. “The beauty of it is getting to know different types of kids and having fun with the kids. That’s the type of person I am. I like to have fun, enjoy myself and interact with kids.

“I love coming back here,” added McLemore, who turned pro after his red-shirt freshman season. “There’s nothing (better) than coming back to Lawrence, having all your fans and friends here supporting you all the way. Being back and being able to be around coach Self is a blessing. I loved my time being here with coach Self and being coached by him.”

He said next year’s hot NBA prospect, freshman Andrew Wiggins, also will benefit from working with KU’s coaches.

“I met him when he first got here (June). We played pickup and stuff. He was nice,” McLemore said. “It’s a great opportunity for him picking KU. He’s in a perfect spot with coach Self.”
LJW


Like his Jayhawk basketball players, Self has taken some time off following the conclusion of summer school on Aug. 1.

“I went to Northern Ireland in the Belfast area with a group of guys, had a blast, then Cindy (wife) and I took vacation this past week. We just got back from the Caribbean. It’s been a pretty tough two out of the last three weeks for me,” joked Self.

“The first one (trip) was for golf — the second one wasn’t. Cindy wasn’t that interested in playing golf. We had a lot of fun, though, both trips,” Self added.

He’ll be welcoming his players back to campus in days leading up to the start of fall semester, which is Aug. 26.

Believe it or not ... basketball season this year starts just a month and a day later, on Sept. 27. A new NCAA rule allows teams to have 30 days of practice in the six weeks prior to the first game. The old rule permitted practice four weeks before the first game.

“You’ve got to take at least two days off a week if you are going to do it that way,” Self said of starting practice the 27th with Late Night in the Phog Oct. 4.

“If you start that early, you don’t have to be quite as accelerated. It’ll probably be a situation we maybe go a little bit slower, get more stuff in, then by the time Oct. 15 or whatever rolls around we’ll be ready to roll.”

He will hold one week of Boot Camp conditioning this season, not two.

“We’ll probably do it the week of Sept. 16 because two weeks of Boot Camp with a young team, plus starting basically three weeks earlier ... that may be too much,” Self said.

…“For a bunch of freshmen, they probably impressed me as much with their work ethic as anything else,” Self added. “We’ll make a lot of mistakes. I’ll be very nervous about the last four minutes of games because we don’t really have anybody that’s ever been a closer before, but as far as throwing the ball up and having guys go get it, this will be the best team we’ve had to do that.”

As far as individuals ... “Wayne and Perry have been our best two consistent performers all summer long,” Self said of Wayne Selden and Perry Ellis. “He’s hungry. He’s got a college body or a pro body or a man’s body already. He has a chance to be really good early on,” he added of 6-5, 230-pound Selden, who spent much of the allotted two hours of practice time a week (as well as unsupervised pick-up games) guarding frosh phenom Andrew Wiggins.

As far as what Wiggins has been doing of late, Self said he returned to his native Canada after attending the Gatorade Player of the Year ceremony in Los Angeles on July 16.

“He was able to finish his classwork and take care of that. Since he’s been home we’ve basically trusted him to work on his own,” Self said.
LJW


2. Wayne Selden, Kansas Jayhawks

All the talk in Lawrence and throughout the country will be about Andrew Wiggins, the top-ranked freshman in the nation. That's understandable. But Selden is a power guard who will give Bill Self and the Jayhawks much-needed toughness. He’s big, strong, can finish around the basket and is also able to make 3s. Don’t be shocked if the Boston native winds up leading Kansas in scoring this season and also soars up the draft boards.
ESPN Under the radar players


As if this program isn't already suffering from an embarrassment of riches, Self told me he has a real hidden gem in Frank Mason, a 6-foot freshman point guard from Petersburg, Va. Mason originally signed with Towson out of high school, but when he didn't qualify academically he ended up in prep school. KU assistant coach Kurtis Townsend happened to see Mason play on the recruiting circuit and locked him up before anyone else noticed he could play. Self told me that he believes Mason can push Tharpe for playing time at the point. And this being Self, he's not going to hold back a player just because he's young. In this program, the best players will play. "It's going to take [Mason] some time to figure out how to run the team, but he's without question a guy who will impact practice intensity more than anyone. He's a pit bull," Self said. "Basically, we were lucky to get him."

Isn't it funny how when it comes to stockpiling talent, Self always seems to have the most luck?
SI Seth Davis


A national nonprofit military foundation is teaming up with University of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self and two former KU basketball players for a weekend basketball camp for children from McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita.

Ben McLemore, of the Sacramento Kings, and Thomas Robinson, of the Portland Trailblazers, will host the camp, which is put on by the Armed Forces Foundation and ProCamps and directed by Self. It runs Saturday through Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse.
TCJ

Kansas loading up again for Late Night

Last year, Bill Self’s prospect party was talent-laden; it always tends to be that way. The Jayhawks hosted seniors Wayne Selden, Joel Embiid and Aaron Gordon. Junior big man Elbert Robinson was also in Lawrence for last year’s festivities. Gordon wiggled off the hook but Selden and Embiid didn’t stray. This time around, KU is hoping for similar results.

One could argue that the Jayhawks are involved with more high-level talent than any other program in the country. Even though Stanley Johnson opted to attend USA Basketball’s Fall Workout instead of Late Night, Self’s party will still be a rager. Johnson, by the way, is visiting Kansas but needs a new date. The Late Night crowd tentatively reads center Myles Turner, wingKelly Oubre and big man Cliff Alexander. Point guard Jordan McLaughlin is also on the visit list. The Jayhawks love bringing in underclassmen for the festivities and their list will grow as we get closer to the event. Expect junior guard Charles Matthews and scorer King McClure to rep the Class of 2015.
ESPN ($)

Mario Chalmers always had mixed feelings about this time of year back during his AAU playing days with Pump 'N Run (Alaska) in 2004. The AAU season winding down meant no more traveling around the country to tournaments and showcases leaving Chalmers wondering "what's next?"

"There was nothing to do around this time," Chalmers said. "I always wanted to AAU season to last a little longer, but I typically tried to just use this time to get better and prepare for my school year. It always came really fast after AAU was done."

Fresh off of his second consecutive NBA title, we caught up with the Miami Heat point guard and talked about everything from his foundation to how high school hoopers should fill their time post-AAU to how big an impact he thinks Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins will have this coming season.

…USAT: You've seen him up close and you've gone through college and had great success, obviously; how good will Andrew be? The hype is such that you can't help but ask: Best Jayhawk ever?

MC: Well, that's a tough thing to say when you've got the type of great players that we've had here at Kansas. I think it's a fair question and I know what you mean. I think he'll be up there with the greats, but the best ever? That's tough to say.

USAT: What do you anticipate his biggest hurdle being as a freshman?

MC: I think just trying to stay levelheaded and not putting too much pressure on himself. He can't try and please everybody; just gotta stick to his game and stick to doing what he does.

USAT: I know it's early, but my guess is that you could predict the 2014 NCAA champ right now?

MC: Kansas! I pick Kansas every year no matter what. We've definitely got a shot!
USA Today


Mario Chalmers, the former University of Kansas basketball darling, gained another round of accolades at the end of last month when he presented a $2,500 check to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Kansas.

The presentation was on behalf of the Miami Heat point guard’s charity, the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation, which supports programs concerned with breast cancer treatment and research. The proceeds were from the charity’s annual golf tournament in Lawrence, which also contributed $5,000 to Mario’s Closet at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
TCJ

8/15/13, 12:01 PM
Appreciate the #kubball staff for coming to watch practice today #FOE
@KeonStowers98


Former Kansas University women’s basketball forward Tania Jackson has been added to the Missouri women’s basketball roster, MU announced Thursday.

Jackson, who is a Lawrence native and attended Lawrence High, will be able to play immediately with one year of eligibility left after earning her undergraduate degree at KU.

The 6-foot-3 Jackson played in 14 games for the Jayhawks last season, averaging 6.9 points and 6.4 rebounds before leaving KU’s program in January.
LJW

The photo you see above, which was magically dug up by Sports Illustrated photo vault curator Andy Gray, depicts the fourth grade class at Brooks Elementary School in 1945. That particular class included one Wilt Chamberlain, who would go on to be one of the most dominant basketball players of all-time.

If you can't pick Wilt out in that photo, you're either A) blind, or B) have forgotten that by the time he reached the NBA, he stood 7-foot tall.

What's most amazing about this photo isn't just that it exists, though that is remarkable in itself. Rather, it's that at age 9, Wilt was already a monster. He's almost twice the size of some of his classmates in this photo (check out the girl in the front row on the far left). That's absolutely ridiculous.
Link


In 1954, before his senior year of high school, Wilt Chamberlain took a summer job as a bellhop at Kutsher's Country Club, a Jewish resort in the Catskill Mountains. By day he was making $2 an hour and getting great tips from the awestruck guests as he lifted their luggage through a second-floor window … while standing outside on the ground. At night, he played on the Kutsher's basketball team and was coached by the resort's athletic director, Celtics coach Red Auerbach. Mixing rarely seen archival video and interviews with people who lived and worked with Wilt, this short chronicles a pivotal chapter in the life of one of the game's greatest players, and gives a fascinating glimpse into a time when basketball met the Borscht Belt in its heyday.
VIDEO: 30 for 30 Shorts: Wilt Chamberlain: Borscht Belt Bellhop


The University of Kansas and University of Missouri do not even play each other in sports anymore, but there is an event coming up on Wednesday that has the rivalry reaching new heights. 
        


This week, people in Lawrence, Kan., are marking the 150th anniversary of William Quantrill's raid on the town.

Almost 200 men and boys died in the massacre in 1863 and much of the town was burned to the ground. 
          


The commemorations have been mostly somber. A ceremony on Sunday recognized each person who died. 
        


But on Wednesday, if you go to the Black and Gold Tavern in Kansas City, the MU alum owner 
Zach Cartwright wants to celebrate the anniversary.

"The border war gave birth to a great sports rivalry. If you look at it from an MU / KU rivalry then Quantrill is our guy because he burned Lawrence," Cartwright said.

"It's a very somber event, that's about a terrible thing that happened. I mean innocent people were gunned down and some while holding their children's hands.” KU Associate Professor of History Jonathan Earle said. “I would think it should not be celebrated."

The Black and Gold Tavern expects a crowd on Wednesday to celebrate Quantrill.
KSHB


8/21/13, 7:10 AM
150 years ago today, Quantrill's men burned Lawrence. The raid is being re-enacted via Twitter right now. Follow #QR1863. #kualumni
@kualumni


Lawrence, KS #17 Forbes Best Small Places for Business and Careers


The ownership group of Varney's — the self-proclaimed world's largest retailer of Kansas State merchandise — has purchased the Jayhawk Bookstore at 1420 Crescent Road.

But the store's new owners said diehard KU fans don't have to worry about Kansas State merchandise or sentiments infiltrating the longtime Jayhawk Bookstore at the top of the hill.

"Think of it like a marriage but with separate bank accounts," Steve Levin, general manager of Varney's and the corporate entity University Book Store Inc., said with a laugh. "That first day I got to the Lawrence store, I put on a beautiful blue shirt with a Jayhawk on it. But when I wore it back to the store in Manhattan, you would have thought I was a leper."

The Varney's brand-name certainly won't be making an appearance in Lawrence, Levin said. The new owners are keeping the Jayhawk Bookstore brand, and plan to turn around some struggles at the store — which previously was owned by Nebraska Book Co., a Lincoln-based company that has been shedding a few properties since emerging from bankruptcy.

"We're a Kansas company," Levin said from the company's Manhattan headquarters. "We understand what Kansas and Lawrence people expect. We know we can bring a good product and a fair price."
LJW

Big XII composite schedule


ESPN College GameDay Schedule


ESPN NCAA Bucket List Map


Texas' leading returning scorer, Ioannis Papapetrou, has signed a lucrative deal to play overseas with Olympiacos BC.

Texas has confirmed Papapetrou's departure, which was reported earlier by Eurohoops.net.
Olympiacos also posted a story on its website that Papapetrou, a native of Athens, has inked a five-year deal. A source told ESPN.com the deal was worth approximately $2 million.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Papapetrou's departure is the latest hit for coach Rick Barnes and the Longhorns' program, which has lost Avery Bradley, Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph early to the NBA and also watched as Sheldon McClellan, Julien Lewis and Jaylen Bond all transferred out of the program following last season.
ESPN


With more than one month until practice can start, Oklahoma is getting nothing but bad news. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that junior college transfer Edson Avila would not be eligible to enroll at Oklahoma this season.

And on Wednesday night, the school announced via its Twitter account that starting guard Je'lon Hornbeak had foot surgery and could miss up to two months.

Hornbeak, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Texas, started 29 games last season, averaging 5.6 points and 2.7 rebounds. He is slated to once again start on the perimeter for the Sooners. The latter part of his timetable would slot his return a couple of weeks before the season, so Hornbeak should be healthy for the season opener against Alabama on Nov. 8.
CBS


We’ve already polled college basketball coaches for the most feared recruiters, both assistants and head coaches.

But now it’s time to look at the top X’s and O’s guys in the country, regardless of level. The coaches who scare their counterparts with their ability to diagram plays and have their players carry out those plays.

We polled about two-thirds (around 250) of the Division I head coaches, and some opted to vote more than once. There were more than 300 total votes cast and there was a clear separation at the top.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo was the runaway winner, with one of his Big Ten rivals finishing in second. Brad Stevens still received plenty of votes (14 in total) despite the fact that he’s now in the NBA, and former UCLA head man Ben Howland also got his share (four votes) even though he’s unemployed.

