Kansas Jayhawks
Milt Doyle, who returned to his hometown of Chicago on Aug. 13 for a weeklong visit with his family following Kansas University’s basketball excursion to Switzerland and Paris, planned to catch a flight to Kansas City International on Sunday for the start of first semester classes Monday at KU.
He had a change of heart after a serious phone conversation with Jayhawk coach Bill Self.
“We spoke to Milt at length Sunday on what we thought his role would be within our program,” 10th-year KU coach Self said Monday in officially announcing the 6-foot-4 freshman guard’s decision to transfer to a yet-to-be-determined school.
“We discussed his options, and the first option was welcoming him back for the fall. His leaving is entirely his own choice, one that he felt was best for his future. We expected him to be here, but he thought it was better for him to go to a place where he had a better opportunity to impact a program early in his career,” Self added. “We wish nothing but the best for him. He is a great kid.”
…Doyle’s departure leaves KU with 12 scholarship players, one under the limit.
“I haven’t made a decision on anything yet,” Self said, asked if the scholarship would be awarded to Justin Wesley, who was on scholarship last year.
KU currently has five available scholarships to award to players in the high school recruiting Class of 2013. So far, the Jayhawks have landed commitments from Conner Frankamp, a 6-1 senior from Wichita North, and Brannen Greene, 6-4, senior Tift County High, Forsyth, Ga.
McLemore update: Self said KU freshman Ben McLemore (hip flexor) would return to action soon. “Hopefully he’ll start working out by the first of next week,” Self said.
LJW
Kansas University coach Bill Self attended his first Charlie Weis football practice Friday.
“He said, ‘Get on the line,’ and I ran over there,” Self said with a laugh at the seventh annual KU KickOff at Corinth Square. “I was nervous he was talking to me.”
In all seriousness, Self left impressed by what he saw from KU’s first-year football coach.
“This thing is different. And I’m not blasting before. It’s different,” Self said. “ ... Charlie’s style is very direct, very disciplined, very enthusiastic and won’t put up with any crap at all.”
Weis just smiled when told by a reporter that it was the first time at the alumni event that more folks had shown up to see the football coach than the basketball coach.
“We all know who’s boss in this town,” Weis said, referring to Self.
When asked what KU fans needed to hear from their football coach at a time like this, Weis cracked another joke.
“They probably want me to introduce Self. That’s probably what they want me to do,” Weis said. “Really, I’m not going to go up to the fans and make all sorts of promises. I’m just going to say that we’re in this together.”
LJW
KU AD Video: Corinth Square Kickoff
KU Alumni Photos: KU kickoff at Corinth Square
Boomer & Craig were happy to welcome Mario Chalmers into the Allstate Studio, despite the fact that he is a member of the World Champions Miami Heat.
Before joining the NBA, Chalmers won a National Championship at the University of Kansas, so winning is old hat by now.
Chalmers knew they were both Knicks fans and Craig asked about Chalmers’ beat-down effort against Jeremy Lin back in February, when the Knicks point guard shot just 1-11 and turned the ball over 8 times in the 102-88 loss – the first game during the ‘Linsanity’ run that he was held in-check. Chalmers downplayed the effort, saying it wasn’t personal and that he just did what he was supposed to do.
Chalmers fondly recalled beating John Calipari and Memphis back in 2008 and warned Knicks fans to watch out for the Brooklyn Nets this season. He also discussed his admiration for Trajan Langdon, Deron Williams & Chris Paul, rocking his Championship Ring at the club and of course – what he is benchin’…
Audio: Mario Chalmers on Boomer & Carton
Fordham has narrowed its search for a new athletic director to a field of Elite Eight candidates. One problem: On first glance, it’s not very elite.
The Post has learned that six candidates will be interviewed in the coming days. Charlie Elwood, who has been running the department since Frank McLaughlin was promoted to a fundraising position in late May, is on campus. And Kansas special assistant to the athletics director Larry Keating has already had conversations with Jeff Gray, the senior vice president in charge of student affairs.
