Carey contributes quietly

By Dave Ranney     Nov 9, 2000

If nothing else, Jeff Carey hopes his best contribution to Kansas basketball will be behind the scenes.

As a junior, with plenty of young forwards vying for playing time, Carey’s possible on-court time may be limited. But he’s doing his part to help all student-athletes as a member of the Student Basketball Congress, a group committed to helping college basketball players.

“It was something coach (Roy Williams) thought I might be interested in,” Carey said. “And it’s actually been more interesting than I thought it would be.”

Carey is part of a group of about 40 hoopsters who work with the NCAA to find solutions to questions involving such things as recruiting and paying athletes.

Carey said the committee is in the process of urging the NCAA to pay for transportation and lodging for players’ families in postseason games. A stipend for players, Carey said, is a long way off. It has been a hotly debated topic.

“We’re really not asking for a lot right now,” Carey said.

Carey says he does not envision his future being in athletics.

“Really, I’m not as big a fan as a lot of people might think,” he said.

His primary love is automobiles specifically muscle cars. Besides looking stronger himself this year the media guide has him listed an inch taller and three pounds heaver this year at 6-foot-11, 250 pounds Carey dreams of owning a muscle car shop in Kansas City, Mo., where he believes there is a need.

“That would be awesome,” he said.

But for now Carey is content playing basketball and putting the NCAA’s current method of payment a college scholarship to good use.

He has been a academic All-Big 12 selection the past two seasons.

On the court, Carey is versatile. With good touch and good size, he can play either forward or center. Getting time at forward has become increasingly more difficult, however.

Playing center, however, means his good buddy Eric Chenowith is probably either hurt or in foul trouble, two options that do not bode well for Kansas.

“I just want this team to win, and any way I can help I will,” Carey said.

Last year he missed the final seven games with a broken finger on his shooting hand. He averaged one point and 1.4 rebounds per game.

“If I could kick that up to three points a game, that would be great,” Carey said, smiling.

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