…4. Bill Self, Kansas Jayhawks (17)
Record: 507-164 (20 seasons)
NCAA tournament record: 35-14
“Bill is really good in getting quality shots in late-game situations. You have to have good X’s and O’s, good personnel and good presence. Bill has all three.” -- San Francisco coach Rex Walters
ESPN ($)


Illinois men’s basketball assistant coach Jamall Walker received a public reprimand and a two-game tournament suspension for his misconduct during the 2013 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

Specifically, Walker made inappropriate contact with a game official and verbally confronted the game officials and a police officer following Illinois’ loss to Miami (Fla.) on March 24 in the third round of the East Region. Walker’s misconduct led the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee to issue him a two-game NCAA postseason championship suspension. The suspension shall apply to the next NCAA postseason opportunity that Walker will have as a coach, regardless of what school he represents.

NCAA guidelines define misconduct as “any act of dishonesty, unsportsmanlike conduct, unprofessional behavior or breach of law, occurring from the time the championship field is announced through the end of the championship that discredits the event or intercollegiate athletics.”
NCAA


Jereme Richmond, who was a four-star, top-30 player coming out of high school and played one season at Illinois (2010-11) faces up to seven years in federal prison.

According to the Associated Press, Richmond has been convicted of threatening a probation officer. A Waukegan, Ill., jury found Richmond guilty Thursday; he'll be sentenced on Sept. 26. Per Richmond's attorney, there remains a possibility he will avoid jail time and receive even more probation. Richmond, who in 2011 declared for the NBA Draft -- and went undrafted -- is 21 years old.

Richmond was arrested in April after telling a probation officer to "be real safe," according to police reports. He also allegedly mimed the act of holding a gun to the female officer. The arrest came 14 months into an 18-month probation period.

…The probation stemmed from a guilty plea in 2012 after Richmond copped to "unlawful use of a weapon," according to the AP. That case saw allegations against Richmond of physical abuse toward a 17-year-old girl that also included allegations of violence against the girl's family.

Richmond was a McDonald's All-American and named Mr. Basketball in Illinois in his senior year of high school. While at Illinois, he averaged 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds.
CBS


A report released by a University of Maryland commission on Tuesday detailed an athletic department that continues to operate at a significant deficit and is projected to do so until at least the 2017-18 academic year, even as the school prepares to jump from the ACC to the more lucrative Big Ten in 2014.

The commission found that the Maryland athletic department operated at a deficit of more than $21 million for the past academic year because of two reasons: “past financial decisions” that led to continuing debt and the ACC’s withholding of roughly $15 million in revenue. The conference began withholding the revenue last year as part of its efforts to collect a $52 million exit fee from the school, which maintains that the fee is illegal.
Washington Post


Which 2014 prospect will struggle most at the college level?

    •    Goodluck Okonoboh: 14 percent
    •    Trey Lyles: 11 percent
    •    Daniel Hamilton: 8 percent
    •    Kevon Looney: 6 percent
    •    Cliff Alexander: 6 percent
    •    Joel Berry: 6 percent
    •    Emmanuel Mudiay: 6 percent

Others receiving votes: Karl Towns, Myles Turner, Josh Perkins, Devin Booker, Theo Pinson, D'Angelo Russell, Malik Pope, Justin Jackson, Leron Black, Tyus Jones, Craig Victor, Chris McCullough, Justise Winslow, JaQuan lyle, Jordan McLaughlin, Devin Robinson
CBS


Iowa fans who have never forgiven Pierre Pierce now have a new reason to loathe the disgraced ex-Hawkeyes star.

Pierce scored game-high 19 points and sank a game-winning shot in overtime against his former school on Monday night to hand Iowa its first loss in five games on its exhibition tour of England and France.

"Felt pretty good hitting my first game winner today lol," Pierce tweeted after Hyeres-Toulon's 84-82 victory. "Wish the #hawkeyes best of luck this season and safe travels back."

A two-point exhibition loss to a French pro team wouldn't normally bother Iowa fans, but it has to sting a bit that Pierce is the one who delivered it. Pierce was accused of sexual assault twice during his Iowa career, sparking perhaps the most divisive controversy in Hawkeyes basketball history.
Yahoo


2013-14 Early-season events schedule

Under Armour today announced the teams for Saturday night’s Elite 24 game at the Tobacco Warehouse under the Brooklyn Bridge.

The game airs live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET Saturday, while the Slam Dunk Contest and Skills Competition will air Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.


Team Coney Island

Name Hometown ESPN Rank College
Joel Berry Apopka, FL 14 North Carolina
Devin Booker Ocean Springs, MS 16 Undecided
Cheick Diallo** Centereach, NY 10 (2015) Undecided
Harry Giles* Winstom-Salem, NC 1 (2016) Undecided
Stanley Johnson Fullerton, CA 12 Undecided
Chris McCullough Bronx, NY 7 Syracuse
Emmanuel Mudiay Dallas, TX 5 Undecided
Kelly Oubre Richmond, TX 20 Undecided
Theo Pinson Greensboro, NC 13 North Carolina
Reid Travis Minneapolis, MN 40 Undecided
Romelo Trimble Upper Marlboro, MD 45 Maryland
Rashad Vaughn Golden Valley, MN 11 Undecided
Stephen Zimmerman Las Vegas, NV 7 (2015) Undecided
*Injured
**Replaced Karl Towns, Jr.
 
Team Bed-Stuy

Name Hometown ESPN Rank College Commitment
Chris Chiozza Bartlett, TN 39 Florida
Justin Jackson Tomball, TX 8 North Carolina
Tyus Jones Apple Valley, MN 3 Undecided
Thon Maker Martinsville, VA 2 (2016) Undecided
Malik Newman Ridgeland, MS 2 (2015) Undecided
Goodluck Okonoboh Woburn, MA 19 Undecided
Ivan Rabb Oakland, CA 1 (2015) Undecided
D’Angelo Russell Lousiville, KY 23 Ohio State
Myles Turner Bedford, TX 10 Undecided
Isaiah Whitehead Brooklyn, NY 35 Undecided
Justice Winslow Houston, TX 15 Undecided
Dion Wiley Oxon Hill, MD 26 Maryland
Zags Blog

8/12/13, 10:46 PM
S/O to KU pic.twitter.com/FDH0TSXZvt
https://twitter.com/humblekid11


Cliff Alexander has lived in the shadow of fellow Illinois big man Jahlil Okafor. Until recently. Now the 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward has made his way into the conversation for the top spot in the Class of 2014 -- currently held by Okafor.

The two big men played together all summer, and are a contrast in styles. The 6-11 Okafor is exceptionally skilled, a true post player who uses finesse. Alexander (ESPN’s No. 2 recruit) is powerful, intimidating and also athletic. He brings back visions of a young, healthy Amare Stoudemire.

“He dominates a game with nastiness,” said one coach involved in the recruitment.

…1. Kansas Jayhawks

Most everyone agrees that Kansas is either the leader or the co-leader along with Michigan State, and it’s not just because Alexander is dating a member of the KU women’s basketball team, either. The Jayhawks will likely have a spot for a big man after losing fifth-year senior Tarik Black and also potentially -- even likely -- losing talented big man Joel Embiid after just one season in Lawrence. Bill Self’s track record of getting big men the ball also comes into play, and his ability to land the No. 1 player in the land, Andrew Wiggins, doesn’t hurt in terms of momentum. The Jayhawks also recently added Jerrance Howard to the coaching staff, a former Illinois player/coach who has strong ties in the city and is extremely well-liked in the area.
ESPN ($)


8/19/13, 1:04 PM
That article on me is not true i have no order I have messages to prove it
@humblekid11


This leads us back to the original question posed by Fraschilla: Jones for possibly two seasons or Ulis for four? Fran, maybe the question should be Mudiay for one season or Jones for two?

Once you get to the NBA, the rules change. Size matters. Bigger, faster, stronger is the norm. The NBA game is ruled by giants at every position. The average size of the players at each position is significantly larger than those on the college level; naturally because it’s a step up.

While I’m not ready to say Mudiay is a lock to be a better NBA point than Jones, he is more prepared because of the size and athleticism for that level. Trust me, NBA guys will one day covet Jones for all the reasons we love him now, but the specter of Mudiay’s overall package looms too large to ignore long-term.

To fend off Mudiay and the NBA critics, Jones will need to continue to be a winning machine who directs traffic and shows himself capable of the occasional big scoring outbursts on the college level. Ulis will need years of producing and demonstrating proficiency with his perimeter game to warrant inclusion in this conversation long-term; that’s just the way it is for a sub-6-footer. His NBA ceiling is considerably lower because of his physical size.

For those interested in continuing this dialogue, watch the Elite 24 on Saturday and you’ll see Jones and Mudiay matched up against one another.
ESPN ($)


The Arizona Wildcats secured a verbal commitment from ESPN 100 power forward Craig Victor on Saturday afternoon.

The 6-foot-7, 205-pound New Orleans native -- ranked No. 31 nationally in the Class of 2014, No. 1 in Louisiana and No. 5 at his position -- picked the Wildcats over LSU, Kansas and Oklahoma State. Victor made the announcement at his travel team's season-ending banquet.

"For me, it was about going to a place that could develop me for the NBA," Victor said. "I also wanted a chance to win a national championship."
Link


8/13/13, 11:40 AM
These are the final visits I'm taking.
Unofficial to MN today
Officials to:
Baylor Aug 30-Sept 1
UK Sept 27-29
KU Oct 18-20
Duke Oct 25-27
@Tyusjones06


News: Tyus Jones (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) reaffirms his intent to go to school with Jahlil Okafor (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young)

In: Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Ohio State
Out: Minnesota

Real story: Minnesota is still on Jones' list of seven, but the Gophers aren't on Okafor's list. That, in addition to the fact Richard Pitino and his staff could be seen prioritizing other targets this summer, is indication enough that Jones isn't likely to be staying home next season. The latest twist in the story is Okafor's AAU coach, Mike Irvin, going on record saying there is a great chance Duke lands Jones, while Okafor's camp has denied the Blue Devils are the leader for the package deal.

Bottom line: Jones and Okafor do want to go to school together, but they don't yet agree on where. Jones appears pretty set on Duke, but Okafor not quite as much at this point. ESPN 100 SF Justise Winslow (Houston/Saint John's) is also part of the conversation, making this potentially one of the biggest package deals in recent history.

News: Emmanuel Mudiay (Arlington, Texas/Prime Prep) cuts his list to five

In: Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, SMU
Out: Arizona, Louisville, North Carolina State, St. John's, Texas

Real story: There's no real surprise in his final five. These are the schools that had recruited him the hardest throughout the summer. Moving forward, Kentucky and SMU appear to be the favorites, and both are willing to wait it out to get him. As for those who are out, Louisville in particular, backed off Mudiay as much as he backed off them when they made a strategic decision to target JaQuan Lyle.
Bottom line: Baylor, Kansas and Oklahoma State aren't giving up, but they know the time and the score, and they won't be able to turn down commitments from other top point guards. Ultimately, Mudiay likely will pick between Kentucky and SMU.
ESPN ($)


"I’m going to cut it down again," said Oubre. "I think I will cut it down to five before the season starts. I’m going to cut it to five so I can set up my visits."

No schools really stand out to him at this point but, he knows what schools will remain on his list when he cuts it down again.

"At this point not really," he said. "I did set my official visit to Kansas on October 4th and I will be visiting Kentucky shortly after. After that it is fair game and when I cut my list down I will see where the rest of those three are going to fit in."

When it comes to official visits he is going to take it as it goes.

"I am going to take it as it goes," the Findlay Prep bound shooting guard said. "I will play the process out the best way I can to make the best decision for me and my family to develop me to get me where I want to be and that is the pros."

Coaching has a lot to do with what he will base his decision off of.

"I will base it off of the longevity of the coach," said Oubre. "If the coach is going to push me to be the best that I can be and the playing style of the program."

He doesn't know when he will make his decision.

"I don’t right now," he told GNGB. "I will let everyone know when I know. I am going to play this process out the best way I can to make the best decision for me."

He also told GiveNGoBasketball.com something that some people might not know about him.

"I am weird," he said. "As you can tell by my hair I don’t like to be like everyone else. I like to be different. I like to set my own trends and be my own person."
Link


Myles Turner (Bedford, Texas/Euless Trinity) was unknown and anonymous just a few months ago, heading into the April recruiting period. A broken ankle kept him off the summer circuit last season and kept him off the radar for most of the elite college programs.

But it has all changed in a hurry for the 6-foot-11, 225-pound Texan, who has made an Anthony Davis-esque rise up the rankings, elevating himself from outside the ESPN 100 to No. 10 overall in the Class of 2014 to now potentially challenging fellow big men Jahlil Okafor (Chicago/Whitney Young) and Cliff Alexander (Chicago/Curie) for the No. 1 spot. While Okafor is polished and skilled, no one in the 2014 class may have as much upside as Turner.

Turner recently cut his college list to eight and has set just one official visit thus far, to Lawrence, Kan., for the Jayhawks’ Midnight Madness on Oct. 4. Turner’s father, David, told ESPN.com that the family has also already set up in-home visits with Texas and Kentucky.

