Tuesday, November 4, 2008
When the star quarterback hails from Texas and the leader of the basketball squad comes from Chicago, it’s sometimes easy to forget about the local kids: the athletes who called Kansas home before Kansas came calling.
Last weekend served as a pleasant reminder that the Sunflower State can, indeed, produce some stellar talent.
First, junior running back Jake Sharp gashed the Kansas State defense, tallying 257 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. He scored the game’s first three touchdowns to help secure Kansas’ third consecutive Sunflower Showdown triumph.
Sharp’s success surprises because his 5-foot-9 frame didn’t impress national scouting services. But despite dealing with the stigma of having a Salina area code, he’s proven himself as an elite athlete. An up-close look at his rugged physique explains why he’s the fastest player on the roster, and how he flew up the depth chart past Angus Quigley and Jocques Crawford, both out-of-state imports.
Second, Kansas women’s basketball spent Sunday afternoon dominating Fort Hays State in an exhibition matchup. Shouldering the load for the Jayhawks was the team’s only Kansas product: Olathe-bred forward Danielle McCray.
It’s no secret that McCray has been the team’s star since she stepped on campus three seasons ago, but it’s a surprise the KC metro area spit out such a talent. The solid 5-11 junior scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds in only 19 minutes, a combination that bodes well for a Kansas women’s team in need of a leader.
Next in line is men’s basketball. With presumed starter Mario Little sidelined by a stress fracture, Kansas natives Travis Releford and Tyrel Reed should see some serious playing time in tonight’s preseason opener against Washburn. Releford earned the state’s Gatordade Player of the Year honors playing for Bishop Miege in Shawnee Mission last season. A year earlier, Reed earned the same award at Burlington High. A strong season from either guard would help legitimize Kansas high school hoops.
ELECTION DAY HOOPS
Today marks the intersection of two important institutions: Kansas basketball and the United States presidential election. If you didn’t prepare properly by voting early, don’t panic.
Simply ditch school to cast your ballot in the morning — class comes third on a day like today. Spend the afternoon trying to decide where to stick your “I VOTED” sticker while poring over The Kansan’s stellar basketball pregame coverage. Come evening, head to Allen Fieldhouse just in time to miss television’s talking-head tedium. Enjoy the game and avoid the overblown election coverage. The results will be there tomorrow, but you might only get one chance to see Tyshawn Taylor throw down a brutal dunk over a poor Washburn Ichabod.
‘FINE’-ALLY
It was a few weeks coming, but former Jayhawk tight end Derek Fine enjoyed his NFL breakout last weekend. Fine didn’t start for the Buffalo Bills, but he did grab four receptions, including a nine-yard touchdown. Fine’s early-season struggles weren’t any fault of his own: He missed the first six games with a thumb injury.
— — Edited by Andy Greenhaw
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