Jayhawks storm Eudora

By Jesse Newell     May 7, 2006

? Perhaps it was fitting that Stephen Vinson and Christian Moody played their last games in a Jayhawk uniform against a Christian all-star team.

Not only were the pair reminded of where they had been, but also the direction in which they were going.

The Kansas University seniors – who will focus on spiritual work in the immediate future – led the KU barnstorming team to a 140-83 victory over the Kansas Christian All-Stars at an enthusiastic Eudora Community Center.

“It’s just amazing how great the people are,” Vinson said. “I talk to other teammates from other parts of the country, and nobody can believe how nice people are. I’ve just been spoiled with it my whole life.

“It’s been a real blessing to get to play.”

For Vinson, the future will come soon enough. The former KU guard will be married in two weeks to Anna Harvey, then will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., over the summer to become a program minister at the Focus on the Family Institute.

Moody will compete for the Athletes in Action all-star team this summer in a 21â2-week tour of China.

“It’s my first summer without having to train and having to take summer school,” Moody said. “It sounded like an unbelievable opportunity – a chance to minister to a different part of the world and see a different part of the world.”

Though the details are not finalized, Moody expects the team will play up to seven games against Chinese pro-league teams.

The all-star team also will get the opportunity to share information about its spiritual journey.

At halftime of each game, coaches and players will talk to the crowd through translators to share testimony or minister.

“It’s a chance to experience playing against professional guys in that sort of atmosphere,” Moody said. “Actually I feel like I’ve been playing against professional guys for four years.”

After the trip, Moody said he would investigate his opportunities in basketball and the medical profession.

“In the back of my mind, it’s been a dream to become a doctor and go on to med school,” Moody said. “I’ll be excited when that opportunity hopefully comes up.”

A pair of players Vinson already had influenced were on display at the exhibition Saturday.

De Soto senior Scott McElvain contributed 19 points for the KU Barnstormers team. The high schooler was asked to play the previous day after receiving an invitation to Vinson’s wedding.

“He’s taught me, not so much on the basketball court, but the way to be a God-serving guy on the court,” McElvain said. “He’s just an awesome guy.”

Veritas Christian’s Mark Randtke gave the best performance for the Christian All-Stars, scoring 27. He attends the same church as Vinson and also went to the same Bible study as former Kansas player Brett Olson.

Moody led the KU Barnstormers with 45 points, many coming on rim-shaking dunks.

Olson added 34, while Vinson contributed 28 with six three-pointers made.

Will Palmer had 24 points and made four consecutive three-pointers for the all-stars.

“It was a little pride-destroying,” Randtke said, “but it was a lot of fun.”

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