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In all, 84 Kansas University student-athletes are eligible today to stroll down Campanile Hill in cap and gown and enter Memorial Stadium for 2006 graduation ceremonies.
Three of the 84 are men's basketball players - Christian Moody, Moulaye Niang and Stephen Vinson.
All but Vinson will take part in festivities; the former Lawrence High standout will be lounging on a beach somewhere far away, honeymooning with wife Anna.
"These are great young men, who take care of business in the classroom, take care of responsibilities. They are bright. They have goals. It's been a pleasure to work with them," said Paul Buskirk, KU associate athletic director/student support services.
¢ Moody, of Asheville, N.C., is a pre-med major with designs on a career in medicine. More schooling is to come for KU's graduate-scholarship-award winner after he visits China this summer as a member of Athletes in Action's all-star basketball team.
¢ Vinson, of Lawrence, is a communications major who this summer will become a program minister at the Focus on the Family Institute in Colorado Springs.
¢ Niang, of Senegal, West Africa, played for the Jayhawks three years, working as a student assistant this past season because of back problems. He is a business finance major who will complete his final nine hours of course work next semester, then pursue a job in the financial field, possibly banking. All students who will complete graduation requirements in December are invited to walk the hill the prior May.
The talented trio earned academic all-Big 12 Conference mention this past spring.
Moody was a three-time honoree.
"I don't know if very many times a program had four seniors in its class where one (Jeff Hawkins, communications) graduated the year prior and the other three all made the all-academic team as seniors," KU coach Bill Self said.
Hawkins, a native of Kansas City, Kan., took part in graduation ceremonies in May.
"Few programs have had guys that represented themselves as well in as these guys," Self added.
Niang, who arrived at KU four years ago as a shy person with limited use of the English language after spending two years at a San Diego-area high school, said he was happy to be part of such an esteemed hoops graduating class.
"I would think we're one of the smartest groups of guys (KU has had)," Niang said. "We are good students and proud of that. It's a big relief to graduate. It's a big thing in life. We get to move on with life. I feel fortunate I was given an opportunity to get an education. I've taken advantage of that. Some people are given a chance and not gotten it done. I feel good that I've done what it takes to graduate."
Niang, who said his toughest class at KU was "Statistics," was asked to provide advice to future athletes hoping to earn a degree at KU.
"Just stay on top of your books," Niang said. "Go to school. Stay in school. Do your assignments, go to class and graduate."
Niang chuckled when asked if he enjoyed the classroom experience.
"Nobody likes class around here, trust me," Niang said. "But you've got to do it. It's something you've got to do - you've got to go every day. It's like somebody who has a job. You don't want to go every day, right? But you go every day. Same with class."
Niang said he was appreciative of the work of Buskirk and Scott Ward, associate director of degree and career counseling/student support services, who helps with course scheduling, academic progress monitoring and individual counseling.
"It's all about the process of learning," Niang said. "When you want to talk (to somebody in student support), you don't have to wait."
Buskirk will acknowledge all 84 KU athletes at a reception before graduation today.
"Given what they have to invest to compete and thrive on the athletic side : to finish what they started upon academically, earning honors upon honors, it's absolutely amazing," Buskirk said. "It is by far the finest moment in academic support to watch these student-athletes walk down the hill. These same students a few years ago were on campus wide-eyed and scared and full of hope. To see them graduate, we all applaud them."
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- KU graduation rates inch up 2 percent 4 comments / September 20, 2006
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Comments
tdub (anonymous) says…
Poll: Smartest guy left on the team?
This one is tough, but my guess, Kleinmann. Always go with the walk on. Not a lot to choose from though.
JJHawq (anonymous) says…
don't just pick the white kid - tdub. :)
darrell will graduate from hs w/ 4.0, so he's no dummy coming in...
Mr_Sandman (anonymous) says…
I would say Kleinmann too, he has all that extra study time sitting on the end of the bench. I am sure he will get more of the same throughout his career.
nddhawk (anonymous) says…
3 guys stand out:
Sasha is a computer science guy that has taken some of the toughest classes KU has to offer (all 3 levels of calculus, diff eq, advanced logic, tons of programming) and has made high marks.
Kleinmann is another bright guy, an architecture major. Very tough math, long hours of finishing projects, etc.
Jeremy Case is always overlooked. He has a high GPA and he is as sharp as anyone on the team. Every year, his GPA is recognized, not only on the team, but in the Big XII.
rohdek (Kyle Rohde) says…
You'd think Vinson would have picked a different date for his honeymoon. I mean, he's skipping one once-in-a-lifetime event for another. I'd want to experience both!
wtarush (anonymous) says…
I applaud our seniors as well. There is no path more difficult in college than that of a student athlete, even one striving for the most basic of degrees. Even in the off season we are looking at three team gatherings a day on top of classes and a study session. During the season there are missed classes, early tests and studying on the road. Free time is not a luxury of the student athlete. These fellas have endured the most tasking period of their lives. Good luck with your futures.
henrydorn (anonymous) says…
I hope Kleinman isn't the smartest on the team. I've had a course with him. He's just average intelligence for KU.
