Texas prep Myles Turner has KU on long list

By Gary Bedore     Jul 4, 2013

Prize big-man prospect Myles Turner, who is ranked No. 6 nationally in the recruiting Class of 2014 by Rivals.com, had an ESPN reporter reveal his current list of 26 schools via Twitter on Wednesday.

The final 26 for the 6-foot-11, 225-pound senior from Trinity High in Euless, Texas, courtesy of ESPN’s Reggie Rankin: Kansas University, plus Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Marquette, Miami, North Carolina, N.C. State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, SMU, Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M, UT-Arlington, UCLA and UNLV.

“Reggie Rankin has my updated list of 26 … will trim to about 10 schools at the end of this month … taking this time to do research and not keeping other schools lingering … Out of respect,” Turner said on Twitter.

He added: “Interest has been trimmed but my window is still open to new recruiters but I have a SMALL window for schools that have not yet began the process.”

Turner recently performed well at the Nike Big Man camp.

“I feel like I set myself apart,” Turner told ESPN.com’s Dave Telep. “I was one of the hardest workers there. When we were going through the drills, I felt like I was trying to get better. Overall it was a great experience. I thought I did well against (camp counselor) Anthony Davis.”

Telep added: “Turner is a stud. Defensively, he’s the best rim protector in the class. He can score, he’s still improving, and when it all comes together, look out. He’s already passed Karl Towns Jr. (6-10 Kentucky commit ranked No. 9) in my mind with his performance at NBPA, and he has big men Trey Lyles (6-10, Indianapolis Arsenal Tech, No. 5), Cliff Alexander (6-8 Chicago Curie, No. 4) and Jahlil Okafor (6-10, Chicago Whitney Young, No. 1) in front of him. Passing those guys would be significant. This late bloomer is the real deal, and it’s unfolding into the most intriguing elite story in the 2014 class.”

Self, Shields team up for charity: Royals pitcher James Shields and KU coach Bill Self on Wednesday at KC’s Kauffman Stadium recorded a public-service announcement to raise awareness for foster-care programs for youth.

“The main thing is hopefully we can find some good families for these kids and create some good memories for them,” Shields told the Associated Press. “I mean, a lot of the memories they have aren’t very good, so if we can create some good ones, that’s all that really matters to us.”

Shields this season will host 250 foster children and their families at Royals games in a reserved section at Kauffman Stadium.

“It’s awesome he got to come out and do this with me,” Shields said of Self, who serves on the board of KVC Health Systems, a nonprofit organization that provides health care, social services and education to children and families.

“I know that James is really involved and has a sincere interest in providing opportunities for kids and helping to spearhead those opportunities through foster care. I’m happy to be a part of it,” Self said.

He visited with Royals players before the KC-Cleveland game.

“People take for granted because they’re around it all the time, but being in a big-league ballpark and being down on the field is what kids dream of. I still get chills,” Self said while sitting in the Royals dugout. He called himself “a below-average shortstop (in high school) that could put the bat on the ball pretty good.”

Of KU, Shields said: “Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve been watching KU, and they run a really nice program over there.”

Rush on market?: Yahoo!Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the NBA’s Golden State Warriors recently looked into trading David Lee and former KU forward Brandon Rush to Portland for LaMarcus Aldridge.

Robinson take: How is the Thomas Robinson deal being received in Portland? Here’s Oregonian writer Mike Tokito’s take on Portland acquiring Robinson from Houston for two second-round picks and the rights to Kostas Papanikolaou and Marko Todorovic:

“Robinson was drafted into a less-than-ideal situation with the Kings (No. 5 overall in 2012 draft) — with a franchise facing an uncertain future and an unhappy-looking locker room. After he was traded to the Rockets (midseason), he never got into Houston’s rotation, but that was always going to be tough given the Rockets’ unique style of play. At 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, Robinson has some impressive physical assets, including a 7-3 wingspan and 35-inch vertical jump, which has led to an impressive highlight reel. If he and Meyers Leonard play together on the second unit, it could lead to a slew of fun fast-break finishes. Whatever happened to cause Sacramento and Houston to trade Robinson, it now falls on Terry Stotts and the Blazers to get the best out of a very gifted player.”

— The Associated Press contributed to this report

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