Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Incoming guard Tyrone Appleton and the eight Jayhawks returning from last year’s team have something in common — they’re all former national champions.
Appleton led his junior college team, Midland College, to a national championship his freshman year. Now, the junior joins a team defending the Division I national title next season.
“It’s a big adjustment,” Appleton said. “But if you’re a basketball player, you’ve got to get used to it.”
Photo courtesy of Chipola College
Championships aren’t where the similarities between Midland and Kansas end. Much like the Jayhawks last season, the Chaparrals relied on a number of players to score equally instead of following the lead of a superstar.
Appleton was the second leading scorer on the team with 13 points per game. He also dished out five assists and grabbed nearly two steals per game. Kansas coach Bill Self said he thought Appleton would fit right in as a Jayhawk.
“Tyrone has won big at the junior college level and certainly has sacrificed individual statistics for the betterment of his team,” Self said when he signed Appleton. “We were sold on Tyrone when we first came into contact with him.”
Self also likes that Appleton’s game is versatile. Appleton can play any guard position on the floor.
But he prefers playing point guard. His only weakness is said to be his jump-shot. Appleton, however, said his shot was fine. He said he gained the reputation because he’d rather penetrate the lane than pull up for a shot.
“I can shoot it,” Appleton said. “But I’m more of a drive-first type guy. Look-first, pass-first.”
Fellow junior college transfer Mario Little agreed that Appleton could shoot if he had to. Little played against Appleton in junior college and the two have played regularly this summer.
They also grew up near each other. Appleton comes from Gary, Ind., less than an hour away from Little’s native Chicago.
“He’s a tough city kid,” Little said. “He’ll bring toughness to the team.”
And Appleton is just getting tougher. He said the biggest adjustment from junior college to Kansas so far was the sessions in the weight-room.
Strength coach Andrea Hudy is keeping Appleton busy between attending classes and playing pick-up basketball this summer.
“As a JUCO, you hit the weights a little bit,” Appleton said. “But our strength and conditioning coach here — she’s real tough.”
Appleton is hoping the hard work will pay off. As a junior, he’s one of the only veterans on the team and Self said he expected Appleton to serve as a leader. He’s got a championship to prove he’s capable of it.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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