Show of support: Assistant Kurtis Townsend attends Classic

Former KU basketball player Mario Chalmers, now a member of the Miami Heat, second from right, and family members get wet during a rainfall before the start of the Mario Chalmers Foundation National Championship Classis golf tournament Friday, July 13, 2012, at Alvamar. Family members from left, all of Miami, are Almaire Chalmers, Mario's mother, his sister Roneka, Mario and his father Ronnie.

Kansas University basketball assistant coach Kurtis Townsend was happy to support a former Jayhawk on Friday, attending Mario Chalmers’ National Championship Classic golf tournament at Alvamar with new KU director of basketball operations Doc Sadler.

“It’s huge, not only because (Mario) comes back and it’s a great organization and a great cause, but the fact that these people here just love him,” Townsend said. “To come back and make this like his second or third home now … it means a lot to the program and to our guys.”

Chalmers’ tournament benefits cancer research and community-based youth programs.

Former KU basketball players Brady Morningstar and Jeff Hawkins also joined Chalmers at the event.

“Everyone around here looks up to him,” Townsend said of Chalmers. “It’s just great to have him back. I would support anything he ever did here. I haven’t been able to make it because of recruiting, but I just happened to have today off, so it worked out well.”

Speaking of recruiting ... Townsend played a big part in the Jayhawks’ landing 6-foot-3 guard Rio Adams from Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, serving as his lead recruiter.

Adams reported to KU’s campus last week.

“It’s great to have him here. He had a long journey,” Townsend said. “I think he’s still not out of the woods yet academically and stuff, but it’s great that he’s here, and he’s happy to be here. I think he’s going to do a good job for us.”

One of Townsend’s most vivid memories of Adams came while watching him at a tournament in Las Vegas.

“I think he had about 38 (points). He couldn’t miss, and he had already committed here,” Townsend said. “He just kept looking at me after every shot. What I did realize is that he was one of those guys that wasn’t afraid to take a big shot.

“He was like a cornerback in football — didn’t remember the play before. He could just flick water off his back, and he could just go. But (he was) a clutch player, and more than that, a great kid.”

Townsend said Adams had another memorable performance during his senior season.

“He had an unbelievable game, because I was kind of always putting in his head, ‘Hey, we may want to play you at the point,’” Townsend said. “He made some unbelievable no-look passes and made sure that I saw him to let me know that, ‘Hey, I’ll play wherever you need me to play.’”

Townsend, who will begin his ninth year on KU’s bench in the fall, believes Adams will provide the Jayhawks with depth.

“He gives us a guy that can play both (guard) positions. He’s a scorer,” Townsend said. “He’s athletic, but he can also play the backup point. If, God forbid, something happened to Elijah (Johnson) or Naadir (Tharpe), he can play both spots.

“He just gives you another athletic, tough, strong, good kid.”

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madamhawk 10 months, 1 week ago

Stayed up to watch the Royals lose in the 14th. Will the pain and suffering ever end?

nuleafjhawk 10 months, 1 week ago

It will end when you quit watching.

Like I did !

REHawk 10 months, 1 week ago

Here we go again. Like the doc says, "Just don't do it!"

JayDogger 10 months, 1 week ago

Re: Adams: “I think he’s still not out of the woods yet academically and stuff..." This did not surprise me.

I really hope kids that are 12-15 hear about the problems these guys who go to three or four schools have and take note.

Changing schools is a drag. Why would these guys do so if they don't have to? Are the hoops programs that different? It seems like success happens most often in a stable environment.

For posters who don't make it to the football side of this sight... There's a really cool article about possible changes to Memorial Stadium with lots of posting/opinions to read.

Alohahawk 10 months, 1 week ago

Excellent article/interview with 2013 recruit, PG A. Barber, on Zagsblog.com. He obviously likes KU, but is best friends with Troy Williams, whom he could decide to double up with and attend Louisville or Alabama. Loves the relationship he's developed with KU's coaches. Wants to make a decision before next season begins.

billhawk 10 months, 1 week ago

Thanks for the link. His friend Troy Williams sounds like a young man who would be a good player; listed as Rivals #41. Any reason we're not recruiting him also?