Here’s handicapping the race for Turner, ranking his finalists from 1-8 after talking to those involved in the recruitment:

1. Kansas: The Jayhawks are the perceived leaders for a variety of reasons. First of all, it’s Kansas and Bill Self has developed a well-earned reputation with big men. KU will lose Tarik Black after this season and could very well also watch raw but talented freshman center Joel Embiid depart after just one year in Lawrence. At Kansas, Turner could play for an elite-level program and wouldn’t have to travel all that far to do so. There’s also a strong connection between Turner’s trainer, who worked with former Jayhawks big man Darrell Arthur, and the KU program. Just about everyone I’ve spoken to feels as though KU is currently in the driver’s seat.
ESPN ($)


For years, Curtis Malone has been the head of DC Assault, a powerhouse D.C. area basketball program. The success of Malone's players has given Malone a national profile, including status as a go-between between players and the colleges that want them and sponsorship for the program from Adidas.

Malone, it seemed, had come a long way since 1991, when he was convicted for distributing crack cocaine. But according to documents filed in federal court today, what Malone once called his "last life" isn't so far behind him.

Malone was arrested Friday in D.C.  as part of a year-long DEA investigation. Agents who searched his home found what's believed to be kilo of cocaine, 100 grams of suspected heroin, a handgun, and unnamed items associated with heroin sales, according to court documents. Malone and another alleged dealer have been charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.

DEA agents working through an informant were able to make several heroin purchases from a dealer who worked with Malone, according to prosecutors. That enabled them to put a wiretap on Malone's phone.

After pulling over an alleged customer of Malone's who had visited Malone's Upper Marlboro home, officers discovered a kilo of suspected cocaine in the car.
Link


Stephen Zimmerman will fly back and forth to New York City from Las Vegas twice in August.
And that isn’t exactly good times for a guy his size.

“It’s really fun,” Zimmerman, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2015, told SNY.tv in the above video at the Big Strick. “My only problem is the traveling coming down here. Being on planes isn’t fun for a 7-footer.”

That will culminate a tremendous summer in which Zimmerman picked up offers from a Who’s Who of high-major programs, including Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, UConn and Arizona, to name a few.

…“Kansas works welll with big men,” Zimmerman said. “My main thing is to go to a school that’s going to help me get to be the best player that I can be and a school that works well with bigs is a good school.”

Looking forward to the Elite 24 and his junior season, Zimmerman has one goal mind.

He wants to show everyone “that I can be a lot more aggressive than I’m perceived to be.

“I’m not the strongest person,” he added. “I can be a lot stronger and I’ve been working on it so I’ve been going around that by using my skillset and working on my jump hook a lot but I need to be getting to the free throw line a lot more and showing that I’m more aggressive.”
Zags Blog (Video at the link)


Kelly Oubre came into New York City and won the MVP of the Big Strick Classic on Saturday night despite playing on a losing team.

The 6-foot-6 Findlay Prep wing scored 22 points for Team USA in the loss.

Before the big game, Oubre talked recruiting with SNY.tv and said he plans to visit Kansas Oct. 4 for “Late Night in the Phog” and could possibly visit Kentucky Oct. 18 for “Big Blue Madness.”

“Kansas visit, me and my dad were talking closely about Kentucky shortly after because everybody’s Midnight Madnesses are kind of close, so those visits are probably going to be back-to-back-to-back when we really sit down and talk about them,” he said.

Still, Oubre reiterated that he hasn’t nailed down the Kentucky visit. Stanley Johnson and Emmanuel Mudiay are among those who will visit UK Oct. 18.

Oubre, who had a breakout summer with Houston Hoops, is down to eight schools: Kansas, Florida, Kentucky, Georgetown, Louisville, Oregon, UConn and UNLV.
Zags Blog (Video at the link)


I've just got a whole new approach to the game these days. I've been reading Relentless, Living the Dream and Coach K's book Five Point Play and they've really inspired me to be the best that I can be.

I'm serious about it. I don't play around as much as I used to. I still have fun, but I'm all about business on the court. I am hungrier out there. I just want to be a better leader in all aspects.

What happened was that I got a call from Coach (Larry) Brown at SMU and he really pulled my card about not playing with a lot of passion and not playing to the best of my abilities. It really struck something in me because he's a legend and I really respect him.

I wanted to change my approach and my whole team's approach to every game and we had to have a team meeting about it. I feel like they understood where I was coming from. I came out and played hard and worked on all of the little things and, basically, just had fun out there.

I talked to Coach Brown later that night and he said he was really proud of how I responded. That made me feel really good.

We ended up losing to Ivan Rabb and Stanley Johnson's team by eight points. It was a fun game because those are my boys and it was competitive because we were going at each other.

…I'm going to Midnight Madness at Kansas and Oklahoma too. I can't wait for that! Plus I'll visit Texas A&M when they play Alabama this year. So I'm planning things out so I can get down there and see what campus life is like.
USA Today Blog Elijah Thomas


8/19/13, 12:18 PM
Change my Kansas visit to another date going to @usabasketball mini camp that weekend
@StanMan_41


8/19/13, 12:23 PM
my visit schedule so far is:
Flordia-Nov 30
UK- Oct 18
Arizona- Sept 14
USC- 20th (unofficial)
UCLA,Oregon, Kansas- no date yet
@StanMan_41


LSU freshman Jordan Mickey and TCU frosh Karviar Shepherd were both academically cleared by the NCAA to play this season, but that doesn’t mean that Deion Sanders’ Prime Prep has been given the green light by the NCAA.

The NCAA cleared the players because it felt that both were given misleading information by the school, sources told ESPN.com.

Prime Prep, the Dallas-based school that boasts star 2014 point guard recruit Emmanuel Mudiay and talented junior big man Elijah Thomas, is still going through the process to be cleared.

Here’s the NCAA statement regarding Prime Prep on the eligibilitycenter.org website:

“This program is under an extended evaluation period to determine if it meets the academic requirements for NCAA cleared status. During this evaluation period, the courses listed below may be subject to further review on a case-by-case basis, which will require additional academic documentation.”
ESPN


Recruiting Calendar


My KU Alumni games, 2011-12 Border War, Legends of the Phog, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos, Late Night in the Phog, and more now on YouTube

The networks and times have been finalized for the inaugural Big 12/SEC Challenge – an early-season men’s basketball event matching these premier conferences against one another. Starting with the first game on Thursday, Nov. 14, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise all 10 games, including four teams in ESPN.com’s preseason top 25 and two top-25 matchups.

All telecasts will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and on Apple TV to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

The first year of the Big 12/SEC Challenge will play out over six weeks, culminating with the Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M game from Houston on Saturday, Dec. 21 (ESPNU, 7 p.m. ET). Schedule highlights:

No. 11 Oklahoma State matches up at home against South Carolina on Friday, Dec. 6 (ESPNU, 9:30 p.m.).

2013 NIT Champions No. 19 Baylor faces top-ranked Kentucky – fielding ESPN.com’s No. 1-ranked incoming recruiting class – from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, also on Dec. 6 (ESPN, 10 p.m.).

A top 10 battle, No. 5 Kansas plays at No. 7 Florida on Tuesday, Dec. 10 (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
The Jayhawks will feature one of the top incoming freshman in the nation in No. 1-ranked Andrew Wiggins by ESPN.com.
ESPN

Kentucky vs Michigan State 7:30 PM

Kansas vs Duke 10:00 PM

November 12, 2013

It looks as if the popular early-season Champions Classic — a one-day, one-site doubleheader matching college basketball powerhouses Kansas University, Kentucky, Duke and Michigan State in a round-robin format — will be renewed for another three years.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Friday on Lansing, Mich., radio station WVFN, that he believed Kentucky had “a little problem (with scheduling)” that had been resolved. Izzo said “I think they (Wildcats) just re-upped. I think it’s all but moving forward.

“We definitely wanted to sign up for another three years,” Izzo added. “It’s been a great event, good for our fans, alumni in those areas (New York, Atlanta and this year, Chicago). I don’t know where it’ll be at. There are rumors Atlanta, Indianapolis and Chicago. I’ve heard different rumors where.”
Larry Keating, who is in charge of KU’s scheduling as special assistant to the athletic director, said Sunday that KU has agreed to continue being a part of the four-team Classic. KU which lost to Kentucky in 2011 in New York and fell to Michigan State last season in Atlanta, will meet Duke at 8:30 p.m., Nov. 12 at Chicago’s United Center. UK meets MSU in the early game.

“I think everybody’s happy with it,” Keating said of the four schools. “There have been discussions for a year about renewing it. It’s a matter of everybody filling their schedules, (ESPN) getting the cities and facilities lined up (before anything is announced). I do believe it’ll stay the first Tuesday of the season, anchoring ESPN’s 24 hours of basketball.”

Keating said the event has been great for KU alumni in New York and Atlanta. “And we expect a large crowd in Chicago,” Keating said of the Jayhawks’ massive alumni base in the Windy City.
LJW


Kansas University forward Perry Ellis had a close-up view as KU freshman teammate Wayne Selden drove baseline and put in a one-handed reverse jam during the adidas Nations camp last week in Los Angeles.

The only problem? Ellis was playing for the other team.

“You can’t really do anything (afterwards). Just go the other way,” Ellis said with a laugh. “That’s going to be great to have (at KU).”

Ellis, Selden and KU freshman center Joel Embiid all participated as counselors at the camp, giving instruction to younger players while also playing in camp counselor games against other collegians.
Ellis mostly went against Baylor’s Cory Jefferson, UCLA’s David and Travis Wear and Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell.

“I felt I did real well,” Ellis said. “I was just really trying to get better.”
LJW


Andrew Wiggins (FR @ Kansas), Tyler Ennis (FR @ Syracuse) & Kevin Pangos (JR Gonzaga) were all inattendence for Canada's W over Jamaica
@HoopsHypeCA

KUAD Press Release: KU alum, Dean Smith, to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom


The Presidential Medal of Freedom award for former North Carolina coach Dean Smith was an honor well deserved. The recognition by President Barack Obama, like those before him since President John F. Kennedy created the award, is meant to be for individuals who have set themselves apart in their chosen field, but not always for simply the craft that made them so successful. Smith did so much more than simply coach and win basketball games. He wasn't afraid to be active in the world in which he coached in the 1960s. He set a high example for himself and the program. North Carolina coach Roy Williams said in a statement Thursday, "But more than basketball, it was his social conscience that has left even greater marks on our society and will be paying dividends for generations.'' Smith has been battling memory loss over the past few seasons. No one knows if he'll be able to attend the ceremony at the White House when the date is announced. But let's hope he can make an appearance. His family deserves to see him praised publicly. That's what makes the timing right, so those who love him can celebrate his life's accomplishments with him.

…The Big 12 made the right call in having Kansas and Oklahoma State play on March 1 -- in Stillwater -- in what should be one of the best atmospheres and showdowns next season. KU and OSU should dominate the landscape on that day. This would give the focus to the Big 12 with Andrew Wiggins and Marcus Smart headlining the game. Like it or not, Duke-North Carolina the ensuing weekend usually draws a lot of attention. If KU-OSU were opposite that game there's a good chance it would still be the game of the day based on preseason projections. But this way there is no debate with Kansas and Oklahoma State on a separate weekend.
ESPN


8/7/13, 1:08 AM
Just found out the video I made for @BenMcLemore @KUHoops @KUAthletics Ben McLemore Rising Up is nominated for an #Emmy ! #exciting
@SecondWindC


The Wheel named #3 Best College Bar


Free agent Xavier Henry is "really impressing" in Los Angeles summer action and could latch on with a team soon.


Henry hasn't gotten much interest this summer, but recent speculation has suggested he might be a fit for the 76ers. A former lottery pick, Henry has averaged just 4.5 points per game in three NBA seasons but is still only 22 years old.
https://twitter.com/JaredZwerling/status/365149173714132993

Big XII composite schedule


This season’s Big Monday presented by Bud Light men’s college basketball doubleheader will include the debut of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the return of the Big 12. Airing every Monday during conference play from January 13 to March 3, the ACC will make its debut in ESPN’s popular weekly series in the 7 p.m. ET window, prior to the Big 12 matchup at 9 p.m. The Big 12 has had a presence on Big Monday since the league’s inception in 1996-97.
ESPN (Complete Monday schedule at the link)


At 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 11, the Marathon begins with an ESPN2 women's doubleheader (Stanford-UConn; then Tennessee-North Carolina) and an ESPNU men's doubleheader (Kent State-Temple; then Colorado State-Gonzaga). At 7:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 12, the Marathon ends with a Champions Classic doubleheader that very well might match up four of the nation's top five teams (Kentucky-Michigan State; Kansas-Duke).

In between, starting at 11 p.m. ET on the 11th, there's a run of men's games that will keep the hardcore fans up all night and morning and begging for caffeine by lunchtime. Who will be participating in those games? Well, stick with us here in the Nation blog. We'll be revealing each of the Marathon matchups at the corresponding time they'll be taking place three months from now. Keep this page open and refresh every two hours and you'll get a new game, along with an early analysis of the matchup. Starting with ...
ESPN


As Ford and I talked, Smart was across town participating as one of just two invited collegians at USA Basketball's national team camp. It was affirmation of his place as a big man on campus, yet he was still very much the wide-eyed child. "Marcus couldn't believe that those [NBA] guys knew who he was. He was all excited that John Wall came up to him and said his name," Ford said. It's exactly the kind of educational experience Smart came back for. Ford knows that Smart doesn't need to rework his game during the off-season, but he still has much room to improve. Said Ford, "I've challenged him to get a little bit better at everything."

With Smart back in the fold, Oklahoma State will return all but one starter from the team that went 24-9 and lost to Oregon in the Round of 32 at the NCAA tournament. (That lone lost starter, 6-foot-11 senior center Philip Jurick, averaged just 17 minutes per game.) Nor is Smart the only future pro. Markel Brown, a 6-3 senior, was essentially tied with Smart as the team's leading scorer last season. Brown is an exceptional athlete who has vastly improved his outside shooting and was among the collegians invited to compete at the LeBron James Skills Academy in Las Vegas last month.