Kaun seems like the most intelligent to me, but I can't speak from experience on that one.
jbrownjib (anonymous) says…
Larry Bird once said "I should have studied hard in school to make good grades instead of playing basketball every day. But then again, if I had done that, I would not have as much money as I do now."
Now take a look at us studious college graduates with our prestigeous degress. Each one of us will work our butts off for the rest of our lives in hopes of becoming a millionaire. We have to work hard just to get laid too! The kids that you posters are criticizing will graduate to play pro-ball and earn millions their first year out of college. If they don't go on to play pro-ball someone will hire them because they have a brand name from playing ball at KU. So you tell me, who is the smarter?
Lebowski (anonymous) says…
GPA's don't always tell you a lot about that. They just tell you who is the most disciplined in showing up to class, studying, and doing their homework. Who knows.. maybe Darrell took Bowling and Home Ec all through high school. Did you hear his press conference and his gramma's? Sasha speaks better English than him.. and he hasn't been speaking it his whole life. All I know or care about... is are they smart enough to stay eligible! Being as that doesn't take any effort at all... if KU had a PJ Tucker... I would hope they send him packing. It's a lack of attitude and committment that allows that to happen... not intelligence.
Now having the genetics to be 6'6" to 6'10" and atheletic doesn't mean you're smarter either. It means you're gifted. The only "smart" ones are the ones that will be happy... no matter where their career goes. It's sad that people think how much money you make is a direct measure of intelligence. If you're doing something that makes you happy.. you're smarter than most.
chaggs (anonymous) says…
Funny that "Phog" hasn't commented on this article. What's wrong Phog? No ammunition?
seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says…
I really feel for you Phog, but it's time to move out of your mommy's house and face reality. KU is better than your team. Always has been and also will be. Isn't that really why you're here?
JBurtin (anonymous) says…
This may be a little bit off subject, but recently I received an e-mail from someone on this site. He said he was offended by a comment I made. Another poster mentioned that he hoped Arthur didn't sucumb to downs syndrome. I took his comment one further and said that downs even had the swelled head of a downes syndrome sufferer. It was an offhand play on words and in hindsight it was a stupid and insensitive comment to have made. I just wanted to apologize to anyone who may have found it offensive.
As for the smartest player. I've always heard good things about the head on Russell Robinson's shoulders. He doesn't say much, so it would be hard to judge if you didn't know him, but sometimes flapping your gums can reduce the amount of time one has to think. He gets my vote as a quietly intelligent individual.
StarHawk92 (anonymous) says…
Phog? Who is phog? Does he post here?
tdub (anonymous) says…
Michah Downes, who was that? I don't know how you screw up spelling Micah Downs, but phog comes through once again.
phoga15fan (anonymous) says…
Phog cannot even spell KU (?kku?).
tis4tim (anonymous) says…
JBurtin got it right:
"...sometimes flapping your gums can reduce the amount of time one has to think."
A subtle but excellent uppercut at one of our posting "buddies". Fog Lite (Phog with 1/3 fewer coherent points than the regular version) definitely suffers from a rampant bout of "Hummingbird Gums".
I think that condition may be fatal as cognitive functions decrease exponentially to the point of shutdown during severe episodes. Fog Lite may want to get that checked out along with that recurring rash...of poor grammar.
Lebowski (anonymous) says…
Everyone leave poor phog alone. If KU sucked as bad as Mizzou. We'd probably want to spend all day checking in on some other team's website... although it sure wouldn't be Mizzou's. That's pretty sad, really. But it's kind of comically pathetic as well. I for one am glad he comes on here and makes a mockery of himself and Mizzou. At least it's entertaining.
JBurtin... I remember that post, and I cringed thinking someone might take exception to it. Classy gesture in bringing attention to it and apologizing. ;) Nice call on Robinson, too. Coming from New York, he has really dispelled a lot of my preconceptions that guards from NY are just cocky, loudmouth ball-hogs.
seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says…
Oh Phog, your jealousy and envy is soooooooo transparent. First we beat you on the court and then we beat you in recruiting. You never miss an opportunity to express your frustration do you? Face it. KU is good and your team sucks. The sooner you accept this fact, the sooner you will be done with therapy.
cobweb (anonymous) says…
dispelled.........preconceptions.................WOW! phog even spelled them right. Someone with intelligence stole his password.
seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says…
Cobweb:Given his persistent lack of witty or perceptive commentary (not to mention the excessive use of misspelled words and grammatical errors), he's really not in the position to comment on intellectual mindset. But he did spell his name right so let's humor him.
Lebowski (anonymous) says…
Lol.. dont give him too much cred Cob.. I'm sure he just copied and pasted that part from my post. If you just give him enough "ammo"... Phog will keep making himself look like an idiot. And debating with him is pointless, because it can't cure him of being an idiot. So sit back and enjoy the show.
kushaw (anonymous) says…
We do have some intelligent people on here, but I'm always amazed at how many people give this "Phog" guy the time of the day. I've never even paid attention to him (laughed at some comments) on a grand scale. Why do people even acknowledge this joker? It is such a waste of time and energy and I can only build so many dendrites (I want someone explain that word to me).