Thursday, June 19, 2008

Little’s league

Transfer, teammates awe campers

By Gary Bedore

KU junior Mario Little, center, takes a breather with his Blue team teammates Cole Aldrich (left) and Brady Morningstar.

Photo by John Henry

KU junior Mario Little, center, takes a breather with his Blue team teammates Cole Aldrich (left) and Brady Morningstar.

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Alumni Scrimmage returns at Bill Self's basketball camp

Another Wednesday...another round of the Alumni Scrimmage at Bill Self's basketball camp.

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Bill Self Basketball Camp

Mario Little sat on a Horejsi Center bench late Wednesday afternoon, gasping for air after a spirited Bill Self basketball camp scrimmage.

"I was tired," said Little, who scored 13 points off 6-of-12 shooting with four assists and four rebounds in leading the Blue team to a 75-65 victory over the Julian Wright-led Red squad.

"I'm just trying to compete with everybody, make sure I'm not slacking. I'm behind everybody, just trying to hold my own."

Little, a 6-foot-5 small forward from Chicago, was winded for a reason.

He last played full-court basketball in late March, when his Chipola (Fla.) Community College team was eliminated in the national junior-college playoffs.

"I've not been playing. I've been trying to get my schoolwork in order," Little said.

He needed to pass a full load of classes in the spring semester, then complete three summer-school courses in order to gain eligibility at KU.

To do that, he concentrated almost fully on the books, putting basketball on hold.

"I'd go in the gym here and there, but not enough to compete with these guys at Kansas," Little said. "If I finished (writing) a paper in time, I was able to play with some of the guys. I did not want to have to stay for Summer School Two. I'm already behind. I needed to get here."

Little received word Tuesday that he'd successfully completed his coursework. So he boarded a flight and arrived in Lawrence shortly after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

After a good night's sleep, he was ready to take on the task of guarding New Orleans Hornets' rookie Wright, who like Little, is a former Chicago Public League player.

"I didn't ask to guard him. I just went up and guarded him," Little said, giving himself the defensive assignment on the 6-foot-8 Wright, who scored 16 points off 7-of-12 shooting with two rebounds.

"I was going to try to compete with Julian, let him show me a couple things. I think I'm long enough, athletic enough to get stops. I think I'm a good defensive player. Coach Self can help me out with that."

Wright said Little was tough to shake.

"I think he has a bright future here. He's long and athletic. He can give people fits on defense as well," Wright said.

"He guarded me well. I didn't want to be a virus, a cancer to our team," added Wright, who said he felt his shot wasn't there Wednesday. "It was good to see the new guys. I think those young guys have a bright future."

Wright was especially impressed with the play of incoming freshman point guard Tyshawn Taylor, who dazzled with 19 points off 8-of-11 shooting with four assists.

One of the assists was most memorable.

The New Jersey point guard lobbed a pass from the corner all the way to the goal, where Wright grabbed the ball with one hand and slammed.

"I wasn't going to throw it at first. He gave me the head nod, so I just tossed it up there, and he went and got it. It was unbelievable ... he like got on top of the backboard. It was crazy," Taylor said. "It wasn't such a good pass, but he made it look good. He made it look like I knew what I was doing. I didn't."

Wright, who had his usual assortment of slams, was pleased to thrill the 1,000 campers.

"I didn't think I could get it. I came down and saw it rattle in," Wright said. "I try to have fun, sometimes go for the more crazy play."

As far as KU's other newcomers, Quintrell Thomas had 15 points and seven rebounds; Tyrone Appleton 12 points with four assists and Travis Releford seven points. Sophomore Cole Aldrich grabbed a whopping 16 rebounds to go with eight points.

"I was kind of disappointed that there weren't a lot of guys that came back," Wright said of the scrimmage that also included ex-Jayhawks Jeff Hawkins, Jeremy Case and Brad Witherspoon.

"But it's still fun just going out there and competing, while at the same time having fun, having a ball and getting a good look at the new guys."

Little said he's looking forward to getting acclimated to his new surroundings and teammates now that he's aced his summer school classes.

There's work to be done, now that Mario Chalmers has joined Darrell Arthur and Brandon Rush in definitely heading to the NBA.

"Kind of," Little said, if Chalmers' Sunday announcement was a bit depressing. "I was looking forward to playing with him, but he's got to do what he's got to do. We'll bond together, though. It's the most important part, bonding with these guys, getting to know them."

Comments

Timmay97 (anonymous) says...

I don't deny that all our recruits are EXTREMELY athletic and talented.....I just hope to God that they can all get along and play as a "team" by the end of the year. It will give us all that much more to look forward to the following year.

Learn this year.......win it next year!

I can't wait until the start of the year.....I want to meet the babyhawks.

June 19, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kcphantom (anonymous) says...

Why hasn't there been anything about Pierce being named Finals MVP or he and Pollard getting rings?

June 19, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

phantom -

There was an article yesterday..."Beantown Beatdown". Link on main page.

June 19, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdomine (anonymous) says...