NY Post
@darthur00 says he's 75% at the moment but will be ready for the season. #GoGrizz
https://twitter.com/PetePranica/statuses/237593678447783936
KU AD photo Justin Wesley in character
Barbara O. Chamberlain-Lewis has written letters that essentially scream “cut!” on local filmmaker Kevin Willmott’s “Jayhawkers,” but the command has fallen on deaf ears.
Acting on behalf of the Chamberlain family, Chamberlain-Lewis has told Willmott that he does not have the rights to the film, but Willmott said his entertainment lawyers have told him otherwise.
LJW
Video: Calipari coaching Kansas JV team (circa 82-85?)
bringtheruleshome.com "There's no place like home"
Big 12/College News
Former North Carolina football star Julius Peppers confirmed it was his academic transcript that was posted on the university's website and insists there was ''no academic fraud'' with it.
The Chicago Bears' defensive end released a statement through his agent Saturday, nearly a week after a link to the transcript surfaced.
AP
With the talent Oklahoma State has on its roster, coach Travis Ford and the Cowboys have the potential for an NCAA tournament appearance.
They suffered a hit on Monday, though, when sources informed CBSSports.com that Cezar Guerrero decided to leave the school.
Guerrero wanted to move closer to home in Los Angeles, according to a source, but has not yet decided on his next destination. He played well on the Cowboys' recent overseas trip to Spain, and was a consistent member of the rotation.
"He left the team in good standing and his academics are fine," a source said.
Oklahoma State's fall semester began Monday, and Guerrero didn't want to wait until the semester break to leave -- in order to preserve his entire season of eligibility. A source said he is considering several schools within three or four hours of Los Angeles.
Guerrero, a 6-foot point guard, averaged 5.6 points and 1.6 assists last season.
CBS
From the playgrounds of Richmond, Va., to the highest levels of international basketball, the exploits of Jonathan Hargett still resonate.
Amar’e Stoudemire, a high school teammate, has called Hargett the best player he has played with at any level. Carmelo Anthony, a summer league teammate when both were in high school, vividly recalls Hargett, a frenetic 5-foot-11 guard with a 44-inch vertical leap and skills that evoked comparisons to Allen Iverson.
At the London Olympics, Kevin Durant overheard a reporter talking to Anthony about Hargett and asked wide-eyed about his whereabouts. Durant attended one of the four high schools Hargett attended, but he knows him only by his reputation.
His signature move was his ability to freeze an opponent with a crossover dribble, then blow past him toward the basket, lobbing the ball off the backboard and catching it and dunking it with one hand. It became known simply as a Hargett.
“Especially when you’re talking about memories and things like that from high school basketball and A.A.U. basketball, he’s definitely one of the names that comes up,” Anthony said. “What happened to him?”
The answer is jarring and sadly predictable. Hargett, who turns 30 this weekend, is an inmate at the medium-security Indian Creek Correctional Center here, serving the final months of a nearly five-year sentence for drug possession with intent to sell.
How he ended up here, a decade removed from his one season of major-college basketball and far short of the N.B.A. career that many thought was his destiny, is a story that Hargett told recently in two jailhouse interviews totaling nearly seven hours. Wearing the standard-issue prison uniform of jeans and a blue button-down shirt that resembled a pajama top, Hargett spoke of dealing with an agent at 15 and of eventually choosing to attend West Virginia because he was offered $20,000. He also recounted his years of abusing marijuana and making nearly $1,000 a day selling cocaine, a way of life that resulted in his being shot with a bullet that remains lodged in his hip.
NY Times
The National Association of Basketball Coaches has told the U.S. Supreme Court it believes university officials should be able to continue taking race into consideration when deciding who gets to enroll in their schools.
The NABC and 43 current and former basketball coaches filed an amicus brief in the case of Abigail Fisher, who sued the University of Texas in 2008 after she was denied admission to the university. Fisher, who is white, claimed her civil and constitutional rights were violated when the university admitted less-qualified minority students because of their race. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Oct. 10.
Jim Haney, executive director of the NABC, said his organization has spent the last six years lobbying in several states against referendums to repeal affirmative action, so chiming in on the Supreme Court case was a natural.
"I think for a number of us who were on college campuses back in the '60s and '70s, were there African-American basketball players and football players on those campuses? Sure. But that certainly wouldn't suggest there was diversity throughout the universities," he said. "Minority representation in some cases was almost exclusively student-athletes."
