Jayhawks prepare for first practice
Freshmen might see first playing time in Canadian exhibition games
By Case Keefer (Contact)
Thursday, August 21st, 2008
Jayhawk basketball players will not only start attending fall classes today, but will also participate in their first practice.
Well, most of them. Junior guard Sherron Collins, who is recovering from an April knee surgery, might not be able to participate in the week of practices leading up to the team’s trip to Ottawa, Canada. The Morris twins, Marcus and Markieff, won’t be able to practice until the NCAA rules them academically eligible.
The Jayhawks will practice in Lawrence until next weekend when they leave for Canada to play in three exhibition games. Kansas will play McGill University and Carleton University on Aug. 30, and the University of Ottawa on Aug. 31.
The three exhibition games will serve as the debut for incoming freshmen Tyshawn Taylor, Travis Releford and Quintrell Thomas and junior college transfers Mario Little and Tyrone Appleton. The Morris twins could also play for the first time as Jayhawks if they are cleared in time.
On the recruiting trail
Spending a week with players who are already Jayhawks might feel new to Kansas coach Bill Self. He’s spent the last month across the nation recruiting potential players for the 2009 team.
According to Rivals.com, six of the nation’s top 10 high school players are considering playing basketball at Kansas.
The top player in America, point guard John Wall from Raleigh, N.C., still has Kansas on his short list, which also includes Baylor, Memphis and Oklahoma State. Oklahoma City guard Xavier Henry, rated as the third best player in the country, is reported to be choosing between Kansas and Memphis. Henry will visit campus for Late Night in the Phog in October.
Self’s other targets include Los Angeles swingman Jordan Hamilton, Tacoma, Wash. guard Avery Bradley, New York guard Lance Stephenson, Los Angeles big man Renardo Sidney and Jersey City, N.J. guard Dominic Cheek, who was a high-school teammate of current Jayhawk guard Tyshawn Taylor.
—Edited by Scott Toland
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