Former KU coach Roy Williams released from hospital

By Gary Bedore     Sep 21, 2012

Former Kansas University basketball coach Roy Williams was discharged from UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Thursday afternoon, a day after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his right kidney, University of North Carolina officials announced.

Tests to determine whether the tumor was benign or malignant are expected to be completed within a week. That could determine whether Williams, 62, will need surgery to remove a tumor from his left kidney.

Doctors have said Williams should be able to coach this season, which opens Oct. 12.

Fans can send get-well wishes to 10th-year Tar Heel coach Williams at the UNC Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/tarheels).

Ryder Cup trip off: Lawrence native Randy Towner, a longtime friend of Williams, said he and Williams had been planning on attending the Ryder Cup Sept. 27 to 30 in Chicago.

“He was asked to speak to the team Thursday night (27th),” said Towner, head golf pro at Firekeeper Golf Course in Mayetta. “Now I think I’ll ride down to Chapel Hill and watch the Ryder Cup with him (on TV).”

Once a year: Just like Williams, KU coach Bill Self tries to regularly undergo a physical exam.

“I haven’t gotten one this year, but usually every year,” Self said. “You can go through a clinic or Mayo and get one of those really detailed physicals that check everything. I think a lot of people do that, still yet the majority of us get our physical from our personal physicians that do a great job. Some things are so hard to detect. You get your blood work and all that stuff on a yearly basis … I think that is pretty smart for people our age (49).”

Young update: KU coach Self on Wednesday visited the home of James Young, a 6-foot-6 senior guard/forward from Rochester (Mich.) High. Young, who is ranked No. 8 in the Class of 2013 by Rivals.com, is considering KU, Kentucky, Arizona, Louisville, Michigan State and Syracuse,

“Coach Self is unbelievably impressed with his athleticism,” Young’s godfather, Sean Malone, told JayhawkSlant.com. “Coach Self is impressed with his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter as well as get to the basket. They (coaching staff) said his ability to provide scoring, both inside and out, and what James can do on the break with his athleticism, they are very excited about, not only his first year, but his upside long-term.”

Malone said the family will “sit down and try to narrow it down this week in terms of are we going to visit everybody … or are we only going to see a few. One of the things we don’t want to do is let this process drag too far out, because out of respect and courtesy to those other programs, we want to respect the recruiting process and give them an opportunity to move on,” he added.

Jackson to visit ND: No. 27-rated Demetrius Jackson, a 6-1 senior point guard from Marian High in Mishawaka Ind., who has been a top recruit of Notre Dame for four years, today makes his official recruiting trip to the South Bend, Ind., campus. He’ll attend Saturday’s Michigan-ND football game. Jackson is said to be deciding between Notre Dame and Illinois with KU attempting to schedule a campus visit. Michigan State, Louisville and Xavier are also on his list.

Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune writes: “Jackson, who has been to Notre Dame almost too many times to count, still plans to have a final decision before the start of his senior season with the Knights.”

Noie quotes Jackson as saying: “It could happen anytime now or when the first game of the season starts. You never know. Only God will let me know when that day comes.”

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