I second kcphantom's question. How often does it occur that the NBA Finals MVP and the NCAA Championship MOP are from the same school?

The basketball world spins on a KU axis.

June 19, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

oldalum (anonymous) says...

phantom: There's also one today called "Always a Jayhawk."

June 19, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkfan4life (anonymous) says...

Self needs to reach out to Paul Pierce! How much of an impact would it have to hear the NBA Finals MVP and former Jayhawk tell the newcomers about how to gel with a new cast of teammates? Could be hard to arrange since Pierce doesn't come back that often but it would be cool.

June 19, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Paul Pierce was so impressive this year. He sacrificed scoring (as if 20ppg is a sacrifice!) for the good of the team and really became an even better passer than he already was. His rebounding has always been solid, but he really tuned in on defense this year like never before.

When the captain of your team does what's best for the team, it's easy to follow him. Congratulations, Paul!

June 19, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

PaulDMeyer (anonymous) says...

What's the latest on the twins from New Jersey? And what school did they opt out of so they could attend Kansas?

June 19, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cklarock (anonymous) says...

I like the sound of (new) Mario's attitude.

"I was going to try to compete with Julian, let him show me a couple things. I think I'm long enough, athletic enough to get stops. I think I'm a good defensive player. Coach Self can help me out with that."

Yes sir!

June 19, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

A little bothersome that the Morris twins are not at KU and getting to bond with their new team, and also face some recent KU bball alumni, and thus understand the "torch" that soon will be in their hands. 07-08 team set a major standard on unity (and offense, defense, team play...). The sooner these kids get exposed to all this and start digesting Self's system, the better.

June 19, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

TtownHawk (anonymous) says...

PaulDMeyer: i don't think they committed anywhere else first. they were very close to signing with Villanova though.

June 19, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jhawk04 (anonymous) says...

Not 100% sure but I dont think Homewood Flossmore is a public league school.... and TtownHawk, they committed to Memphis before KU

June 19, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jpstrayer (anonymous) says...

I believe the Twins verballed to Memphis, then backed out back in Sept.

June 19, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jpstrayer (anonymous) says...

And the twins are from Philly....not New Jersey

June 19, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jpstrayer (anonymous) says...

My bad...the are from Philly, but went to a NJ prep school. So I guess they are from both areas.

June 19, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Royaljayhwk (anonymous) says...

This just in. The twins to arrive on June 25, yet have not been approved to play yet and will enroll in 2nd semester summer school.

June 19, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkitup (anonymous) says...

The Morris twins origianally committed to Memphis and then opted out and chose KU. Kind of ironic now, seeing how we beat Memphis in the Championship game. As a Jayhawk fan living in Memphis, it really makes me smile. =)

June 19, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUFan90 (anonymous) says...

KCStar article update on the twins:

¢MORRIS TWINS TO ARRIVE NEXT WEEK: KU coach Bill Self said that incoming freshmen Marcus and Markieff Morris, twin forwards from Philadelphia, are expected to arrive in Lawrence on June 25.

Self said the twins have not qualified academically to play in the fall, but he'd like them to start classes in the second summer term while they await the results of their final correspondence courses. The twins spent the last year at Apex Academies, a post-grad prep school in Pennsauken, N.J.

June 19, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Jhawk04,

You are correct -- Homewood-Flossmoor HS is pretty far south of the city -- it is in the Southwest Suburban Conference with Joliet, Lockport, Tinley Park, etc...

They are not in the CPL, so it's unlikely Julian played in the CPL unless he transferred to HFHS from a CPL school, which I don't think he did but I could be wrong...

June 19, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BCRavenJHawkfan (anonymous) says...

"I was going to try to compete with Julian".
I would say Little did that and more. In my opinion he got the better of Bennedict Wright.

As far as that school work, please someone make sure there was no shenanigans or disgruntled teachers.

On another note, since the championship win I have been ordering various Jayhawk stuff. The most recent is a pair of Footjoy golf shoes with Jayhawk logos on them (too cool). Does any one know if there are ball markers that indicate 2008 NCAA champions anywhere?

June 19, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

Bennedict Wright???

What's your angle there? Roy maybe, but Julian? I don't get it.

June 19, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Benedict Wright? Come on! He gave us what he had for 2 years. He was a good team player and occasionally put the team on his shoulders for a short stretch. Personally, I think KU was a better team without him this year because he never did learn to keep his game under control while he was at KU.

June 19, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jcsmith (anonymous) says...

Incase noone else has noticed, this is the 3rd year in a row that a Jayhawk has won an NBA Championship.

Simion ~ 05 - 06 Miami Heat
Vaughn ~ 06 - 07 San Antonio Spurs
Pierce ~ 07 - 08 Boston Celtics

Way to represent.

June 19, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

Pierce was incredible at KU. Too bad those other slackers couldn't show up in the big games, they prevented him from getting to the Final 4. Pollard was one of them - glad to see Pierce carried him to a championship.

June 19, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

It is now apparent that the twins will qualify. That's good news.