Brock 10 months, 1 week ago

It looked like TW was going to make his decision between UK and UNC several weeks ago. KU just didn't have any traction in his recruitment.

lothario64118 10 months, 1 week ago

So, what is the reason why Self doesn't seem to recruit top PG's? He goes for a lot of combos but doesn't seem to want or get pure PG's.

Any insight y'all?

ralster 10 months, 1 week ago

BayHawk, Just look at lothario's post: "why Self doesnt seem to recruit top PG's?" And then very obviously is lamenting for "purePG's". Look, I always defend the team and coach...especially since about 2007 when I understood what Self was doing with his type of "tough + big" guards. Remember the 2 guards at Illinois under Self? So when someone posts nonsensical stuff like this, it sounds to me like they are wishing for J.Vaughn again, without appreciating all the skill and toughness & versatility that Self combo-guards bring. After 07 & 08, I reject the whole purePG approach as outdated. Look at poor Roy...his team had its head cut off when they lost Kendall Marshall...and he wasnt a main scoring threat, but he is what made UNC run this year. Many ku fans were wanting RussRob benched in favor of Sherron, although RussRob was still a combo. KU fans wanted even more dangerousness and scoring out of the point-combo position. I honestly think some people dont watch KU ball with any appreciation of what Self is trying to do conceptually. They see a Tyshawn turnover, and "oh, thats it! Why cant we have a purePG" type of comments start flowing. At this point, I consider that ignorant of years of Self's ideology at work. You post here, what is the requisite level of understanding what Selfball is all about? Why is that appreciation still missing after 8yrs, especially the last 5 or 6yrs. The players with their various a/t ratios will come and go, but the underlying theme for Self's guards has never, ever changed. More is expected from them, as it is from his bigs. He builds very dangerous, versatile teams.

ralster 10 months, 1 week ago

lothario, What do you mean, really? Chalmers was a McDAA. RussRob was a #30ish recruit, who ended up being one of the best "PGs" Self has had. Elijah Johnson was a 5star, #4 rated PG (John Wall was #1 PG that year). Josh Selby was the #1 rated PG his season.
Or, maybe I answer your question another way: Self likes bigger, tougher kids. Sherron was a McDAA level talented PG also, but he played big, couldnt deny him. But he was 200+ lbs "big". Self likes defense, speed, and scoring skills. He wants multiple threats from the guard position. See Tharpe and his penchant for taking it to the rim or hitting 3s is also nothing but a 6ft tall "combo" guard. Self wants the versatility. The days of the pure point, Jacque Vaughn-type point at KU are OVER under Bill Self. He has shown you something better, and you still bitch without any appreciation of his recruiting abilities or appreciating the multiple threats his players provide. I still feel sick when I remember opposing teams not guarding Jacque Vaughn on the perimeter, daring him to shoot, since they knew his role was not to. I want a tougher, more dangerous team, and so does Self. Have you watched any Bill Self teams play basketball in the last 6 years?????????????????????????????????

BayHawkaholic 10 months, 1 week ago

ralster - what part of lothario's question seemed like bitching to you? It was an innocent question by an information seeker.

You are very knowledgeable, but you can be attacking, angry, and condescending for no apparent reason. Kindly use your wisdom to share insight with fellow Jayhawks, rather than call them out with a bunch of "jeez," all caps, and multiple question marks.

Picture the poster as someone's grandfather, or mother, or just a rabid, knowledgeable sports fan who perhaps has a life that doesn't allow him or her to collect and spit out data at will.

Chill. We're all on the same side here.

kellerman411 10 months, 1 week ago

Just the other day I was thinking about our roster and who would be backing up our guards and I was really excited about both Anrio and that Milton guy but I completely forgot about Tharpe. If I remember right he was like in the 40s coming out of high school. When you have a sophomore who came out that high and is still fighting for every minute he gets, you know you got some guys on your team.

The silence of the leaders Is never reassuring. Leaders are so audible When things are going super.

The silence of the leaders Often masks the sound of Confidential meetings with in-house counsel.

I like a leader telling stories Laughing loudly About how things have Never been better.

I like a leader smiling brightly Saying, "We're okay this time," or "This is one horror show We don't have to manage."

I worry about a leader Who doesn't return calls And then says no comment When he finally does.

ralster 10 months, 1 week ago

Would be nice if caption spelled Chalmer's mom's name correctly: its Almarie.

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