Kansas University didn’t receive any signed men’s basketball letters of intent Monday.
But the Jayhawks did add — make that, return — a player to the squad in 6-foot-10 center Moulaye Niang, who has decided to remain at KU for his junior season instead of transferring to TCU or San Diego State.
“We’re all happy about this. We’re all excited to have him back. Everybody likes ‘Mou,'” KU coach Bill Self said after an afternoon meeting with Niang.
Niang had decided to transfer because of playing-time issues in early April, a week before freshman center David Padgett revealed his own plans to leave Kansas.
Padgett’s decision opened the possibility of more playing time for Niang, who averaged 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 27 games last season.
“With Wayne (Simien) our only returning big guy who played a lot, there are certainly minutes to be earned,” Self said. “He (Niang) can obviously put himself in the mix. He can certainly make this team better from an athletic standpoint.
“He knows we added a couple of big guys (6-11 Sasha Kaun, 6-9 Darnell Jackson) in recruiting,
and certainly he will have to get in there and fight, earn his way, like everybody else does.”
Niang will have a chance to prove himself at preseason camp.
“Moulaye believes he can be a contributor, which is important, because at the end of the season he didn’t feel that way, because he didn’t get a chance to play,” Self said. “I think he knows wherever you go there will be competition. Most importantly, he feels this is where wants to be, earning a degree from the University of Kansas.”
Niang made campus visits to TCU and San Diego State within the past three weeks. Both schools had scholarships waiting for the lanky 220-pounder.
“I was really confused at the end of the season,” Niang said Monday, explaining the reason for those trips. “I felt like I needed to go explore what else was out there. However, after weighing my options, I truly believe Kansas is the best place for me, and this is where I want to be.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to play much my freshman and sophomore years, but I’m willing to work hard and do anything I possibly can to help Kansas be the best team it can possibly be.”
Self said he had no problem with Niang checking out other schools.
“I certainly have no ill feeling toward that. As a matter of fact, I encouraged it,” Self said. “Obviously, the situation changed after he made the decision to leave — with David’s situation changing.
“Moulaye is a great young man, and I want everybody to have a chance to live out their dreams. Moulaye having a chance to impact our program in whatever capacity, with no guarantees, speaks volumes for him as a person. He was up front with me the whole time. I told him he should take his time, and that’s what he did.”
Niang’s plans are to remain in Lawrence this summer to commit himself to lifting weights and working on his game.
“I’ll keep working,” he said. “What I have to do is get stronger. I’ll work on everything to improve myself and my game.”
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Padgett to be set free: Self says Internet rumors that KU will not release Padgett from his letter of intent are false.
“It’s my understanding David will be released to the schools he’s interested in,” Self said. “I am not handling that. He’s not coming to me with information on schools he’s interested in.”
Padgett’s release requests are going through the athletic director’s office.
“Where David decides to go is none of my business,” Self said. “But he certainly will be released to the schools he’s interested in.”
Louisville, UCLA and Stanford have been mentioned as possible destinations.
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Recruiting: Niang’s staying means KU has two scholarships to award in recruiting.
“Not at all,” Self said, asked if it will change KU’s recruiting strategy. “We’re still hopeful of signing one, and two (would be) a home run.”
KU and five other schools are awaiting word from Malik Hairston, a 6-5 high school senior from Detroit, who by mid-week is expected to choose either KU, Michigan, UCLA, Ohio State, Oregon or Oklahoma.
Alex Galindo, 6-6 from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, will visit KU this weekend and likely choose either KU, Rutgers or Pittsburgh.
The father of 6-10 Seattle forward C.J. Giles has told reporters his son would like to visit KU, Washington and perhaps Duke and Arizona if he’s granted a release from Miami.
6Sports video: Niang staying at KU