Known as the quickest of Kansas University’s four incoming basketball prospects, J.R. Giddens is the slowest to sign on the dotted line.
Giddens, a 6-foot-5 guard from John Marshall High in Oklahoma City, didn’t sign a national letter of intent with KU on Wednesday, the first day of the early week-long signing period.
He’ll join Jeremy Case, Omar Wilkes and David Padgett as official KU signees at 1:30 p.m. next Tuesday when he and teammate Adam Liberty hold a joint signing ceremony in the Marshall gym.
Liberty is headed to Wichita State; Giddens, who averaged 25.0 points and 7.2 rebounds as a junior, has been firmly committed to KU since April.
“Adam and J.R. are teammates and it will be proper for them to do it together,” said Giddens’ mom, Dianna, who said several news outlets in Oklahoma had requested interviews.
“J.R. is so impressed with Kansas’ program and with Roy Williams’ attitude toward the players. He loves Lawrence, Kansas. He’s elated. He would have signed it today if he could,” she said.
Case, a 6-foot guard from McAlester (Okla.) High, signed his letter with KU at 11 a.m. Wednesday at his school before 25 family members and friends. He averaged 25.7 points per game last year.
“Everybody is happy and proud of Jeremy that he’s able to go to a Division One program like that,” said Case’s stepdad, Danny Kemp. “He was relieved getting it all taken care of. He wants to hurry up and get to KU.
“All other schools honored his (oral) commitment,” Kemp said. “The only letters he’s been getting are from KU.”
Case was to send his letter to KU via Federal Express on Wednesday. Padgett, a 6-11 forward/center who averaged 22.4 points and 14.3 rebounds last year at Reno (Nev.) High, sent his letter to KU via United Parcel Service after inking at a 3 p.m. ceremony in his high school gym.
About 40 friends, teachers, family and media members watched the Padgett signing.
“It’s a relief to get it over with, finally,” Padgett said. “I’m just really happy to be going to Kansas. Monday is our first practice and I’m really looking forward to the season.”
Wilkes, 6-4 from Loyola High in Los Angeles, said he signed and mailed his letter on Wednesday without fanfare.
“It’s good to get everything down on paper,” he said. “I’m going to have such an easier time focusing on my senior season now that everything is officially done.”
If he has received the letters of intent, Kansas coach Roy Williams will comment on his signees today.
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Hawkins is OK: Jeff Hawkins, who had some chest pains and shortness of breath during Tuesday’s 101-66 exhibition win against Washburn, apparently is OK. He had some precautionary medical tests taken Wednesday that came out normal.
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Missed dunk: KU players couldn’t help but needle sophomore guard Aaron Miles, who missed a dunk on Tuesday.
“We’ll work on that at practice. I’ll show him how to put it down,” sophomore Keith Langford grinned. “This dated back to last season when we played Oregon :quot; he missed a dunk. He even missed one in practice not too long ago. We were on him pretty bad. I don’t want him to stop trying.
“I looked at coach and he wasn’t mad. He’s like, ‘This is a glorified practice.’ When the real games come, I don’t think he wants to ever give up two points.”
