Patience paid off for Kansas University basketball freshman Micah Downs, who learned Friday – eight days into the semester – he had been declared eligible to play basketball at KU.
The 6-foot-8 shooting guard/small forward from Kirkland, Wash., can sympathize with prospective KU player Brandon Rush, who still is awaiting word on his eligibility from the NCAA Clearinghouse, which ultimately cleared Downs.
“I was not getting worried. I was a little frustrated, like, ‘Dang, I want to hurry up and get cleared and get going on everything,'” Downs said. “Sometimes it just takes awhile.
“I went to a lot of different high schools, like seven high schools. We moved around a bit,” added Downs, who attended schools in Nevada, Montana and Washington. “They had to run down some transcripts, get a few things sent from the different schools, this and that, a lot of paperwork.”
Rush, a 6-6 native of Kansas City, Mo., who hopes to receive positive word today from the Clearinghouse, attended four high schools – K.C. Hogan Prep, K.C. Career Academy, K.C. Westport High and Mt. Zion Academy in North Carolina. Unlike Rush, Downs decided to attend class while awaiting clearance.
“(Getting cleared Friday) meant I could get my scholarship checks and books and things like that,” Downs said.
He has not been able to play pick-up basketball the last two days. He sprained his left ankle Monday.
“I just came down on a teammate’s foot,” he said. “I don’t consider it an injury. It’s just a little setback a week or two. Ankles get rolled all the time.”
Downs said he definitely was looking forward to the season.
“We are talented, and we are real young,” he said. “We look good, real good.”
Downs has adjusted well to the Midwest.
“I think, to be honest, I’m sure guys are homesick, miss their girlfriends, families, friends,” Downs said. “It’s natural to be homesick. I miss people back home, (but) I’m focused. I want to do great things here. I’m glad to be here.”
The Clearinghouse this week had requested additional materials from Rush, and apparently officials still are considering the documents. He enrolled at KU last week.