Haney said many minority students come from high schools that don't "give them the best opportunity to capitalize on their desires and interests."
"It would be nice if everyone was on the same playing field and it was level," he said. "But it's not that way. Some people who are disadvantaged just need the opportunity."
AP
John Calipari has cooked up another off-season treat for Kentucky basketball fans.
The UK coach announced Friday that the Wildcats will host an alumni game Sept. 15 in Rupp Arena.
Calipari plans to bring back most of the Wildcats currently in the NBA for the game.
The proceeds will go to charity, some of which will benefit West Liberty, the Kentucky town devastated by a tornado last March. Calipari was in West Liberty on Friday for an appearance on Kentucky Sports Radio, which was leading a relief effort of its own.
Lex HL
ESPN Tip-Off Marathon schedule
2012-13 Early Season Events List
Recruiting
8/20/12 11:32 PM
This convo with @J30_RANDLE >>>> got me hype!
Brannen Greene (@b_greene14)
Tift County Blue Devil basketball player Brannen Greene has been selected to participate in the seventh annual Under Armour Elite 24 all-star event to be held this weekend in Venice Beach, Calif.
The event features what is considered the best 24 high school basketball players in the country, who are selected on their performance during AAU tournaments and national summer camps by ESPN high school basketball experts.
Greene’s father, Jeffery, said, “It is a huge accomplishment for Brannen. We are really happy he will be able to represent Tift County at this event.”
Blue Devil Head Coach Eric Holland said, “I am very excited for Brannen. Being picked as one of the top 24 players in the country is big for him, our team and for Tift County.
“I am looking forward to see him represent us in a very positive way. We are hoping this will lead to him becoming a McDonald’s All American after his senior season.”
The actual game will be played live on ESPNU at 7 p.m., Saturday, while there will be a skills competition and slam dunk contest at 7 p.m. Friday, which will also be broadcast live on ESPNU.
“Brannen will also be taking part in the skills competition,” his father said.
Greene has already verbally committed to Kansas. He will be one of five participants that have already done so, the others are Nate Britt II to North Carolina, Aquille Carr to Seton Hall, Nigel Williams-Goss to Washington and Conner Frankamp, who like Greene has committed to Kansas.
Tifton Gazette
Follow @UAElite24
Anthony “Cat” Barber, a 6-2 senior point guard from Hampton (Va.) High, likely will visit KU the weekend of Sept. 14-16, according to Rivals.com. Barber, the country’s No. 9-rated player, is also considering Alabama, Louisville and North Carolina State. Rivals.com reports that two other players — Troy Williams and Tyler Roberson — also may visit that weekend. Williams, ranked 41st, is a 6-6 small forward from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. Roberson, who is ranked No. 53, is a 6-8 small forward from Roselle (N.J.) Catholic High.
LJW
Marcus Lee, one of the most sought-after forwards in the Class of 2013, took an unofficial visit to UCLA Saturday and has also set up an in-home visit with Kentucky.
The 6-foot-9 Lee out of Antioch (Calif.) Deer Valley visited UCLA along with 2014 guards Jordan McLaughlin and Parker Jackson-Cartright.
“Pauley Pavilion is going to be amazing,” Brian Lee, Marcus’s brother, told SNY.tv. “The team looks like they are ready to do some damage this year. Everyone in the program was great to us, from the coaches to the players to the team managers. The academic counselor was really helpful. There’s nothing bad you can say about it.”
In addition to the official visits reported here for Louisville (Sept. 7), Kentucky (Oct. 12) and Indiana (Oct. 20), Lee will have an in-home visit Oct. 6 with Kansas and Oct. 16 with Kentucky. Brian is also setting up an in-home with Duke.
Zags Blog
Troy Williams enjoyed his recent visit to Alabama and his future plans remain in flux until he settles in at Oak Hill Academy beginning this weekend.
“The Alabama visit was good,” his uncle, Boo Williams, told SNY.tv Monday.
“They did a good job showing him the campus and showing him all the things he needed to see.”