Le'Bryan Nash, meanwhile, is also poised for a breakout season. The 6-7 junior was a highly-regarded recruit coming out of Dallas, but he has been plagued by inconsistency his first two seasons. Nash has good size and strength for his position, but he tends to drift too much on the perimeter. Ford has been working on convincing Nash to use his size more next season. "He really understands what's going to get him to the next level," Ford said. "He's realizing now, 'I'm big and strong. I can't be stopped five feet in.' When he came here, he probably thought he was one and done, but he has been very coachable and shown a lot of maturity."

With so many quality vets returning, it's unlikely that any of the Cowboys' freshmen will make an impact, but there will be one critical addition in 6-5 junior forward Brian Williams. After missing the first 18 games because of a broken wrist last season, Williams, who averaged 12 points per game in conference play as a freshman, was mostly a marginal player down the stretch, but he should be ready to make a greater impact this winter. Ford described Williams as a high-energy player as well as the team's best on-ball defender. "He can guard every position," Ford said. "He's the reason I think we'll be better."

When Smart announced he was returning, a lot of people predicted that Oklahoma State would end Kansas' nine-year streak as champs in the Big 12. I told Ford I was skeptical of that claim even before the Jayhawks landed the top high school player in the country, Andrew Wiggins. The coach did not disagree. "Until somebody finishes ahead of Kansas, I'd pick 'em every year, too," he said. That aside, Ford has no intention of trying to tamp down the hype. "I understand that people think we're going to be really good, but that's what you want," he said. "I just have to make sure our players understand that we haven't done anything yet."

…If there is one program that best exemplifies the vagaries of revolving-door transfers, it is Memphis. Under Pastner, the program has a sterling academic record; 10 players on the current roster, including five juniors, will have their undergraduate degrees by the time the season starts.

The flip side to that is the NCAA rule that allows students who earn their degrees with eligibility remaining to transfer to another school and play right away. Two of the Tigers' most important players from last season, 6-2 guard Antonio Barton and 6-9 forward Tarik Black, took advantage of that rule and transferred to Tennessee and Kansas, respectively. Yet, when I asked Pastner about that during the Adidas Super 64, he expressed no bitterness. "They got their degrees. They did their jobs," he said. "If the rules allow a change of scenery, I'm behind them a hundred percent."

Those defections forced Pastner to hit the phones and try to recruit some transfers of his own. "I was a general manager," he quipped. He found two good ones -- David Pellom, a 6-8 forward from George Washington, and Michael Dixon, a 6-1 combo guard from Missouri. Pellom will be able to play right away thanks to the graduate rule, but Dixon's situation is trickier. He left Missouri last winter after a female student accused him of sexual assault, the second time Dixon had been accused of that in three years. Because Dixon was not enrolled at another school, he is not yet eligible to play for Memphis. The school has submitted a waiver to the NCAA in hopes he will get cleared, just as the NCAA granted a waiver that allowed former Xavier guard Dez Wells to play at Maryland last season.

When I said to Pastner that taking a player with Dixon's past was a big risk, he stood firm, pointing out that Dixon was never charged, much less prosecuted, in either instance. "We have tremendous faith in law enforcement and prosecution. In the end we trusted them," Pastner said. "All of us, myself and our administration, talked to Michael and asked some hard questions. We all believed we should give him an opportunity."
SI Seth Davis


In the days leading up to an important March home game against Kansas, Cory Jefferson had a conversation that changed him. Jefferson’s mindset wasn’t where he needed it to be, but after speaking with a close friend, something clicked. From that point on, Jefferson made an effort to be more aggressive, more assertive, whenever he took the court.

After scoring 25 points, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking three shots in Baylor’s 81-58 pasting of the Jayhawks, Jefferson realized how important a simple shift in mental approach could be for his basketball future. “I just needed to be more aggressive,” Jefferson says. “That’s the main thing I wanted to focus on in every game near the end of the season.”

…Baylor has what it takes to enter the league championship discussion. Returning big man Isaiah Austin, Ricardo Gathers and Jefferson, freshmen Ishmail Wainright and Allerik Freeman (Denver transfer Royce O’Neale, who could play significant minutes, has not heard back from the NCAA on the undergraduate hardship waiver he applied for to play this season), and junior college transfer Kenny Chery give the Bears one of the most talented rotations in the conference. And depending on how much you believe in superstition, the Bears — who have alternated NCAA Tournament appearances with either NITs or no postseason going back to 2007-08 — are right on schedule for another NCAA birth. (Are there NO editors? Good grief, this is SI, not Bleacher Report. Unless the NCAA is preggers it's berth people!)

“With the team we have, I definitely like how we’re looking and how everybody is coming together,” Jefferson says. “I definitely think we’re capable of accomplishing a lot of things.”
SI


Wichita State’s men’s basketball team will play Western Kentucky at midnight on Nov. 12 (evening of Nov. 11) as part of ESPN’s Tip-Off Marathon.

The game, televised on ESPN2 as part of ESPN’s 24-hour-plus coverage, won’t tip off WSU’s season, however. The Shockers will open the season a few days earlier and are holding out for a spot in another season tip-off, this one a four-game event on Nov. 8 at Dallas’ American Airlines Center.

WSU senior associate athletic director Darron Boatright said the Shockers are part of the event, if a suitable opponent can be found. Three games are set — Alabama-Oklahoma, Baylor-Colorado and TCU-SMU. The promoter, Boatright said, is working to find an opponent from a power conference for WSU.

“There’s still an opportunity in Dallas,” Boatright said. “They are really struggling to find someone willing to play us. We’re sitting and hoping somebody gets backed in a corner where they can’t do anything else. We’ll be there to help them.”

If the Dallas game doesn’t come through, Boatright expects WSU to add a non-Division I opponent on the afternoon of Nov. 9 to open the season. WSU plays a home volleyball game that evening.
Wichita Eagle


Texas


Rick’s last roll? With another bad year looming and in-state talent flooding elsewhere, the Horns’ gig could be the Buzz job next spring.
SI: 2013 Twitter State of the Union


USA Today College BBall Countdown: #65 Norfolk State


Men’s basketball coach Larry Eustachy has agreed to a new contract that will keep him at Colorado State through the 2017-18 season and that has options for three additional seasons. Eustachy, who started his head coaching career at Idaho, led the Rams to a school-record 26-win season and an NCAA tournament win over Missouri last season, his first at the school. CSU also cracked the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1954 and Eustachy became the only head coach in NCAA history to lead five different schools to 24 or more wins in a season. Eustachy’s base salary goes up to $910,000 next season and rises by 2 percent each year.
AP


The room many college athletics insiders consider to be the most powerful secret lair in the business essentially boils down to two tables, a handful of chairs and a sofa that faces what looks like a fancy entertainment unit complete with a flat-screen television.

Looks, as we all well know, can be deceiving. This nondescript conference room, housed in a traditional-looking office on the 29th floor of a high-rise building in Atlanta, is where college search committees gather to find athletic directors and athletic directors meet to find their next coaches.
And that ordinary television is actually a display window for a database that essentially serves as college athletics' biggest dating service.

This is Parker Executive Search, a company that insists it is little more than a headhunter, but whose perceived influence has reached nearly mythical proportions.

"If I was a young guy looking for a job, I'd make sure that the people at Parker knew who I was," said Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin.

In the past decade, colleges have increasingly turned to search firms to help them choose administrators, athletic directors and coaches.

The rise in coaching searches isn't random. It coincides directly with an increase in salaries, a change in the profile of the typical athletic director -- fewer are ex-coaches; more are coming from the business sector -- and the evolution of a 24/7 news cycle that makes privacy and plausible deniability both more desirable and more difficult to achieve.

But as with anything new, the increased use of search firms has been met head-on by an increased wave of paranoia, rumor and innuendo.

Plenty of people simply don't trust them, convinced they are little more than a fraternity or secret society: If you're in the popular crowd, you get the interview; if you're not, you don't.

"They get their guys; they ride their guys," said an agent who represents several college basketball coaches.
ESPN


A rental car driven by suspended North Carolina basketball player P.J. Hairston also had a dozen campus parking citations over a two-month period, according to records released by the university Friday.

Hairston was charged in May with speeding while driving the 2012 Camaro, which has a Virginia license plate. There were no citations for vehicles registered to Hairston and it's unclear if he was in possession of the rental car at the time of the parking violations. The vehicle was rented from Hertz by a felon facing pending drug charges, or a woman sharing the felon's home address, at the time of each citation.

The violations run from April 1 to May 28, according to records released by the school in response to a public records request by The Associated Press. Ten of them were issued while the car was rented from March 25 to April 15 under the name of Haydn Patrick "Fats" Thomas, whose name also appeared on rental records for the 2013 SUV that Hairston was driving on the night of his June arrest on a misdemeanor drug charge that was later dismissed.

The final two parking citations were issued while the car was rented from April 25 to June 17 under the name of Catinia Farrington, who shares Thomas' Durham address. Hairston was charged May 13 with driving 54 mph in a 45-mph zone in Durham in the car.

Three of the citations were issued while the Camaro was parked near the Smith Center and Hairston's dorm.

American Traffic Solutions, an Arizona-based company that handles unpaid parking violations for Hertz and other rental agencies, paid UNC $265 in a check dated May 30 to cover seven violations for the Camaro. Charles Territo, a spokesman for American Traffic Solutions, said Friday evening that the company then billed $475 — which included administrative fees — on June 18 to Thomas' credit card listed on rental records for the vehicle.
ap


The judge in former college basketball star Ed O'Bannon's lawsuit pertaining to the use of college athletes' names and likenesses on Thursday rejected the NCAA's request for an expedited case management conference, canceled a hearing that had been set for Sept. 5 and said she will instead rule on a series of recent motions by the NCAA and other defendants based on written filings.

The NCAA and co-defendants Electronic Arts, the video game manufacturer, and Collegiate Licensing Co., the nation's leading collegiate trademark licensing and marketing firm, each filed motions last week in response to the plaintiffs' July 18 filing of an amended complaint and their addition of current college athletes as named plaintiffs.
USA Today


Q&A with Jay Bilas on his dust-up with the NCAA


For the eighth straight year, the University of Texas collected the most royalties of any college or university represented by the Collegiate Licensing Company, whose clients include all the major schools except Ohio State, Michigan State, University of Southern California and Oregon.
SEC schools dominated the top 10 in royalty rankings released by the company on Monday.

The University of Alabama came in second, followed by Kentucky (5), LSU (6), Florida (7), Georgia (8) and Arkansas (10), which broke the top 10 for the first time. Notre Dame (3), University of Michigan (4) and UNC (9) rounded out the top 10.

The list, which represented royalties on the $4.6 billion annual college merchandise business, reflects money collected by schools on sales of gear from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013.
Schools that saw a rise in the royalty rankings include Notre Dame, which went from ninth last season to third after playing in the BCS title game.

Texas A&M, thanks in part to an 11-2 season in its first year in the SEC and quarterback Johnny Manziel winning the Heisman Trophy, jumped from No. 19 to No. 12 over the past year, and University of Louisville moved from No. 32 last year to No. 25 thanks to the success of its championship men's basketball licensing program.

The biggest slide in merchandise royalties was Penn State, likely due to the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Penn State dropped from 10 to 12 last year and fell seven more spots this year to No. 19.

Nike was the No. 1 apparel licensee among college teams, while EA Sports, whose college game is the subject of two current lawsuits brought by former players, was the top non-apparel licensee.
ESPN
Complete list (KU #22)


Former Emporia State University basketball star Sean Robbins has been found dead in a Chicago hotel room. Robbins was traveling on business according to an ESU official. At the time of his death, Robbins was employed by WSI Kimberly-Clark near Tulsa and he resided in Owasso, OK. He was 41.
Robbins played at Emporia State as a freshman in 1990-91 and again from 1992-95, after a year at Kansas State. Robbins averaged 18.4 points per game in his career and his 1,396 points ranks him 7th in the all-time Hornet record book. Robbins' 45 points against Lincoln in 1995 is still the 10th highest single-game total in ESU history. His 216 made 3-point FGs is still a school record. Robbins was 2nd team All-MIAA his senior season in 1995.
Prior to his career at E-State, Robbins was a star at Waverly High School.
WIBW


2013-14 Early-season events schedule

When coveted Class of 2014 point guard Dominic Magee received texts from a handful of prominent college coaches at the end of the July evaluation period last week, the Louisiana product tweeted screen grabs of each of them.

Needless to say, the texts were revealing about each coach's recruiting style.

…Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford uses more exclamation points than the average 13-year-old girl -- 12 in one text to be precise. Ford also touts his track record for getting players to the NBA as "proven" even though the only Cowboys player in the NBA that he coached, James Anderson, has been waived by three teams in the past year. Hmmm, at least Marcus Smart and perhaps Markel Brown and LeBryan Nash should change that soon.
Yahoo (more pics at the link)

Five-star center Myles Turner (Bedford, Texas/Trinity) has confirmed that he has trimmed his list to eight schools. In no particular order, the finalists for high school basketball’s hottest prospect are Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Texas.

Turner has an official visit set up with Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks on Oct 4.

Turner also has a home visit set with Texas on Sept. 9 and plans to go unofficially to Austin as well.

"I have done my research and after studying demographics, coaching staffs, head coaches' records and history, these are the schools I have settled on at this point in the process," Turner said.
ESPN


Only a few months ago, Turner was essentially unknown as a prospect, not even ranked in most analysts’ top 100. He has been delighted by the sort of ascent last seen when Carly Rae Jepsen released “Call Me Maybe.” From nowhere to superstar.


Now Kansas and coach Bill Self want Turner, and he has committed to make an official visit at Midnight Madness. “I like what I see, have a good relationship with Coach.”

…Turner was raised to play in the frontcourt, although he only grew to true center size in his ninth-grade year. He has been well-coached in the game and owns a full arsenal of offensive skills that includes a jump-hook in the post that makes great use of his length, excellent balance and hand-eye coordination that allow him to score on duck-unders from even eight or 10 feet, and of course his terrific face-up shooting. 


He gives the credit to his father, David, a New York native who learned the game on the city’s playgrounds.


“He learned how to be a fundamental player with the mix of a little bit of street ball, a little bit of toughness,” Turner said. “From a young age he taught me to the basic moves: basic drop-step, basic pull-up jumpers, stuff like that. I’ve always had a jump-hook. I haven’t been using it as much lately. I’ve really been pushed out, but that’s definitely a weapon I have.”


He is best-known, however, for his feet. Hall of Famer Bob Lanier played in size 22 sneakers. So did Shaquille O’Neal. Turner wears a size 21—which, frankly, looks even bigger than it sounds.


Turner once grew three shoe sizes, from a 14 to a 17, in two weeks. At the same time he was shooting up from 6-4 to 6-8. He is asked about this often, and he’s fine with it. 


“People are curious. I think it’s a pretty cool story myself,” Turner said. “I don’t ever want to be a burden to people, come off mean, so I’m open to everybody.”


Turner has one of the more delightful personalities of any elite prospect in recent years. Opponents might catch him smiling as he blocks their shots.

The Sporting News


My top 7 college choices in no particular order: Kansas BYU Florida Ohio St Virginia Arizona UCLA
@PDastrup


8/11/13, 10:19 AM
#KU along with Indiana and Duke picking up interest on 6-foot-9, power forward Chase Jeter
@JayhawkSlant


ESPN 60 center Chase Jeter (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman) has good genes. His father, Chris, was a member of the UNLV 1990 national title team, and UNLV should be considered the favorite here. Stacey Augmon, a teammate of Jeter’s father at UNLV, is now an assistant with the Rebels.
ESPN Insider


I've decided that I want to go ahead and get my decision out of the way in November. That's always been a goal of mine because I don't want it hanging over my head my whole senior year. I want to be able to focus on my last season and have fun. I don't want that stress.

Me and Jahlil have been talking about it and we're on the same page with that.
I have no idea where I'll go yet, but I know that it can get really stressful. That's why I told myself by November I'll have it done. It gives me something to work toward.

I've definitely felt the urgency from the coaches now that the summer is over. They are definitely letting me know that they want me more and being really open about it. It's just another reason why I want to have a decision made by the fall. I know it will only get more intense.

It's a tough decision and it has gotten a little stressful, but I always remind myself that it's a blessing and that so many people want to be in this position. That helps me keep things in perspective.
USA Today Tyus Jones blog


Below is an updated list of players invited to the Aug. 24 Elite 24 game in Brooklyn.
The game will be played at 7 p.m. ET and will be shown live on ESPNU.

Tyus Jones (Uncommitted)
Stanley Johnson (Uncommitted)
Chris McCullough (Syracuse)
Isaiah Whitehead (Uncommitted)
Justin Jackson (North Carolina)
Emmanuel Mudiay (Uncommitted)
Malik Newman (Uncommitted)
Ivan Raab (Uncommitted)
Kelly Oubre (Uncommitted)
Rashad Vaughn (Uncommitted)
Myles Turner (Uncommitted)
Justise Winslow (Uncommitted)
Karl Towns Jr. (Kentucky)
D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State)
Joel Berry (North Carolina)
Thon Maker (Uncommitted)
Stephen Zimmerman (Uncommitted)
Chris Chiozza (Florida)
Harry Giles (Uncommitted; Injured)
Goodluck Okonoboh (Uncommitted)
Devin Booker (Uncommitted)
Theo Pinson (North Carolina)
Dion Wiley (Maryland)
Romelo Trimble (Maryland)
Reid Travis (Uncommitted)
Zags Blog


8/8/13, 4:12 PM
I don't have a leader. Stop the rumors.
@BigJah22


Video: adidas nations Jahlil Okafor


The ongoing rumor that Duke is the leader for the recruiting package of No. 1-ranked senior Jahlil Okafor and No. 3-ranked Tyus Jones is ruining the recruiting process for the two players, Okafor's father said on Friday.

"It's disappointing. It's taking the fun out of the process for the two boys," Okafor's father, Chukwudi Okafor, said by phone on Friday. "That's a shame. Let the kids go through the process. I just want them to enjoy it, not the media, not Twitter, not the coaches, not the AAU coaches. Those kids are highly intelligent. They know what to do. Let it play out, and I think the world is in for something special."

"They're going to make their decision. Everybody is saying they say this and they say that. It's not fair to them. It's not fair to the other schools. It's not fair to Duke. They might want to go to Duke, but decide not to go there because everyone is saying that's where they're going. I'd hate for that to happen."

The rumor began with Okafor's club coach, Mike Irvin, recently telling the Chicago Sun-Times he believed Duke had "a really good chance to land [Okafor]." Irvin went on to say, "I think there is a great chance Tyus is going to Duke. So if [Okafor and Tyus] are going to school together ..."

From there, the rumor took off. Other reporters and bloggers followed with the same story, and it created a buzz on Twitter. It got to the point where Okafor tweeted on Thursday, "I don't have a leader. Stop the rumors."

"Let them decide," Chukwudi said. "No AAU coach knows; no high school coach knows; no parent knows. The reason no one knows is because they don't know."

…The two players will make official visits together to Baylor on Aug. 30, Kansas on Oct. 18 and Duke on Oct. 25. Okafor will visit Kentucky on Sept. 9 and Arizona on Oct. 11 without Jones. Okafor will also make unofficial visits to Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Okafor would like to make a decision in November, but his dad said that is not set in stone.

"If he's comfortable with the decision and school, he'll say it," Chukwudi said. "He wants to know the school where he's going as bad as everyone wants it. I want him to enjoy his senior year and move on to the next chapter."
ESPN


Quentin Snider, a 6-1 senior point guard from Louisville, who is ranked No. 31 in the Class of 2014 by Rivals.com, recently decided to re-open his recruitment after committing to Louisville on Aug. 4, 2011. Snider’s dad, Scott, told Peegs.com that schools on his new list include KU, Indiana, Louisville, Minnesota, Marquette, West Virginia, USC, Illinois, UConn, UCLA, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Xavier, Cincinnati and Vanderbilt.

Oubre MVP: Kelly Oubre, a 6-5 senior from Bush High in Richmond, Texas, who has KU on his list of prospective schools, scored 22 points and dished seven assists, earning MVP honors at the Big Strick Classic all-star game on Saturday in New York City. He is ranked No. 19 in the Class of 2014 by Rivals.com. Oubre has a list of KU, Florida, Kentucky, Georgetown, Louisville, Oregon, UConn and UNLV.

Cheick Diallo, 6-9 junior from Our Savior New American High in Centereach, N.Y., who is ranked No. 6 in the Class of 2015, had 21 points and 13 rebounds. Diallo has scholarship offers from KU, UConn, Texas, Louisville, Syracuse, Villanova and others, Zagsblog.com indicates. Stephen Zimmerman, a 7-foot junior from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, who is considering KU and many others, had 19 points and seven boards. He’s ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2015.
LJW


8/9/13, 9:53 PM
SF Kelly Oubre (@K_Ctmd22) pours in 34 pts for USA White in a 103-87 win over USA Blue, representing @HoustonHoops17U #BigStrickClassic
@D1Circuit


Q&A with Rashad Vaughn


Recruiting Calendar


My KU Alumni games, 2011-12 Border War, Legends of the Phog, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos, Late Night in the Phog, and more now on YouTube

Bill Self said never say never.

One of seven people inducted in the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame on Monday night at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the Kansas University men's basketball coach was asked if he would ever consider coaching in the NBA.

“It hasn't really tempted me because I haven't had that many people talk to me about it,” Self said.

“But at some point and time, sure, I think it would (tempt me). It would be great to be able to match wits with the best athletes in the world, but I'm certainly happy where I'm at.

“I'm not saying I never would (coach in the NBA) but I'm locked in.”

Since Self wouldn't owe Kansas a penalty if he leaves before his contract expires in 2022, would the ultimate job for the Edmond Memorial product be to coach the NBA team in the shadows of his hometown?

“I wouldn't say the Thunder,” Self said. “They've done a remarkable job. They have a coach (Scott Brooks) who is one of the bright stars in all of basketball, at any level. That's not anything I would think about.”

Self last fall signed a contract extension that guarantees he will make $52.2 million in total compensation over the 10-year period, not including incentive bonuses.

Self, 50, will receive a $2.63 million bonus if he stays through 2015, another $2.63 million bonus if he stays through 2018. Self would receive an additional one-time $6 million bonus — $11.3 million total — if he stays at Kansas the next nine years.

“Yeah (the money is good), but the biggest thing is you will never be happy as a coach unless you know you can attract good players,” Self said. “I'm fortunate to coach at a place where the product is so good we're always going to get, at least I hope so, some pretty good players.

“I love it at Kansas, and they love basketball there. I've been very fortunate to coach at such a tradition-rich place.”

…Few coaches have matched their college success in the NBA. But because Self runs a high-low motion offense, using a size advantage in the paint, his style would transition well to the pros.

“When you're talking about coaches at any level the best ones are able to adapt and adjust,” said Thunder general manager Sam Presti, in attendance Monday night in support of team chairman Clay Bennett, a member of the 2013 Hall of Fame class. “Certainly Bill has shown the ability to do that.

“Fortunately for him he has a great situation at Kansas. I'm sure that's the only thing he's focused on right now.”

…“This was not unexpected,” said Mike de la Garza, Self's high school coach. “The guy has been my idol since he was in the eighth grade. This guy knows what it takes to win and how to handle individuals. He's a genuine guy that connects on an individual level.

“I thought he'd be a Division I head coach by age 30, his goal, which he did and that he would have one of the five best jobs in the country by age 40. I told him to his face he'd be the best coach in the country at age 50. Other guys coach really well, but game by game, nobody coaches better than Bill.”
The Oklahoman


Most sports fans in Oklahoma know Kansas coach Bill Self is actually Bill Self Jr.

When the 2013 class is inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Monday night at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Bill Self Sr. will present his son, one of the nation's top college basketball coaches.

“I thought about coach (Eddie) Sutton but his health isn't real good right now,” said the KU coach. “Others suggested people like (Dick) Vitale. My answer was, ‘Why wouldn't I have the person who had the biggest influence on me present me?' It was a no-brainer asking my dad.”

…Bill Self Sr. was asked what one quality he feels possibly influenced his son's career, a resume that features a 507-164 career record, two Final Fours, seven trips to the Elite Eight and the 2008 NCAA championship.

“Toughness,” said Bill Self Sr. “His senior year (at Edmond Memorial) he played when he was hurt, played through a lot of pain. From that point on he expected other people, teammates and players he coached, you have to play through a little pain to be successful.”

…Bill Self, Sr. said the key to his son's meteoric career was he wisely absorbed traits from elite coaches during his eight seasons as an assistant.

Spending a year under Larry Brown at Kansas as a graduate assistant provided a blueprint how to run a program. Seven years at OSU under Eddie Sutton and Leonard Hamilton prepared him to be a head coach at age 29.

“Larry Brown is great with game strategy and so many other areas,” said Bill Self, Sr. “Leonard Hamilton was a tremendous recruiter. Leonard showed him how to outwork everyone. Eddie Sutton was tremendous with fundamentals. That covers about every aspect of coaching.”
The Oklahoman


Bill paid his dues, working his way up to one of the most prominent college coaching positions in the country and he still filters down solid work ethics to his players.

“Things have changed,” Self stated. “If things go bad, you transfer,” he grinned.

“It is the foundation, the core beliefs. The harder you work, the better you get.

“At Kansas, our team is supported by juniors and seniors and they don’t get to contribute on the floor much in their freshman and sophomore years.”

Self has led the Jayhawks to eight Big XII regular season championships.

“Oklahoma molded me into who I am. I lived in this state for a long time and it will always be home. Never, is that going to change.”
Edmond Sun


CBS asks coaches: Which college coach is best equipped to jump to NBA? (It's a Big 12 coach, but maybe not the one you think)


Hoopsworld TV Video: Perry Ellis interview at adidas nations


KU’s Perry Ellis, Joel Embiid and Wayne Selden are working as camp counselors at the Adidas Nations camp for top high school basketball players this weekend in Garden Grove, Calif.

The three will work as instructors during practice sessions with the prep players and participate in camp counselor games with the other college players.

Other camp counselors are: Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson, Tony Parker, Norman Powell, David Wear, Travis Wear, UCLA; Montrezi Harrell, Chris Jones, Louisville; Isaiah Austin, Cory Jefferson, Baylor; Ryan Boatright, UConn; Alec Brown, Wisconsin-Green Bay; Jahii Carson, Arizona State; Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado; Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall; Jerian Grant, Notre Dame; Andre Hollins, Minnesota; Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati; Javon MCrea, Buffalo; LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State; Cameron Ridley, Texas; Will Sheehey, Indiana; Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona; Bernard Thompson, Florida Gulf Coast; T.J. Warren, N.C. State; Chaz Williams, UMass; and Jamil Wilson, Marquette.

Some top prep players who will attend who have KU on their lists: No. 1-ranked Jahlil Okafor, 6-10, Chicago Whitney Young High; No. 3 Emmanuel Mudiay, 6-3, Prime Prep, Dallas; No. 6 Myles Turner, 6-11, Trinity High, Euless, Texas; No. 8 Stanley Johnson, 6-6 Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.; and No. 16 Justise Winslow, 6-5, St. John’s, Houston.
8/2 LJW


According to reports, Indiana forward Will Sheehey was in a collision with Kansas freshman Joel Embiid and needed two people to help him off the floor. What initially looked like a painful injury turned out to be nothing more than a moderate ankle sprain, according to Jeff Rabjohns of Indiana's Rivals.com site.
CBS


Russ Smith comes away with the #adidasNations championship scoring 23 points on 16 shots. Chris Jones 26 on 10-19 shooting. Wayne Seldon 15.
@DraftExpress


Great week for Wayne Seldon. One of the top performers here. Made shots, scored in transition, defended, played under control #adidasnations
@DraftExpress


man Selden looked damn good today.
https://twitter.com/ebosshoops


KU guys Wayne Selden and Perry Ellis have been 2 of the most impressive performers here. #adidasnations
https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet


Wayne Selden is built. Ridiculously compact body.

Perry Ellis with a great steal and finish for the and-1. Terrific body control.

Wayne Selden with a gorgeous jumper off a pass from Kyle Anderson. As I tweeted this, a ball hit me in the back. Lesson learned.

Wayne Selden with a perfectly controlled up and under from the wing. I just threw my underwear at him.

Okay, definitely falling in love with Wayne Selden at Adidas Nations.
https://twitter.com/Michael_Levin


In the college counselor games Indiana’s Will Sheehy (19 points), Perry Ellis of Kansas (16 points on 5-of-7 shooting), Kansas incoming frosh Wayne Selden (12 points) and Oklahoma State’s LeBryan Nash (12 points, seven rebounds) all had good games.
Link


Wayne Selden (Kansas) continued to look good with two double-figure game
Link


The college players that impressed in scrimmages were (points totals are for two games) Russ Smith (Louisville, 41 points),Wayne Selden (Kansas, 29 points), Jamil Wilson (Marquette, 29 points), Perry Ellis (Kansas, 28 points), LeBryan Nash (Oklahoma State, 35 points) and Travis Wear (UCLA, 34 points). Cameron Ridley (Texas) pulled down 20 rebounds in one game.
Link

There’s palpable buzz surrounding the defensive ability of Kansas freshman guard Frank Mason. Word out of Lawrence is that Mason emerged as a lethal on ball defender during summer practice. This former Towson commit is going to have a big role for Bill Self’s team during the upcoming season.
CBS Jon Rothstein

KU will play three games in the Bahamas, beginning with Wake Forest on Thursday, Nov. 28 at 2:30 p.m. CT on AXS TV. The Jayhawks will square off next against either Villanova or USC on Friday, Nov. 29. Tip-off times will be 8:30 p.m. CT with a KU victory against Wake Forest or 2:30 p.m. CT should the Jayhawks lose to Wake. The third day of the Battle 4 Atlantis is slated for Saturday, Nov. 30, with four games starting at noon CT and the championship contest beginning at 8:30 p.m. CT.

NBC Sports Network and AXS TV will televise the tournament field which boasts a combined 191 NCAA Tournament appearances, 25 Final Four appearances and five NCAA Championships.

KUAD


Last season, the Battle 4 Atlantis stopped being a mostly obscure event in a sea of similar setups -- known more for its Atlantis resort ballroom basketball setup than anything else, probably -- and put together one of the best early-season fields you'll ever see. Louisville, Duke, Memphis, Missouri, Minnesota, VCU, Stanford, Northern Iowa. At the time, all of these teams looked like top-25 squads; retroactively, despite the struggles of Minnesota, Missouri and UNI, the thing still holds up.

As we learned on Monday afternoon, the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis won't match those insane scheduling heights. It will, however, feature the Kansas Jayhawks and No. 1-ranked world destroyer Andrew Wiggins, as well as a handful of solid and/or ascendant programs: Iowa, Villanova, Tennessee, USC, Xavier, UTEP, and Wake Forest. The full (and somewhat awkwardly formatted) bracket is available here.

It's hardly the murderer's row of 2012, which is sort disappointing, at least in a general sense. Last fall, when everyone (from reporters to scouts to the programs and players themselves) touted the tourney's merits (including the fact that you get to stay in a really nice place without having to fly to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, to name one), it genuinely looked like the Battle 4 Atlantis was on a path toward early-season bracket domination. This year's field is a little bit pedestrian -- certainly by comparison, and arguably even without it.

But that's OK, because there are still some very interesting teams. Kansas is obviously chief atop that list, seeing as we'll be buying tickets for the Wiggins show right around this point, but Iowa is right up there too. A really good, even ahead-of-schedule young defensive team in 2012-13 that will carry over almost all of its best players and even add a couple of pieces, the Hawkeyes are a legitimate threat in the top half of the Big Ten next season, and this will be their first best chance to let the rest of the world know about it. Tennessee has plenty of talent in Jordan McRae, Jarnell Stokes and a back-from-injury Jeronne Maymon; now it's time to go out and earn a tournament bid. Xavier is Xavier. Villanova appears to be back on an upward trajectory after a couple years spent backsliding into mediocrity, and Andy Enfield's first season at USC will be interesting to track. And, hey, we'll get a full accounting of where Wake Forest basketball is at the start of its fourth season under Jeff Bzdelik. Doesn't that sound like fun?
ESPN


No team in the field besides prohibitive favorite Kansas is likely to appear in the top 20 in most preseason polls.

The defending Big 12 champion Jayhawks received a manageable path to the title game in the bracket released Monday, drawing rebuilding but potentially improved Wake Forest in the opening round Thanksgiving afternoon before a matchup with either Villanova or USC the following night.
Should the Jayhawks survive the upper half of the bracket unscathed, they would likely see either Tennessee, Xavier or Iowa in the championship game.

The most intriguing matchup of the opening round pits the Hawkeyes and Musketeers, two potential NCAA tournament teams. Iowa returns every key player from last year's 25-13 squad including leading scorers Roy Devyn Marble (15 points) and Aaron White (12.8), while Xavier's inaugural Big East team is highlighted by promising sophomore point guard Semaj Christon.

Even the likely consolation bracket could hold some intrigue if rebuilding USC drops its opening game to Villanova.

A consolation semifinal between USC and Wake Forest would pit Trojans guard J.T. Terrell against his former school and the coach who dismissed him from the program. And should USC and UTEP meet on the final day of the tournament, it unite Tim Floyd with his former school just months after Floyd accused the Trojans of tampering with his star recruit, Isaac Hamilton.
Yahoo

ESPN’s summer survey of more than 200 college basketball coaches says the No. 1 recruiter of all assistant coaches in the country is ... 10th-year Kansas University aide Kurtis Townsend.

“That just means I’ve been doing it a long time and everyone else got head-coaching jobs,” Townsend said Wednesday after learning he outdistanced runner-up Mike Hopkins of Syracuse, Kevin Keatts of Louisville, Butch Pierre of Oklahoma State, Orlando Antigua of Kentucky and 16 others in a group of 21. KU’s Jerrance Howard checked in at No. 12.

“I’ve got a lot of friends. Those guys must want me to get a head job, too,” Townsend added.

…“We ‘group recruit’ everybody,” Townsend added of all staff members being involved in the pursuit of players. “Coach Self is one of the best head coaches to recruit to. He’s going to get on the phone and call. He’s going to talk to the parents. He’s going to talk to the kid. All that makes it a whole lot easier. It’s nice they did that (survey), but it isn’t me. Trust me.”

Of KU coaches, he said: “Dooley (Joe, now at Florida Gulf Coast) did great. Obviously Jank (Tim Jankovich, SMU) and Danny (Manning, Tulsa) did great. In Norm (Roberts) and Jerrance, we’ve got two great recruiters. It’ll make it even easier, I hope.”

Townsend, a 1982 graduate of Western Kentucky, said he never tires of recruiting.

“I love talking to these kids and talking to parents and meeting people and developing new relationships,” he said. “Even with this new class (six incoming freshmen) ... it invigorates you every spring and summer that you’ve got these new guys you start getting the on phone with. I still enjoy it. I think when I get tired of it, it’ll be time to do something else. Right now, I love it.”
LJW

First-year Kansas University assistant basketball coach Jerrance Howard enjoyed representing his new school during the just-completed July recruiting period.

“It was great to walk in that gym and have that ‘KU’ and Jayhawk on my chest. It was a good experience. We’ve got to get some guys (prospects) if I want to keep my job,” the 33-year-old Howard said with a smile while waiting to tee off in Mario Chalmers’ fifth-annual National Championship Golf Classic on Monday at Alvamar.

Only time will tell how Howard, fellow assistants Norm Roberts and Kurtis Townsend and head coach Bill Self fared during their 15 days on the road tracking top AAU talent. Early indications hint that, “We did really well,” Howard said. “We saw some great prospects. We were in Orlando (Fla). We were in (Las) Vegas, Kansas City. It was fun.

“They (prospects, coaches) pick up the phone and look over a little bit more now that you have ‘Kansas’ on your chest. It’s been great,” added Howard, who also has worked on coaching staffs at his alma mater, Illinois, as well as SMU, Texas A&M and Kentucky.

…Chalmers Foundation officials said former Kansas University guard Mario Chalmers raised $15,000 for charity at his Sunday night VIP mixer.

Monday’s tourney, which included about 100 golfers, was hampered by steady rain. KU basketball was represented by its three assistant coaches and former KU guard Jeff Hawkins. Coach Bill Self was golfing — on a vacation in Scotland, not Lawrence — and could not attend.

“He deserves it (success) because he works so hard, and his dad and mom have trained him growing up of who he is going to be,” assistant coach Kurtis Townsend said of Chalmers and his parents, Ronnie and Almarie. “He believes in God and has great faith. I’m happy for him and his family and all the success and the fact that he comes back and gives to the community is great. He will always be a special part of the KU family.”
LJW


Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, who worked on the staffs of both Larry Brown and Ted Owens at Kansas University, and current KU coach Bill Self rank as the top two recruiters of all head coaches in the country, according to a summer survey of 200 coaches by ESPN.com.

Calipari came in at No. 1, followed by Self,

…“Recruiting is a never-ending process,” said Self, who has signed Rivals.com top 15-ranked players in Andrew Wiggins (1), Josh Selby (1), Xavier Henry (8), Julian Wright (8), Wayne Selden (12), Mario Chalmers (12) and Brandon Rush (13), as well as Joel Embiid, No. 6 by ESPN.

“Not a day goes by you don’t do something recruiting-related with prospects you are seriously interested in.

“With Kurt (Townsend), Norm (Roberts) and of course Joe (Dooley, Florida Gulf Coast) just here, Danny (Manning, Tulsa) here and Jank (Tim Jankovich, SMU) before that (and now Jerrance Howard), you’ve got so many guys who have played a huge role in representing our school and selling it well. We love the product we are selling, but the product alone doesn’t sell it. We have to work, and I have a staff that does it as well as anybody.”
LJW


8/1/13, 10:58 PM
Want to learn from the Pros? Come to the @Academy @CoachBillSelf ProCamp- 8/17-18 w/ @BenMcLemore and me! More info @ billselfcamp.com
@Trobinson0

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self has announced his inaugural Academy Sports + Outdoors Bill Self Basketball ProCamp will be Aug. 17-18 at Allen Fieldhouse. The first session will be from 9 a.m. to noon and the second session will be from 1 to 4 p.m.

Students in grades 1-12 will receive instruction from Self and former Jayhawks Thomas Robinson and Ben McLemore as well as other top prep and college coaches form the area. Cost is $199.
http://www.procamps.com/selfcamp


UDK: More details on Greene accident


When the New Mexico Lobos play the Kansas Jayhawks in December, they may need to deliver some thank-you presents from Down Under.

The $90,000 UNM’s men’s basketball team is being paid to play the Jayhawks on Dec. 14 in Kansas City, Mo., has been earmarked to pay for the bulk of the team’s 11-day journey to Australia. The Lobos leave today.

The rest of the estimated $125,000 trip will be covered by the $35,000 the Lobos get from playing in the Dec. 21 MGM Grand Showcase against Marquette in Las Vegas, Nev.

“It doesn’t come right down to the penny, but those two buy games are what cover the amount of this trip,” UNM deputy athletic director Tim Cass said.
Link

Withey signs with Pelicans


Like the vast majority of highly-recruited basketball players from the Big Apple, New York City Rice High’s Russell Robinson dreamed of someday playing in the NBA, not far, far away in Europe.

“Back then, playing overseas was dreadful. They didn’t have Skype, didn’t have Facebook and all those things,” said Robinson, starting point guard on Kansas University’s 2008 NCAA championship team who was not selected in the ‘08 NBA Draft, making him a likely candidate for overseas hoops.

“As college came along and there came more options, I embraced it. That’s where the game took me. I’m not fighting it. I’m enjoying it, living life and making good money doing it,” added Robinson, who on Wednesday signed a two-year deal with Stelmet Zielona Góra, a Euroleague team in Poland.
Terms were not disclosed, but suffice it to say Robinson’s contract is well into six-figure territory.

