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Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Leading man

Wright steals the show on, off court

By Tom Keegan

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At elite college basketball programs, the term "senior leadership" is for the most part outdated. Most players good enough to lead such teams leave for the NBA with an unused year or two of eligibility.

In the case of Kansas University this season, the term not only is outdated, it's impossible. KU does not have a senior on its roster.

Would you believe in sophomore leadership? Julian Wright, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward from Chicago Heights, Ill., has the potential to fit that description.

Even as a freshman, Wright often gathered teammates at the foul line after a whistle and said a few words. Not all leaders in sports are vocal. Wright is. Some leaders do so by example. They do the right thing at the right time for the right reason.

Wright's example was not always the best to follow in that he was too excitable and turned the ball over too often as a freshman. His heart was in the right place in calling teammates together, a move that can have a positive effect in that it settles down a team that's spinning out of control, but too often he was the one who needed settling down.

His game became cleaner as the season went on, and he said he worked on tightening it up throughout the offseason, which gives more credibility to his words of leadership.

"My decision-making is much better," Wright said when asked to name what part of his game has improved the most. "The game has slowed down a lot for me in terms of picking spots to score and drive, even post up. It's more natural now, in terms of me being a leader."

Wright is a model pupil. In the classroom, he tends to sit in the front row and pay attention. On the court, he's obviously eager to please. It's one thing to hear a coach tell you what is the best path to success. It's another to hear it, follow it, and be able to look back on a season and see the positive effects.

photo

Photo by Thad Allender

Kansas University's Julian Wright has become a leader on a team devoid of seniors.

Wright is at that stage, which makes him a valuable leader to this year's freshman class of Darrell Arthur, Sherron Collins and Brady Morningstar. His perspective is so fresh he can share what worked for him as a freshman, worked so well that he and fellow sophomore Brandon Rush shared preseason Big 12 Player of the Year honors as voted by the league's coaches.

"We have to play great as a team and if we do that someone on the team is bound to get the award," Wright said. "I wouldn't be surprised if Mario (Chalmers) won it."

In this the AAU era of basketball, young players tend to think the world that revolves around them owes them favors, so when people do things for them they take them for granted. Listen to Wright go out of his way to single out, by name, those who have helped him, and it's evident he hasn't been spoiled by the AAU culture.

Talking about where he's come since last season, Wright said, "I've improved in terms of being a vocal leader, in terms of skills. I feel like I've gotten a lot more explosive in terms of lifting, and that's coach (Andrea) Hudy. ... Throughout the year, I think film helped a lot as well. Administrative assistant Brett Ballard breaks down film clips for us to look at and goes over things with us and that really helps."

On what advice he would give to the freshmen, Wright said: "The first thing I would tell them is what coach Self always says, even outside basketball: 'Know that you don't know it all.' Once you know you don't know it all, that's when you start getting better, realizing, 'Hey, I can do this. I can get through boot camp.' That's the No. 1 thing for the freshmen this year. Come in, forget about the McDonald's All-American accolades, and think about now."

And?

"Last season, we didn't have much offense going early, and we'd dig down and play defense," Wright said. "Defense was always a constant throughout the whole season. If you play defense, that at least gives you a chance to win. That's what I'd tell the freshmen. You have to play defense and be unselfish."

Senior leadership isn't an option, but Wright said he thinks there is a leader from each class, and he hopes to be that leader from the sophomore class like Russell Robinson from the junior class.

"He's a great leader," Wright said of Robinson. "He's going to give his all every day in practice when it seems like no one wants to go as hard to fire you up. He's arguably one of the best defenders in the nation. I'm a little biased, but that's how I feel. Just knowing he's going to do the little things to help the team is leadership."

Robinson is more a leader-by-example type who backs down from nobody than a vocal, fiery leader.

Who else?

"This might shock some people, but Sherron has a good chance to become a leader once he understands what he has to do and gets better and learns from his mistakes," Wright said. "He's played against the best and come out on top. Coach Self is really big on point guards and their development in terms of having confidence, and he always has the confidence. As the little mistakes happen, he has a good head on his shoulders and he could emerge as a leader."

Wright already has emerged as one.

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Comments

TaCityHawkFan (anonymous) says...

I like this group of young men! I hope the majority stick around through their Junior and senior seasons. We have a chance to be real good this year, but we have the chance to be great next year.

October 25, 2006 at 7:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

We have a chance to be great this year.

October 25, 2006 at 7:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawker137 (anonymous) says...

They have the chance to be great right now. If they do what the KU Alumni think they are capable of doing, and all come back for their junior year, then they have the chance to be legends!!! Go Jayhawks, I have not been this excited for basketball season in a long time. We have a team and a coaching staff that can and will push us to a National Championship. You ask yourself back-to-back, not happening, with these guys, It will happen!!!

October 25, 2006 at 7:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Studogg (anonymous) says...

This group reminds me a whole lot of the profile of a group of kids that won the national championship from Gainesville, if you catch my drift. Horford, Brewer, Noah, Green, Humphrey could be Rush, Wright, Chalmers, Robinson, Arthur this year. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. rock chalk jayhawk!!!!