The 6-foot-6 Williams is also considering Louisville, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio State, Memphis, Arkansas and South Carolina, but Boo said no visits will be set until he settles in at Oak Hill and learns his schedule.
“We’re going to Oak Hill Saturday,’ Boo said. “Our problem is before we make another visit, we’re going to have to see what the schedule is.”
Zags Blog
Since April, Troy Williams has been crisscrossing the country like he's running for office. Oakland, Dallas, Minneapolis, Vegas, Houston, Chicago, New York … all told, he's added more than 10,000 miles to his frequent flier card.
"It's tiring sometimes," Williams said at his kitchen table during some down time. "As soon as you get off the plane you're practicing or working out, getting ready for the next tournament. One time I came home for like a day and then I had to leave for Houston. It's tiring, but it all pays off in the end."
The end, of course, will come when he signs on the dotted line with the college of his choice. He expects that to be on or shortly after Nov. 14, when the early signing period begins. As for what school he chooses, well, stay tuned on that one.
The list that was once trimmed to two finalists — North Carolina and Kentucky — has added Louisville, Alabama, Memphis, Indiana, Ohio State, Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgetown. And maybe Kansas, though the Jayhawks had not officially offered as of Friday.
Williams, who will play his senior season at Oak Hill Academy, claims there is no current favorite — "everybody's neutral," he said. But he acknowledges the possibilities when it comes to close friend and former Peninsula District rival Anthony Barber of Hampton.
Three schools on Williams' list (Alabama, Louisville and Kansas) also are on Barber's much shorter list. Williams says there's a "50-50" chance they'll end up signing with the same school, though he adds it's not something they spend a lot of time talking about.
Daily Press
8/18/12 4:22 PM
This just in @WayneSelden23 final 6 schools: UCLA, Florida, Ohio State, Syracuse, Kansas and Missouri ...in no specific order. Stay tuned
https://twitter.com/PaulBiancardi
Parker says he hopes to whittle down his 10 finalists -- Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan State, Stanford, Florida, Georgetown, BYU and DePaul -- in the coming weeks and then begin to take recruiting visits.
“Hopefully in September, that’s the target date,” Sonny told SportsNet on Saturday. “Then, he’s going to take his visits and his trips and hopefully make his decision in the fall. If he’s not really feeling it feeling it, then wait until the spring.
“He has no No. 1 or No. 2, he doesn’t really have a favorite. I told him, ‘You have to make a decision.’ He likes pretty much all those programs. I don’t know if anyone has an advantage or disadvantage. It’s just going to come down to him being comfortable in their system where he can grow and develop and get better. He likes all the programs in his top-10 choices.”
TSN
Adria Gasol, younger brother of NBA All-Stars Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol, has enrolled in college at UCLA and plans to walk-on with the Bruins basketball team this season.
CBS
Beginning June15, a new NCAA rule took effect that allows unlimited phone calls and text messages between Division I men's basketball coaches and players entering their junior year. That rule extends to messages on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
In addition to keeping up with the technology of the time and the manner in which people interact, the change also allows coaches and players to get to know each other better at a time the transfer rate in Division I men's basketball has risen to 40 percent, according to NCAA President Mark Emmert.
The first week of the new rule, Bluiett estimates he received between 20 and 30 text messages per day, as well as several phone calls and Facebook messages. The tone of the messages varied from coach to coach.
"Some just were telling me, 'You're having a good summer, keep it up,' or 'Seen a lot of improvement,'" said Bluiett, who has more than a dozen offers, including Butler, Indiana and Purdue. "Others were just telling me that they were going to keep recruiting me or were going to start recruiting me.
"A few coaches will (text), 'Thinking about you in this jersey,' or just let me know they are thinking about me."
Though such comments may seem more appropriate to a new girlfriend than a teenage boy to an outsider, families immersed in this process understand the context of the messages. Coaches are attempting to build relationships with players and sell their program.
"You almost have to approach the recruiting process like you're getting married," said Scott McIntosh, the father of Bryant McIntosh, a Division I recruit from Greensburg. "You are learning as much as you can about that person and developing that relationship as much as you can to make an educated decision when that time comes."
Indy Star
My 2012 KU Alumni games, 2011-12 Border War, Legends of the Phog, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos and more now on Youtube
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