SPRINGFIELD, MO. ? When Mario Chalmers looked across the court during the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, a high school basketball event, he may have been confused.
Sharing the spotlight in the tournament were Poplar Bluff High forward Tyler Hansbrough and Memphis White Station guard J.P. Prince, two players he didn’t figure to face until next season. Chalmers has signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Kansas, while the other two have also signed to play for other top basketball programs.
The 6-foot-2 Chalmers traveled with his Anchorage, Alaska, high school team, the Bartlett Golden Bears, to compete last weekend. Sell-out crowds of more than 8,300 watched each day’s action.
Hansbrough, the No. 2 player in this year’s class according to rivals.com, has signed to play for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and former Kansas coach Roy Williams. Prince, one of this year’s top guards, has signed to play for the University of Arizona and coach Lute Olsen.
“I have a feeling that we will be meeting up again in college someday,” Chalmers said. “Hopefully it will be in the Final Four.”
In last Friday’s first-round game, Chalmers and Hansbrough put on a show. Though Chalmers’ game was impressive, Hansbrough turned in the play of the game with a reverse 360-degree slam dunk in the second quarter.
Hansbrough finished with 36 points, nine rebounds and, unofficially, eight slam dunks.
Chalmers had a more balanced stat line. He finished with 27 points, eight rebounds, seven steals and six assists. He managed all of this in spite of being double-teamed throughout the game and often facing a third defender when he had the ball.
With a stronger supporting cast, Chalmers’ numbers could have been higher. His teammates missed several lay-ups and short-range shots, failing to convert Chalmers’ passes.
Chalmers’ father, Ronnie, is the coach of the Bartlett Golden Bears. Though his team lost to Poplar Bluff 86-57, Ronnie was pleased after the game.
“He’s been playing outstanding,” he said. “You can tell that he matured a lot over the summer and improved his game on both ends of the court.”
Mario chose Kansas over Georgia Tech, Wake Forest University and Arizona. Surprisingly, Mario has never actually seen a game in Allen Fieldhouse, having only been for Late Night in the Phog.
“To me, its just another arena. I’ve played in front of big crowds before, but this time it will be easier for me because it will be my fans, and I’ll feel welcome,” Mario said.
After watching the Jayhawks defeat Georgia Tech on ESPN, Mario knew he had made the right decision.
“Lawrence is a basketball town, and that’s what I really liked,” he said. “Everybody follows the Jayhawks up there. Plus, I really like the up-tempo style that they play.”
Hansbrough made a different decision, choosing North Carolina over several other schools, including Kansas. Hansbrough said Williams was the biggest factor in his decision to play in Chapel Hill.
“I love the way he develops his big men,” Hansbrough said. “It basically came down to me liking coach Williams better than the coaches at the other schools.”
Playing time was also a factor for Hansbrough, who looked at the teams’ situations and felt his best chance to play right away was at North Carolina.
“I feel that I can step in to North Carolina and make an impact right away,” Hansbrough said. “I will get a lot more playing time than I could have gotten at Kansas.”
Coach Bill Self drove to Springfield Sunday morning after returning from Kansas’ 76-61 victory against Colorado. Self said he was excited about pairing Mario with freshman guard Russell Robinson in the backcourt next season.
“He’s so explosive,” Self said of Mario. “He’ll be an impact player for us. He and Russell Robinson together will create a lot of havoc.”
Jayhawk fans have reason to be excited about Mario’s arrival. He averages 27.6 points and 7.4 steals per game. His no-look passes, among other things, have earned him the nickname “Super Mario.”
“He’s a magician out there on the court. Mario has the great ability to see things happen before they actually do,” Ronnie said.
Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com is also quick to praise the talented guard. Wildeboor, who follows Kansas basketball recruiting and has watched Mario play several times, said he was the real deal and a nightmare on defense.
Ronnie said his son could score 40 to 50 points per game, if he wanted.
Mario said he would rather dish out assists than accumulate points, however.
“I try to get all of my teammates involved,” Mario said. “If I need to score, I can score.”
Ronnie has coached his son since sixth grade, so watching from the stands will be a new experience for him and will take some time to get used to, he said.
“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “I try not to think about it, but when this season ends, it’s all going to hit me.”
He is even considering retiring from high school coaching after this season.
It will also be tough for Mario, who will have to take directions from someone new.
“It will be a little weird, but to be honest, coach Self is almost the same coach as my dad. They believe in a lot of the same principles,” he said.
Mario was born and raised in Anchorage, but most of his extended family lives in North Carolina. The Air Force transferred his father to Alaska in 1982.
Because Mario cannot make it to Allen Fieldhouse, he and his family gather around the television in their house and cheer for the Jayhawks by watching as many games as they can.
Surely he is imagining a time a few years from now when those same people will be gathered together in that same room watching him play in that same crimson and blue.
“We’ve watched almost every game on TV,” Ronnie said. “We’re following them very closely and are rooting for them hard.”
While watching, Mario has noticed sophomore guard J.R. Giddens’ No. 15 jersey. Mario wears that number for Bartlett and has worn it his entire life. He doesn’t plan on having to switch numbers either, he said.
“I’m going to try and talk J.R. into letting me have it,” he said.
Regardless of what number Mario wears next season, Jayhawk fans should be excited. “Super Mario” is coming to town.