“More importantly I’m playing the game I love, getting to travel the world ... unbelievable,” Robinson stated.
LJW


Nick Bradford started seriously to consider a career in coaching during his basketball playing days at Kansas University.

“It was when I was recruiting guys my sophomore and junior year in college. I was always a host when coach (Roy) Williams brought guys in. I was the guy who reeled them in — Kenny (Gregory), Drew (Gooden), Nick (Collison) and Kirk (Hinrich), even (Jeff) Boschee,” said Bradford, campus host for several prime KU prospects during his Jayhawk career that ran from 1997-2000.

“That’s not bad. I missed out on (Shane) Battier and (Dan) Gadzuric, but we got enough in there to keep it running,” Bradford added.

The 6-foot-7 guard/forward, who worked the past two years as an assistant coach at Labette Community College in Parsons, this week was named assistant at Missouri Southern State University, joining KU teammate/fourth-year Lion aide Jeff Boschee at the NCAA Div. II school in Joplin, Mo.

“I’m really excited. I get to coach with one of my best friends in Boschee and work for coach (Robert) Corn, who I’ve gotten to know a little bit with him recruiting one of our players (at Labette),” added the 34-year-old Bradford.
LJW


“Nick is a very outgoing person,” Boschee said. “He’s a great guy to be around, a very fun person to be around. Just in the couple of years I’ve seen him coaching, he does a great job with the post players, a great job working in practice and in game situations. He’s the type that our players will immediate respect him because of where he has been and what he has done in the past.”



“We’re excited about having him,” Corn said. “He will do a good job with our big guys. He and Jeff know each other very well. There is great chemistry between them.

“First impression, I was very impressed the first time I met him. He brings the total package. He’s someone who can do a nice job for us.”
Joplin Globe


As for The Holy Grail of Hoops, basketball fans still have a day or two to read into what happened and watch the movie before picking it up (luckily, the movie is available on YouTube, but can also be found on Netflix). Part Swade’s diary, part history of Kansas basketball, the book is, according to Cal Fussman of Esquire Magazine, “a tour-de-force of American sports fandom.” Even if you’re not a Kansas basketball fan, this is a must-read among all fans in the basketball community.

Two of the books main themes are religion and the concept of home. Swade, who is Jewish, says multiple times in the book that his mom gave him one religion (Judaism), while his father gave him another (Kansas basketball, with Allen Fieldhouse being referred to as basketball’s “Mecca”).

According to Swade, “when you start to look at some of the iconic figures in the history of Kansas basketball, there’s these parallels you can make, so I explore that in the book in sort of a ‘tongue-in-cheek’ way.”

The concept of home is one very close to Swade, something he says is, “a difficult thing for people to articulate.” Swade mentions that, while he moved away from his home to come to New York, at his core, he’s a Kansan. For that reason, “a lot of what I was trying to do was for my home.”

The book, which features an afterword by Bill Self, can be ordered online today. As ESPN writer Wright Thompson says in the most succinct way possible, “Josh Swade is completely insane, which is why you should avoid him in public and why you should absolutely read his book.”

While Thompson is correct on that second part, he’s incorrect on the first: Swade isn’t insane. He’s just a basketball fan.
SLAM feature: For the Holy Grail of Hoops, There's No Place Like Home


Academy Sports + Outdoors is opening two new stores in the Kansas City area, one in Overland Park, opening August 16, and one in Olathe, opening later this fall. In addition to carrying officially licensed products for all three universities, Academy Sports + Outdoors offers a wide selection of sports, outdoors and lifestyle products that include tailgating, fan gear, patio, barbecue, golf, fitness, footwear and more from top brands Nike, Under Armour, Columbia and more.

"While Academy Sports + Outdoors is beginning to expand in the state of Kansas, the company is more than 75 years old. This will resonate with our loyal fans who identify with a rich tradition," said Shane Hildreth, Vice President - Southwest Regional Sales, IMG College. "We're thrilled to introduce the Jayhawks faithful to Academy Sports + Outdoors and their wide selection of fan gear, sports, outdoor and recreation products."

Academy Sports + Outdoors is the Official Partner of Jayhawks Athletics. The sponsorship agreement was brokered by IMG College, the multimedia partner of the University of Kansas.
Press release


Gary Woodland holed a 58-foot chip from the rough for one of his four birdies and got up-and-down to save par five times to win the Reno-Tahoe Open on Sunday for second PGA Tour victory.

Woodland finished with 44 points in the modified Stableford format that awards eight points for double eagle, five for eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, minus-one for bogey and minus-three for double bogey or worse.

…Woodland, the 2011 PGA Tour rookie of the year who played basketball at Washburn before transferring to Kansas and becoming a golfer for the Jayhawks, didn’t have a bogey Sunday until the 17th hole thanks to some nifty work around the greens.
KAKE

7/27/13, 10:09 AM
RT @rafjuc: Been told at Eurocamp that Papapetrou may leave Texas and turn pro in Europe. Now @Eurohoopsnet reports Oly is targeting him.
@ChristopheEPcom


ESPN Summer Shootaround: Big 12


CBS: College transfer recap


North Carolina coach Roy Williams indefinitely suspended P.J. Hairston late Sunday night, hours after the team's troubled leading scorer was cited for speeding and careless and reckless driving.
USA TODAY Sports first reported earlier Sunday night that Hairston was pulled over for driving 93 mph in a 65 mph zone.

Hairston, 20, was driving a 2008 Acura TL southbound on Interstate 85 outside of Salisbury, N.C., when he was pulled over at 4:30 p.m. by the State Highway Patrol, said spokesman 1st Sgt. Jeff Gordon.

Hairston has an Aug. 30 court date in Rowan County.
7/29 USA Today


Remember the good vibe and the growing sense of optimism about the 2013-14 season after Vanderbilt reached the SEC Tournament semifinals in March?

It's all a haze now.

With Monday's news that Kevin Stallings will lose two starters, including his best player and top scorer in junior point guard Kedren Johnson for one year, the Commodores can claim nearly half as many offseason departures (four) as they have scholarship players remaining (nine).
7/30 USA Today


WHEN Rotnei Clarke's parents named him after Oklahoma Sooners running back Rotnei Anderson, they were hoping some of the star American college footballer's legendary quickness would accompany the name.

Instead Clarke, the Wollongong Hawks' first import for the 2013-14 NBL season and first new face into Gordie McLeod's team, forged his own identity as the all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma high school basketball history.
Link


On Thursday, the NCAA announced changes to its bracketing principles aimed to protect true seeding. Men's basketball committee chair Ron Wellman said Thursday on a conference call that "90% of seed-line moves that occurred in last 3 years would have been eliminated if new principles had been in effect."

Last season, a 26-8, Pac-12 tournament champion Oregon team was the prime example of a surprising seed-line change, dropping down to a No. 12 seed after a "lengthy, lengthy discussion," according to Wellman. The Ducks went on to upset No. 5 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Saint Louis en route to a Sweet 16 appearance.

"The one discomfort the committee had practically annually was the seeds in and honoring the true seed list that the committee put together," Wellman said. "Then, (we were) having to move teams as little as one line to as much as two lines because of the bracketing principles we needed to follow.
"We do believe that the seed lines are going to be honored to a greater extent -- a much greater extent -- than they have been in the past."

The committee hopes to do that that by relaxing a few previous restrictions. For starters, teams in the same league that only meet once during the season (including the league's postseason tournament) can face each other as early as the round of 32. If teams met twice during the season, they can't meet until the regional semifinals. If they played three times, they cannot meet until the regional championship.

In another move aimed at protecting teams' true seeds, the NCAA says it will only protect the top four teams from being in the same region in each conference if they are seeded on the first four lines (meaning that they are the top 16 teams in the field, in the committee's eyes). In the past, the top three teams from each league were always separated, regardless of seeding, sometimes forcing lower seeds to be moved up or down to accommodate the rule.

…Rules regarding rematches of non-conference regular-season games have also been relaxed; those rematches will now be allowed in the round of 32.
USA Today


Under the new bracketing principles, teams from the same conference that meet just once during the season can face each other in the Round of 32.

In the Big 12’s current round robin schedule, that, obviously, will never be a situation that will occur for the league’s schools.

Under the new principles, however, Big 12 teams still could meet earlier in the tournament than in previous years unless they faceoff in the conference tournament. Teams that face each other twice during the year (which means no conference tournament matchup for the Big 12), can now meet in the Sweet 16.
Ames Tribune


The NCAA on Thursday released a reminder that new order is in order.

"The new enforcement structure creates additional levels of infractions, hastens the investigation process and offers stauncher penalties for the most egregious violations," the NCAA said in a statement. It also adds this effort will continue "to offer harsh consequences (postseason bans, scholarship reductions, recruiting limits, head coach suspensions, show-cause orders and financial penalties) that align more predictably with the severity of the violations. The new penalty structure also places a premium on aggravating and mitigating circumstances in each case."

A lot of this action comes in the midst/quasi-aftermath of the Miami investigation, which is still not complete, and has drawn plenty of criticism, much of it (for legitimate reasons) in the past year. It should be noted the NCAA in 2011 put in plans to redefine its enforcement structure before the Miami case became a debacle; it just so happens that mishandling of said case ran parallel to the NCAA's reset on this. Talk about appropriate-yet-terrible timing on that one.

All in all, it's a big day for college hoops coaches and NCAA programs in general. These changes could one day very well affect the program you love. So, here are the elements to this you should know.
CBS


The power conferences could, in theory, make more money without Butler and VCU -- and more than 250 other schools -- than they can with them, and money is the one thing the power conferences value over all other things. For proof, consider that every significant change in college athletics over the past two decades has been rooted in an ability to make more money. It's why the BCS was scrapped in favor of a four-team playoff the powerbrokers insisted would never happen.

They didn't change their position because they finally realized it's absurd to let a computer award championships. They changed their position because they finally realized they can make more money with a four-team playoff than they could with the BCS, and it's why you would be wise to roll your eyes when these same power brokers now insist they'll never move to an eight-team playoff.

Because an eight-team playoff is worth more money than a four-team playoff.

So that's coming, too.

I promise.

"Many of these coaches are left to try to connect the dots or draw conclusions because it isn't certain what the end game is," Shaheen said. "That leads to speculation and fear and ... many coaches may wonder why they should be confident it will all be OK."

Shaheen added that he doesn't believe there's a "compelling reason" for the power conferences to run their own men's basketball tournament, and I agree. But I also don't believe there were many compelling reasons for Missouri to leave the Big 12 or Maryland to leave the ACC ... outside of their ability to make more money. And that's why I would never completely dismiss the dreaded breakaway in men's basketball, because, like Shaheen said, the power conferences could, in theory, make more money that way.

"There are so many small schools out there," Drake coach Ray Giacoletti said. "Would they really want to eliminate all the small schools and all those great stories?"
CBS


7NEWS has learned that a self- proclaimed 'Islamist Jihadist' who police say has made threats against the Catholic and Mormon churches from Arizona to Colorado is a former college basketball coach who once worked at the University of Northern Colorado. 

Christopher Dewitt Craig, 32, recently came on law enforcement's radar when he was arrested July 10 at Eastern Arizona College.

College spokesman Todd Haynie said Craig interrupted a class by waiving a Bible and asking the instructor if he was Mormon. Craig made derogatory statements about the Catholic and Mormon churches and then went to an administration building and made similar remarks, Haynie said.

Campus police arrested Craig and he was booked into the Graham County Jail on investigation of disorderly conduct, threatening and intimidating and interruption of an educational facility. The district attorney later decided not to file charges and Craig was released on July 15.

Then on July 23, Steamboat Springs police said they received a 911 call about a suspicious man with a shirt wrapped around his head and face, who was driving around a parking lot, while hanging out the car window and videotaping himself.

Arriving officers found a man matching the caller's description who was wearing a camouflage bandana around his face, a white shirt wrapped around his head and dark sunglasses covering his eyes, police said.

Police said the man claimed he was an "Islamic Jihadist," adding that "In a couple weeks everyone will know who I am." The man did not explain what he meant by the statements or make any further comments, police said.

The man was driving a white 2003 Honda Accord with black spray paint on the side reading, "REV 14-7" as well as "YHVH" on the back bumper and hood of the car.  On the top of the trunk there is a sticker that reads "F--- the DHS," police said.

"YHVH" is Hebrew for God or deity, authorities said. "DHS" could be a reference to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Link (Craig played at UTEP)


University of Georgia basketball recruit Dusan Langura tore his ACL after a bomb went off during his required military commitment in his native Switzerland, according to The Telegraph.

"It really is a unique story," Bulldogs head coach Mark Fox said. "He was injured in the explosion, and one of the injuries was a torn ACL. We had committed to have him come. He can really shoot the ball. He was gonna be on our team. He had to serve his military commitment, and this happened during it. We're still gonna honor our commitment to him, and once he gets healthy he'll be out there with us. But he probably won't be cleared to practice until January or February."
Link


2013-14 Early-season events schedule

RealGM: adidas nations notes


SLAM: Tyus Jones Basketball Diary


Saying the July evaluation period went well for Young rising senior Jahlil Okafor, the top ranked player in the national class of 2014, is a bit of an understatement.

Okafor teamed up with Curie big man Cliff Alexander and Stevenson guard Jalen Brunson on the Mac Irvin Fire. He lived up to his ranking and more. Check out this tweet from Yahoo’s respected NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski:

“Respected NBA executive of 20-years plus tells me that Chicago's Jahlil Okafor is the most skilled high school center he's ever scouted.”

Okafor announced his final eight in late May: Arizona, Baylor, Duke, Illinois, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State and Ohio State. He had in-home visits with Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Michigan State and Ohio State this spring.

