Freshman forward gives the Garden State a better name

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Beware Kansas fans, the bad puns involving the state of New Jersey are coming shortly. That’s what happens when four of the seven newcomers to the Kansas basketball program played their high school basketball in the Garden State.

Kansas coach Bill Self ventured from the fruited plains and found four top prep players along the Jersey turnpike.

Incoming guard Tyshawn Taylor played at St. Anthony’s in Jersey City, NJ., and incoming forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris — who actually hail from Philadelphia — played ball at Apex Academy in Pennsauken, N.J..

But it’s Quintrell Thomas, a 6-foot-8 incoming freshman forward, who can be blamed with starting the trend.

Thomas, a native of Elizabeth, N.J., committed to play at Kansas last October. The Morrises and Taylor followed, and now Kansas is stocked with East Coast talent, a commodity that was once quite scarce in Lawrence.

As an undersized power forward, a few recruiting experts have likened Thomas’ game to that of former Jayhawk, Darnell Jackson. Thomas showed glimpses of that game at two alumni scrimmages earlier this summer. Thomas was physical and an active rebounder, although while standing next to former Jayhawk Julian Wright, Thomas showed he might be closer to 6-foot-6 than the 6-foot-8 he has often been listed at.

With Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun graduated and Darrell Arthur’s early entry into the NBA draft, sophomore Cole Aldrich is Kansas’ only returning front court player.

The Jayhawks may need Thomas to play an important role early on in his career. And if Thomas and mates from New Jersey are successful, fans may hope Self journeys out to the Jersey shore more often.

— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld

Incoming power forward is reminiscent of former ...

Markeiff Morris, who averaged 23 points and 15 rebounds per game at ...

/news/2008/jul/23/markeiff_morris/

Late Night persuades player to commit to ...

/news/2008/oct/20/Basketballnotes/

Morris Twins possess varied on-court talents

Philadelphia brothers willing to play on the wing and inside

/news/2008/jul/23/morris/

Taylor broke out in exhibition game this ...

Freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor likes to reflect on the night he scored ...

/news/2008/oct/23/taylor_broke_out_exhibition_game_summer/

Carpenter: Robinson, Taylor should produce this season

Transfer Kevin Young also has a chance at starting.

/news/2011/oct/19/carpenter-robinson-taylor-should-produce-season/

Thomas was recruited to rebound, but thinks ...

Coach Bill Self recruited freshman forward Quintrell Thomas to dominate under the ...

/news/2008/nov/11/thomas/

Already accomplished Taylor is right at home

/news/2008/jul/23/taylor/

Dar(r/n)ell off the bench

Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur took entirely different roads to Kansas basketball. ...

/news/2007/mar/13/mbb/

Robinson and Taylor earn Preseason All-Big 12 ...

Taylor and Robinson both receive preseason honors as they prepare to lead ...

/news/2011/oct/06/robinson-and-taylor-earn-preseason-all-big-12-hono/

Basketball notes: Sept. 20, 2007

An update on recruitment visits and other issues in Kansas basketball

/news/2007/sep/20/Basketball_Notes/

Blog: Predicting the Big 12 men's basketball ...

Sam Kovzan gives his take on where each Big 12 team will ...

/news/2011/oct/25/blog-predicting-big-12-mens-basketball-final-stand/

KU plays Washington with Tyshawn Taylor playing ...

Freshman Taylor is trying to fill the shoes of Mario Chalmers as ...

/news/2008/nov/24/basketballpreview/

Taylor's Time

Kansas heads to Kansas City for the CBE Classic with Tyshawn Taylor ...

/news/2008/nov/24/taylors_time/

Appleton, Thomas to seek transfer

Tyrone Appleton and Quintrell Thomas both said they will look for expanded ...

/news/2009/apr/09/appleton_thomas_seek_transfer/

Morning Brew: What the hell is going ...

The Jayhawks are playing for their bowl lives and Tyler Thigpen is ...

/news/2008/oct/28/morning_brew/

Jayhawks prepare for first practice

Freshmen might see first playing time in Canadian exhibition games

/news/2008/aug/21/sp_BBnotes/

Self looking to fill open scholarships

The Kansas basketball team could possibly lose seven players after this season. ...

/news/2007/oct/16/recruiting/

Rains: Jackson a true fighter

Jackson’s comeback might be rewarded with a selection in the NBA draft.

/news/2008/feb/08/rains/

Kansas, Kentucky set to clash in New ...

Led by Thomas Robinson, the Jayhawks will have their hands full with ...

/news/2011/nov/14/kansas-kentucky-set-clash-new-york/

Robinson, Taylor share many similarities

Freshman Jayhawk will be called on to score lots of points as ...

/news/2008/oct/20/Morningbrew/

Aside from Robinson, offense stays slow

The rest of Kansas' offense was no match for the Kentucky defense ...

/news/2011/nov/16/aside-robinson-offense-stays-slow/

Dent: Self brings East Coast flavor

Kansas coach Bill Self recruits players from the east when Roy Williams ...

/news/2008/dec/08/brew/

Relishing the road to KU basketball

Travis Releford, member of the Jayhawks’ 2008 recruiting class, finishes his senior ...

/news/2008/jan/29/relishing_road_ku_basketball/

KU Basketball Game Day: Nov. 4, 2008

/news/2008/nov/04/game_day/

Vernon: Legends of the Phog is a ...

Big names from the past combine to make the upcoming game a ...

/news/2011/sep/13/vernon-legends-phog-big-deal/

Jayhawks to tip off against Jayhawks

Fans will finally get a glimpse of what the 2008-2009 basketball team ...

/news/2008/oct/15/basketball/

Summer full of injuries for basketball team

Brandon Rush tore his ACL and withdrew from the NBA draft to ...

/news/2007/aug/13/Sp_Basketball/

D-Lightful Win

Kansas changed its faster style to beat the Buffaloes 69-45 with a ...

/news/2008/feb/16/dlightful_win/

Moore: Who will be the 2008 go-to-guy?

Basketball fans start to look past the tragic loss to UCLA in ...

/news/2007/apr/06/moore/

New recruits make commitments

Coach Self continues his successful recruiting gathering quality players from all over ...

/news/2007/nov/16/basketball/

Goble: Freshmen hold keys to Kansas’ season

Young players show strengths and weaknesses in first college game.

/news/2009/nov/04/goble-freshman-hold-keys-kansas-season/

Men's basketball team fresh and ready to ...

/news/2005/aug/12/mens_bball_outlook/

Blog: Who to watch at Late Night

Basketball is back and Sam Kovzan takes a look at the players ...

/news/2011/oct/13/blog-who-watch-late-night/

Top recruit will not attend Kansas

Xavier Henry made his commitment to Memphis today.

/news/2008/nov/18/henry_chooses_memphis/

Morning Brew: Taylor featured in PBS documentary

The Jayhawk guard is a highlight of the film, which follows St. ...

/news/2010/apr/02/morning-brew/

Jayhawks emerge again as victors

Seniors finished their regular season in College Station, Texas as four-time Big ...

/news/2008/mar/10/jayhawks_end_regular_season_championsagain/

Game Day: A different kind of tiger

Get ready for this Saturday's men's basketball game against Jackson State.

/news/2008/dec/05/game_day_different_kind_tiger/

Kansas cruises in season opener

Kansas had a 25-10 run during the first seven minutes of the ...

/news/2007/nov/10/kansas_cruises/

Wheeler: Jackson shines as most improved player

Darnell Jackson is averaging 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as ...

/news/2008/jan/25/wheeler/

Jackson leads Jayhawks to victory

/news/2005/dec/23/new/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID