After a year’s hiatus, Clint Normore is back on the basketball court again.
“I was away from the game awhile, but never completely lost contact with it. Right now it’s great to be back. I’m having a lot of fun,” said the Kansas football palyer who joined the Jayhawk basketball team Monday.
An all-state point guard at Wichita East, Normore played basketabll for two seasons (1984-85 and ’85-86) at Wichita State, before deciding to concentrate on football during the ’86-87 school year.
He transferred to KU last spring after Wichita State suspended its football program. Originally he planned on playing only football here. But then he approached KU basketball coach Larry Brown.
“We talked about it last week. I said I’d like to try it,” said Normore, who averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 assists playing in 26 games his sophomore season at WSU.
“My goal is to contribute where I can, to give as much help as needed. I am and always will be a role player. I’m a point guard. My job is to get it where it belongs.”
The 6-0, 200-pound Normore, who may make the trip to North Carolina State on Saturday, is not at full strength. He had a cast removed from his right wrist just this week.
“I broke my wrist against Oklahoma,” said Normore, the Jayhawks’ starting free safety. “I’ve been shooting with my left hand. I did shoot some yesterday. I can dribble and pass. It’ll get stronger.”
Brown is happy to have Normore, sore wrist and all.
“We recruited him out of high school. We probably would have tried to sign him if not for Turg and Ced,” said Brown, referring to former KU guards Mark Turgeon and Cedric Hunter. “He’s always wanted to come out.
“With the uncertainty of the football situation, whether he’d get permission to play…there were some doubts and academically some question. I told him to wait until we had time to practice. I told him the bottom line is if he was not making a contribution we didn’t want to just keep him around.
“It’s unfortunate he has a bad hand. It prohibits him from doing some things. As time goes on, he’ll get better. His broken wrist is still healing.”
Brown said Normore could end up contributing depending on the academic situation. Brown is worried about severl KU players not making the grade.
“A lot of guys are up in the air right now…a LOT,” Brown said. “We’re gonna wait and see. It’s gonna be exciting. The last exams are Friday, and we’ll start calling around on Monday.”
Brown was asked which players might be affected.
“You can take your pick,” he said with a grin. “I don’t know honestly how many are having problems. Hopefully nobody will be ineligible. You talk to your kids and they’re all making A’s and B’s.”
Brown said if there are wholesale casualties both Sean Alvarado and forward Mark Randall might be taken off red-shirt status. Randall is scheduled to undergo surgery on his jaw over semester break.
“I’d rather do it with Sean,” said Brown. “This is something Mark has wanted to have done. He needs to get it done. I wouldn’t rule it out. But I’d hate to use Mark Randall five or six minutes a game.”
Notes
Brown said Otis Livingston will start at point guard versus NC State…The Jayhawks may have some time off for the holidays. “Maybe three days, then bring ’em back,” Brown said. “I’d like to give six of ’em five or six days off, which they deserve. I’d like to see some others spend the time with me, which I don’t deserve.”…