On Saturday, a story in the St. Paul Pioneer Press claimed that Apple Valley, Minn. point guard Tyus Jones, the top point guard in the 2014 class, would make his college decision in November. The report said it would “be surprising if he doesn’t choose Duke.”

Chuck Okafor, Jahlil’s father, says that Jones and his son are still likely heading to college together, but doesn’t think there is a timeline for the decision.

“We don't really have a set timeline,” Chuck Okafor said. “I think the boys would like to do it soon, but there is no way you can set a timeline right now it's wishful thinking. I know they both would like to. The media is funny. Everyone sees one thing and writes something, puts it on their own pay site and runs with it.”

In the past, Chuck Okafor has seemed a bit less convinced than Jahlil that the package deal was going to hold up, that isn’t the case anymore.

“At this point I don't see why it would change,” Chuck Okafor said. “Could it change? Possibly. Do I see it happening? I don't know. It is two different people, two different cities. They are loyal to each other. They are steadfast and they have a great idea what they are going to do together at the next level.”

And what about the Duke speculation? Are the Blue Devils the major favorites?

“They have no idea where they are going,” Chuck Okafor said. “Duke has been doing a great job recruiting them, just like everyone else is. I don't know what Jahlil and Tyus are gonna do at this point, so for anyone else to say they do is far-fetched. They are still at a standstill.”
Sun-Times

Mac Irvin Fire club basketball coach Mike Irvin doesn’t know which school Jahlil Okafor is leaning towards, but he knows which college head coaches spent their precious July hours following Okafor, the top player in the national class of 2014.

“[Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski] was at every game, he was the only head coach that was really following Jahlil all over the place,” Irvin said. “If [Cliff Alexander] was sitting out it would only be Coach K watching that game. In my mind Duke has a really good chance to land [Okafor]. Coach K has done a good job of recruiting him.”

Irvin thinks Tyus Jones, the Minnesota point guard that is a package deal with Okafor, is destined for Duke.

“I think there is a great chance Tyus is going to Duke,” Irvin said. “So if [Okafor and Tyus] are going to school together..."

…The other main attraction for the Mac Irvin Fire this summer was Curie big man Cliff Alexander, widely considered one of the top five players in the national class of 2014.

"It was like traveling with rock stars going to each of these events [with Alexander and Okafor]," Irvin said. "It was always a packed house with everyone wanting to see them."

Michigan State was considered the leader for Alexander the past few years, but Kansas (which now has former Illinois and SMU assistant coach Jerrance Howard on board) may now be the favorite.
Irvin stresses that Alexander is still strongly considering Illinois and DePaul.

“I know everyone wants to say who is leading and what’s what but Illinois is definitely in there,” Irvin said. “And DePaul has got a chance. I’m not sure about Cliff’s timeline for a decision. He’s had a lot of schools come in late like Kentucky, Memphis and Arizonza.”
Sun-Times


7/27/13, 4:59 PM
Seems like Duke is ahead but never count out Kansas RT @DaSportzBoi: @SethDavisHoops who's winning the race for Jones/Okafor right now?
@SethDavisHoops

2014 big man Myles Turner will visit Kansas this fall, possibly for “Late Night in the Phog,” his father confirmed to SNY.tv Sunday night.

“Plan is for Kansas, nothing else set yet,” David Turner told SNY.tv.

The news was previously reported by JayhawkSlant.com.

The elder Turner also confirmed his son will remain at Trinity (TX) Euless this year and won’t join Emmanuel Mudiay at Prime Prep.

Mudiay intends to stay at Prime Prep, and the two have talked about packaging together in college.
Having already “trimmed” his list to 26 schools, Turner plans to cut his list again following the end of Adidas Nations on Monday.

He will be in New York at the end of the week for Saturday’s “Big Strick Classic.“
Zags Blog


The biggest story of the spring and summer AAU scene was undoubtedly the emergence of Myles Turner.

Turner, a 7-footer from Trinity (Texas), burst onto the scene back in May at the Under Armour Invitational, followed that up with a big-time performance at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in June -- and then solidified his spot among 2014's elite with an outstanding July period.

In my opinion, he is slotted at No. 2 in the class of 2014, right behind consensus top prospect Jahlil Okafor. In fact, Turner might have the highest ceiling of any player in the senior class.

The scary thing is that Turner is only getting better.

“I really feel like my outside shot is coming a bit more," he said earlier this month. "I've always had an outside jumper, but I'm working on it a lot, it's really what I do. It's starting to come around. I've always been a defensive presence; I feel like I'm getting my timing better, blocking shots. Really, just being able to dominate defensively, turn defensive possessions into offensive possessions.”

Comparing himself to LaMarcus Aldridge, Turner envisions himself as an inside-outside player at the next level. He's got tremendous length and athleticism, enabling him to alter shots and dominate the glass. Offensively, he has perimeter range, but can also finish around the basket and runs the floor well. In general, he's an absolute matchup nightmare.

Turner continues to look at NBA players in an effort to tailor his game and adjust some tendencies.
“I always look at older guys, have a thirst for knowledge,” he said.

…“I really like the fact every year, they put a big man in the league,” Turner said of the Jayhawks. “They come from high school, maybe being a weaker player, but they always develop and are able to go into the league and make an impact. I really like the way coach [Bill] Self develops his big men."
CBS


Myles Turner, a 6-foot-11, 225-pound senior center from Trinity High in Euless, Texas, will visit KU for the Oct. 4 Late Night in the Phog, Turner told Jayhawkslant.com. He is ranked No. 6 nationally by Rivals.com. CBSsports.com’s Jeff Borzello slots Turner at No. 2, behind KU target Jahlil Okafor of Chicago.

..No. 19-ranked Kelly Oubre, a 6-5 senior from Bush High in Richmond, Texas, tells Rivals.com he will visit KU for Late Night. His list of eight: KU, UConn, Florida, Georgetown, Kentucky, Louisville, Oregon and UNLV.

…Cody Riley, a 6-7 freshman from Sierra Canyon High in Chatsworth, Calif., has received scholarship offers from KU, Arizona and USC, Rivals.com reports. Riley is originally from Platte City, Mo.
LJW

Prime Prep Academy (Texas) 2014 point guard Emmanuel Mudiay didn’t play in Monday’s adidas Nations final for the eventual champions USA 2014 Blue. Despite not seeing the floor for a minute of action, that did’t stop the five-star rising senior point guard from making headlines.

Mudiay, ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2014 by Rivals, and a consensus top-5 player, narrowed down his list of schools to just a handful. Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and SMU are now the finalists for Mudiay’s services. The 6-foot-4 point guard informed ESPN’s director of basketball recruiting Paul Biancardi before the start Monday night’s game.

Baylor, Kansas and Kentucky are all still in the running for top 2014 point guard Apple Valley High (Minn.) Tyus Jones.
NBC


Mudiay … has decided on just one official visit to date, which he’ll take to Kentucky when UK has its Big Blue Madness celebration.

"It’s just an experience I want to have, going up there," Mudiay said. "I’m hearing it’s crazy, so I’m going to go check it out."

Mudiay said his interest in SMU stems from Brown "trying to start something new. He’s a legend, and he’s trying to get people where they want to go."

SMU isn’t a common destination for top-5 prospects, but Mudiay is friends with Dallas wing Keith Frazier, a McDonald’s All-American who signed with the Mustangs last spring.

Wherever Mudiay ends up, he wants to find a coach "that’s going to make me better, off and on the court, make be a better person, bring the best out of me and get me to where my goals are."
TSN


Here's a look at the players who had college coaches chirping on Day 1 in Las Vegas.

Best Point Guard
Emmanuel Mudiay (Dallas/Prime Prep)
2014, PG, 6-foot-5, 190 pounds
Status: Claims offers from Kentucky, Texas, Baylor, Kansas, SMU, St. John's, NC State, Arizona, Louisville, Oklahoma State and St. John’s
Mudiay was the best all-around player Wednesday, and he is putting himself in the conversation for the best PG prospect in the country. He is not known as a shooter, but he drained a number of 3-pointers in this one. The most impressive aspect of his game, however, is his explosive burst in transition and the innate ability to locate open teammates while being heavily defended. There is not a player in this class that has his size, skill, and overall feel at the lead guard position.
ESPN


2. Cliff Alexander -- He’s a beast. The Illinois native is 6-9, 245 pounds and has a rare combination of strength, athleticism and skill. He plays above the rim, is physically intimidating, yet is skilled and can score in the post with power and also finesse. Michigan State, Louisville, Kentucky and Kansas are among those in the fray to land Alexander.

4. Kelly Oubre -- The 6-7 forward from Houston is long and ultra-athletic, and one NBA scout told me there was no one more intriguing player at the Global Challenge due to his overall package of size, athleticism and skill. He can make 3s, pull up from midrange and also finish above the rim. His top eight are Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Georgetown, Louisville, Oregon, UConn and UNLV.

5. Emmanuel Mudiay -- It was my first look at the Prime Prep point guard, and he was every bit as good as advertised. In fact, he was even more impressive. The knock on him coming in was that he couldn’t shoot it from the perimeter, but he knocked down 3s, used his size (6-4) and athleticism to get to the basket and finish through contact and also ran the team well enough. Tyus Jones is a terrific floor leader, but Mudiay has far greater upside due to his physical tools. It looks as though Kentucky, Kansas, SMU, Baylor and Texas are all in decent shape for Mudiay.
ESPN Goodman

7/31/13, 3:48 PM
No order: Baylor, Iowa State, Kentucky, North Carolina, UConn, Kansas, UNLV, Arizona, GeorgeTown, UCLA, Minnesota
@ShowtimeMr


8/1/13, 8:25 AM
Kansas has offered 2015 St. John Bosco (CA) guard Tyler Dorsey, his coach announced.
@TheRecruitScoop

Sunday at Adidas Nations featured another two rounds of games. With a few players knocked out with injury, nobody had any playing time complaints. One of the class of 2014's top 10 prospects, Myles Turner, was among the day's standouts, and he'll soon be making another cut to his list.

…The No. 6 player in the class of 2014 told Rivals.com that he plans to get his list cut down to at least eight programs shortly after returning home from Nations.


"I pretty much already have what I want," Turner told Rivals.com. "But we are really going to run it down once I get on the plane with my dad."


Though he'll be cutting his list down soon, Turner declined to name any programs that are sure to make his cut. However, given that he has set up an official visit to Kansas for their Late Night festivities in early October, it is pretty clear that Turner's list will at least include the Jayhawks.


Turner said that it was a combination of the Jayhawks asking for a visit early and him having watched them over the years.


"They told me about it in my AAU season, and I've always kind of been a fan of Kansas," said Turner when asked why Kansas was the first visit he set. "The way they put bigs into the league and all of that, I really want to go out there and see what they have to work with."
Rivals


Here are some nuggets from Friday’s action in Vegas.

No. 10 senior center Turner (Bedford, Texas/Euless Trinity) was awesome Friday. He made 2 of 3 from downtown in the first half and went on a shot-blocking tear that left onlookers either shaking their heads or chuckling. He was silly good. Jahlil Okafor (Chicago/Whitney Young) and Cliff Alexander (Chicago/Curie) -- the top two recruits in the Class of 2014 -- are more polished players and more physically ready right now. They’re tested and proven commodities. But two years from now? I think Turner’s upside is greater. We need to keep an eye on him to make sure he continues making the necessary strides.

Oklahoma State’s Travis Ford, Kansas’ Bill Self, SMU’s Larry Brown and Georgetown’s John Thompson III were in the stands. Ford has not missed one of Turner's games this month. Keep in mind that, before the summer, Turner specifically cited the Cowboys as a team that had been with him the longest.
ESPN Insider ($)


Rivals: Las Vegas: What We Learned (Video at link)


Rivals: AAU Championships and Showcase: What We Learned (Video at link)


The 3rd Annual "Big Strick Classic" formerly the Franchise Classic. Memorial High School Basketball Game will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2013 @ The Gauchos Gym, 478 Gerard Avenue, Bronx, New York 10451.
Rivals (Rosters at the link)


CBC standout forward Jordan Barnett attracted scholarship offers from some of the top programs in college basketball before making a verbal commitment on Thursday.

Barnett, a 6-foot-8, 185-pound small forward ranked among the top 100 prospects in the Class of 2014, pledged to the University of Texas.

The CBC standout had an impressive list of scholarship offers, including Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, St. Louis University, Butler, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Purdue and Stanford among others.

Barnett played with the St. Louis Eagles this summer and recently competed at the Nike Global Challenge in Washington, D.C. He is rated by Rivals.com as the 85th best prospect
St Louis PD


The first eight players for the Aug. 24 Elite 24 game in Brooklyn have been named.
Tyus Jones
Stanley Johnson
Chris McCullough
Justin Jackson
Emmanuel Mudiay
Malik Newman
Ivan Raab
Kelly Oubre
Zags Blog



On Wednesday night, North Carolina entered the fray of colleges vying for Jayson Tatum’s commitment.

Tatum, a 6-foot-7 wing forward out of Chaminade St. Louis (MO) High School, has made an immediate impact in the class of 2016, picking up a slew of offers, including Kentucky, Florida, Kansas, Ohio State, Missouri, and now North Carolina.

“It means a lot,” Tatum told SNY.tv. “Coach Roy Williams is a great coach. Talking to him, and him giving me a scholarship has meant a lot.”
Link


My KU Alumni games, 2011-12 Border War, Legends of the Phog, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos, Late Night in the Phog, and more now on YouTube