Kansas University sophomore guard Rodrick Stewart is third-leading scorer on the United States’ nine-man Sports Tours International All-Star basketball team heading into the halfway point of the squad’s overseas tour.
The 6-foot-4 Stewart, whose vicious slam dunk broke a backboard to end the U.S. team’s 51-38 victory over Slovenia’s KK Olipija on Tuesday, has averaged 12.0 points in three games.
He had 17 points in an 86-83 loss to KK Sentjur on Monday, seven in the Game Two victory and 12 in Wednesday’s 81-76 loss to KK Elektra.
Illinois guard Chester Frazier is the squad’s leading scorer at 15.0 points a game. Purdue’s David Teague has averaged 13.3 points, followed by Stewart, Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Terry Evans (9.6), Evansville’s Bradley Strickland (8.3), Purdue’s Gary Ware (6.0), Villanova’s Chris Charles (4.7), Evansville’s Matt Webster (4.5) and Maryville’s Casey Holland 1.0.
The all-star team, which departed Sentjur, Slovenia, on Thursday, will play three games this weekend in Kapfenberg, Austria. Stewart will report to KU’s campus early next week.
¢ No rush to decision: All was quiet on the Brandon Rush front Thursday. Though nobody is commenting on the situation — KU coaches can’t discuss specific recruits in accordance with NCAA rules, and Rush isn’t answering his phone — it appears the player is awaiting word from the NCAA Clearinghouse before making his next move.
Rush has visited KU, Indiana and Illinois in the past two weeks and is believed to be down to those three schools. Earlier this week, Rush indicated Illinois was out, but other sources told reporters the Illini still were in.
Not yet enrolled at KU, Rush, like any other student, would be able to take advantage of late enrollment allowed the next week or so.
It’s believed the Clearinghouse this week or next will receive transcripts and core-course information from Rush’s last school — Mt. Zion Academy in Durham, N.C.
The material will be examined, then Rush and all schools recruiting him will be told if he’s eligible or not.
“The Clearinghouse does a good job, given the monumental task at hand, accepting so much information from scholarship athletes and walk-ons this time of year,” said a source familiar with the Clearinghouse, based in Iowa City. “They cannot act unless all the information is in front of them, and that information is being gathered.”
It is possible the Rush saga will drag into next week.
¢ Schedule info: KU still is looking to fill a final date on its 2004-05 men’s basketball schedule.
Interestingly, ESPN officials contacted KU and Bucknell about playing a rematch of KU’s shocking 2005 NCAA Tournament loss.
“They talked about it many months ago, back in April after the season was over,” KU senior associate athletic director Larry Keating said.
Details were not worked out.
¢ Traveling man: KU sophomore Sasha Kaun, who attended the recent Pete Newell Big Man camp in Las Vegas, played basketball and did some sightseeing on his first trip to Glitter City.
“I walked around a lot,” Kaun said. “There are a lot of things to see in Las Vegas. We stayed at the Westin, one block off the Strip. It’s where Bellagio is, right off Flamingo Road.
“I’d walk from there all the way up the Strip to the Luxor pyramid. I saw that volcano (in front of Mirage), but never did get to see that pirate show (in front of Treasure Island).”
Kaun, 20, didn’t venture into the casinos to gamble during his six-day stay in Vegas. He’s a year under the minimum age limit for gambling.
“I’m not a big gambler. At least, I don’t think I am,” quipped Kaun. “I’ve seen a lot of people lose too much money. I will want to go back someday to have fun. There are some great shows there. They were $100 tickets. That’s too much for that.”
¢ Sampson headed to Kuwait: Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson is one of eight coaches selected to direct military basketball teams at a tournament Aug. 27-31 in Kuwait. In addition to working with U.S. soldiers, the coaches plan to visit a local sports clinic to meet and coach Kuwaiti children who are learning the game.
It’s part of “Operation Hardwood, Hoops With The Troops” — a nationwide Department of Defense program that showcases America’s support for the men and women in the Armed Forces. The games will be played at Camp Arifjan.
Other coaches and sports personalities to coach teams: Jay Bilas, ESPN; Bobby Cremins, former coach Georgia Tech; Mark Gottfried, Alabama; Tom Izzo, Michigan State; Mike Jarvis, ESPN; Bobby Lutz, UNC Charlotte; Dave Odom, South Carolina.
“It’s such an honor and a big deal when you have the chance to go do something for the men and women of the military who are risking their lives,” OU coach Sampson said.
The double-elimination tournament will feature the best military players in Kuwait who have honed their skills in their off-duty time for the chance to work with these coaches.
