Jayhawks off to the NBA

Friday, April 18, 2008

Brandon Rush sat there in his red polo shirt, leaning back in his chair and smiling as Bill Self talked about how the junior guard would soon gain back all the athleticism that had been missing since his ACL injury.

All Rush could really do Thursday was smile. He’s going to the NBA. Finally. After two failed attempts to enter the draft, he’s gone for good.

Rush, along with sophomore forward Darrell Arthur, declared for the NBA Draft Thursday afternoon. Arthur didn’t sign with an agent, leaving open the possibility of a return. Because Rush declared and withdrew last year, he cannot come back to school.

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How About Mario? Another one of these press conferences could happen for Mario Chalmers. Chalmers, a junior guard, still hasn’t decided if he will declare for the NBA Draft or come back for his senior season. Self said Chalmers could go in the first round if he left. “He’s got a decision to make as well,” Self said. “He’s not comfortable yet in coming out publicly with what he wants to do because I don’t think in his heart he knows.” The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is April 27.

And what about all those seniors? They might make the NBA, too, you know. Self said Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun and Russell Robinson would all like to participate in the Orlando, Fla., predraft camp if they get invited. Kaun and Jackson are projected as late second round picks. An NBA scout said Robinson could make the NBA if he found a team that was the right fit. Self said KU’s National Championship would benefit Arthur and Rush’s draft stock and also the status of those three seniors. “We’ve had NBA types tell us that if you win big the pie is big enough for everybody,” Self said.

“We knew going into the season that this day was going to come with these two particular guys,” Self said. “I think they both made decisions on the welfare of them having a career.”

NBA scouts are projecting Rush to go in the late first round or early second round. Self said Arthur would go in the first round for sure, but Arthur wants a guarantee that he’ll go in the top half of the first round before he makes his final decision.

“I’m not holding my breath,” Self said. “Nor will our other coaches or players hoping Shady comes back.”

Arthur, who averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, will have to perform well in workouts, starting in early June, if he wants to solidify his standing in the middle of the first round. He has until June 16 to decide if he wants return to Kansas.

For the first time in his college career, no question marks surround Rush’s seemingly endless flirtation with the NBA. He declared as a high school senior then withdrew and joined the Jayhawks. That first season, the word was that Rush would come to Kansas as a one and done player. With KU’s first-round loss to Bradley as the clincher, Rush came back for a second season and then declared for the draft last April. A torn ACL caused him to return.

Despite his desire to play in the NBA for the past three years, Rush said he didn’t regret his college experience. He led the team in scoring in all three of his seasons, won a national championship and made the honor roll twice.

“It’s grown me as a man,” Rush said about college. “It’s taken care of my responsibilities, taken care of things that needed to be done.”

Rush, who will sign with an agent soon, averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this season and shot 42 percent from three-point range. NBA teams will certainly like his shooting skills, but Rush might be able to stick out more because of his defense.

“He’s an NBA defender right now,” Self said. “His length is definitely an asset.”

After all the questions had been asked, Rush quickly got out of his seat and headed for the exit. Everyone expected Rush to leave Kansas with the same swiftness after his freshman or sophomore season, but he stuck around for three years – years that he’ll never forget.

“I’m going to always be a proud Jayhawk,” he said.

—Edited by Russell Davies

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