June 19, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

timkhoward (anonymous) says...

Pollard was also on this year's Celtics, so even though I'm not sure he and Scalabrine ever suited up for the playoffs, I think he technically belongs on your list as having won an NBA Championship in '07/'08.

June 19, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BoulderHawk (anonymous) says...

"Benedict Wright?", "other slackers?".
You guys act like sports casters criticizing players for something you could only dream of doing. Players who have turds more athletic than you.

June 19, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Guys n gals. We've been trying to keep you informed with notes in notebooks all summer you needn't worry about the twins qualifying. They are going to qualify just as Rush did and just as Little did.
Somebody on some board was furious the media isn't "covering" this more. What's there to cover?
Only worry warts obsess about this every day. They are going to qualify.
Did you notice Little had to pass 3 summer school classes to qualify in my story on Little? We didn't cover that every day either and he qualified. Just think if we worried you with notes on Little's progress every day.
Some fans would have gone crazy. Were we wrong to not keep reporting on Little's status?
No, people said he'd qualify and he did after completing those classes.

It takes a lot nowadays to not be qualified, see the Brandon Rush saga. Remember midway through the season KU got the final word on Rush's transcripts with all those schools.
I think it's great fans follow everything about KU hoops so closely, but Self, the guy at APEX and the twins themselves have been saying all along they will qualify.
Why worry bout it??
Again, tip a beer or a diet coke. You just won a championship folks.
They are gonna qualify. If I wind up wrong, I will buy whomever approaches me on the road in a restaurant or club a diet coke or brewski.
Only in person, however. I won't mail out coupons.
GO WHITE SOX vs. Cubs this weekend.

June 19, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Oh I forgot the key radio talk show line in my post on the twins:
"Let's just wait and see."

June 19, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

As I continue to comment

You wrote: I would say Little did that (compete with Julian) and more. In my opinion he got the better of Bennedict Wright."

--OM gosh. Are you serious? You are mad at Julian for taking the money and leaving? So are you going to call Brandon, Mario and Darrell "Benedicts" also. Please say it isn't so, Joe.
Julian simply is a fabulous representative of KU right now. I really like the guy a lot. He ain't no Benedict.

June 19, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BoulderHawk (anonymous) says...

Gary,
Nice comment about Julian.
On another note GO CUBS!!!

June 19, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

I also disagree with bashing Julian in any way--why???? KU developed their bigmen (and Rush) much better than if Julian had still been here taking up minutes. The 'what-ifs' can get silly: What if he was a true superstar 22ppg if he stayed, but gets hurt before March Madness? Where would KU be, with less-developed Shady, Darnell, etc..? The Final Fact of winning a Championship WITHOUT him, makes ANY gripes about him leaving simply irrelevant and pointless--why does it matter now?
Surely you can see that logic?

June 20, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mpann1818 (anonymous) says...

how hard is it to qualify for college ball academically? don't you need like a 2.0? sheesh. I said it before and I will say it again, these guys are giving me the creeps. Something feels shady. I know, i know, you gotta take the chances, they are talented, yada yada yada...but they are two scholoarships, potentially two headaches, two question marks, two problems too much already. I hate that the community seems to want to make excuses for them. If anyone can set them straight its our boys Bill, and Ronnie, and Danny...but they have their work cut out for them. These guys due to academics will not be at KU long, whether the NBA comes calling or not.

June 20, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mpann1818 (anonymous) says...

Julian is nasty btw if I may say. Nothing to knock him for. He's only gonna get better.

Bendict? Even know what you mean by that? Cause we don't. Leaving early for millions in the NBA doesn't make you a Benedict Arnold, it makes you wise (and well, rich). What would you do if you were him? I thought so...

June 20, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lee3022 (anonymous) says...

Julian Wright is a success story. We are pleased with the stories of players who graduate and get their degrees. They finished their academic course. But we should be nearly as pleased that players get drafted by the NBA. They finished their course as well in preparing for their major career.

There were 320 Division 1 NCAA Men's Basketball programs in the country this year. That equates to over 5,000 players and approximately 2,000 of those left school to pursue their careers this year. With but 60 draft positions available in the NBA draft the chance of getting one of those spots in about 3%. Yet five players from KU will likely be drafted in those 60. So KU has scored 71% of our departing players (including Brad Witherspoon) and Russell Robinson may even bump this up to 86% . Success like this can only improve our pitch to prospective players in future years. Julian is a success story and wise to leave when he did. So apparently was Paul Pierce and Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers (among others). Every game each one of them play along with Seniors Sasha Kahn, Darnell Jackson and Russell Robinson (among others) is an advertisement for KU athletics that money cannot buy. Each trip back to KU to speak to campers or play in an alumni game is huge to those 1000 campers who are growing up wanting to be like Julian.

So I offer deep and profound gratitude to Julian and each of his/our fellow KU alums for their great contribution to this university and to me personally as I vicariously live their careers with them. You go man!

June 20, 2008 at 10:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )