Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self, who has received more than 60 applications for his vacant assistant coach position, hopes to fill the opening by “mid-May or the first of June,” Self said Wednesday.
“I’m in no hurry. I’ve never been in a hurry to fill them (staff positions),” he noted. “You take your time. Danny (Manning) is the interim guy, and he and the rest of the staff are working hard on things like recruiting.”
Self, who has been on the road the last week and a half, was in the home of Detroit junior guard Chris Douglas-Roberts late last week. Douglas-Roberts turned some heads Wednesday, telling Jud Easterday of theinsiders.com that Self is “trying to get Danny Manning to come and be the next assistant.”
Self said there was some truth to that statement.
“Danny and I have talked about it,” Self said. “Danny can do it if he wants to.”
Self said that most importantly, Manning, who spent the last school year as KU’s director of student-athlete development, definitely would be back with KU’s program next year.
“Absolutely. Danny is at Kansas,” said Self, who also is expecting his other assistants to return. “Eventually he’ll be on the road and doing all that stuff.”
Manning said he would have no comment until his plans for next season were finalized.
Self met with Calvin Miles, a 6-6 high school junior recruit from Dallas on Wednesday, as well as C.J. Henry, 6-3 from Oklahoma City. After the visit, Henry told Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com that Kansas is his heavy favorite and he could possibly commit after a visit to KU sometime this spring. He is the son of former KU player Carl Henry.
Self today will meet with Micah Downs, 6-6 from Bothell, Wash., and Terrance Williams, 6-7 from Seattle. Williams attends Rainer Beach High, also the home of C.J. Giles, who is trying to get out of his letter of intent with Miami.
Then it’s the long journey to Anchorage, Alaska where Self will meet with point guard Mario Chalmers on Friday.
Self can’t comment about specific recruits.
“Some trips you go a long way. It’s what you do as a coach,” Self said. “There’s some things I’d rather do, but it’s something you’ve got to do, and for the most part, enjoy doing as part of the job.”
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