October 25, 2006 at 8:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

StarHawk92 (anonymous) says...

It's more important for this team to be STEADY than anything else this year. Steady pressure, steady defense, steady production on offense. Last year's youth did not allow for a strong start; this years praise could cause the same issue. Great teams are great every night -- they have to prove they can achieve that level before Big 12 play!!

October 25, 2006 at 9:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

erichamm1211 (anonymous) says...

This team is ready to take the next step. I hope they are able to take that next step and maybe provide that excitement for us fans for more than one more year.
go hawks!!

October 25, 2006 at 9:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

honk4tad (anonymous) says...

ahhhhhhhh!!

October 25, 2006 at 9:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

I think 'honk4tad' just blew a gasket.

October 25, 2006 at 10:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

84Hawk (anonymous) says...

I can't wait for November 2nd! This group of guys has such potential for greatness and this season should be a blast to follow. I hope (like I'm sure most of you hope) that these guys realize that the "love" you get as a Jayhawk is gone when you go Pro. Sure, the money is nice, but as Kurt and Nick said when they were here last week, there's nothing like being a Jayhawk. As a Pro, you're just "one of the guys". Rock Chalk Baby!!!!!

October 25, 2006 at 10:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I think not near enough attention to the fact that Robinson/Chalmers already make up what I think is one of the best defensive backcourts in the nation... if not THE best. What if Collins ends up being as good? SICK They aren't going to need all that depth in the post when you talk about those 3 guys plus, Wright, Rush, and others all vying for playing time on the perimeter. Kahn, Jackson and/or Arthur in foul trouble? So what! Go small and pressure d and run em to death! Even if they could suffer an unthinkable collapse, this team is still going to be very exciting to watch.

October 25, 2006 at 11:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

WisconsinJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Its possible we might have a good team this year.

October 25, 2006 at 12:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chiliskate (anonymous) says...

can i adopt julian now??

October 25, 2006 at 12:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ebbenji (Eric Beightel) says...

84Hawks - Kurt? You mean Kirk? Seriously, that's almost inexcusable.

October 25, 2006 at 1:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CasperCorps (anonymous) says...

As long as they play Defense like they did last year this team is gonna be sweet..... The game scores this year are going to be 75 points us to 30 points them..... Opposing teams will feel lucky to score thirty five points on us...

October 25, 2006 at 3:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

olmsted78 (anonymous) says...

Kurt? ....there was one? i did not know that....

...anyway, let's tear it up this year fellas.

October 25, 2006 at 4:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justdoit23 (anonymous) says...

I'm a sr right now and this kids wanna make me stay two more yrs and so i added another major. Just so i can stick around more in L-town.

Anyone in my shoe!!!???

i'm not missing any games this yr!!! rock chalk baby!!!

October 25, 2006 at 4:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DerekR25 (anonymous) says...

Hell yeah! Just think guys, 8 more days till gametime!!! And hey Studogg, only a month to go before we see if these guys really could become those Gators of last year. #1 vs. #2 baby! Of course, I know they can. We all know they can. They just have to go out and DO IT! They have to want it! And after hearing how they broke from workouts and practices and pick-ups over the summer, it sounds like they're absolutely fired up. Let's light 'em up Hawks! Play like champions night in and night out fellas and just see what an awesome season it will be!!!! rock chalk jayhawk

October 25, 2006 at 4:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

milehighhawk (anonymous) says...

God Bless KU Basketball.

October 25, 2006 at 5:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

I love KU football, but this year they are killing me. Thank God KU has a basketball team to bring up my spirits.

October 25, 2006 at 7:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jbrownjib (anonymous) says...

I am glad Roy left for NC. Roy's teams lost because they only played one style, the 100 point game. I prefer the fast, athletic, full court pressure style better. This team will be incredible and I think that it is the best team ever assembled at KU. I also hope that stay together to thier senior years.

October 25, 2006 at 8:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justdoit23 (anonymous) says...

damm it jbrownjib that was three yrs ago!!

Stop re freshing Roy's memory god damm it!!!

October 26, 2006 at 1:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Roy who?

October 26, 2006 at 8:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

filmhawk (anonymous) says...

i'd like to see coach self settle in on a line-up and rotation early this season. it seems to me like in the past couple of years, he has tweeked the line-up so much, that by the time the team jells together, the tourney is upon us, and we haven't played with the same kind of coheesion that other teams do. i know it's going to be the job of a chemist to determine a place for collins, kaun, jackson, and the like, but hopefully, our starting five will be set by the time league play is upon us.

also, i think roy was the coach that came in after larry. you know, the guy that was here before bill. but i'm not certain.

October 26, 2006 at 9:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

StarHawk92 (anonymous) says...

There was a Roy? Did he coach Kurt?

October 26, 2006 at 11:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justdoit23 (anonymous) says...

I was talking about # 31 who plays in Dallas!!

October 26, 2006 at 2:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Dirk Nowitzki? Nah, he played in Germany.

October 26, 2006 at 3:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justdoit23 (anonymous) says...

No!!!!

Safety! in Dallas you nut case!!

October 27, 2006 at 12:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )