College basketball coaches such as Bill Self probably dream of recruiting classes hubbed by the likes of Russell Robinson, Sasha Kaun, Danny Manning, Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison and Jacque Vaughn. Not just because of the talent but because they’re the caliber of four-year men around whom you can build a solid, self-perpetuating program.
Too many in-and-outers anymore.
If Kansas has a banner season, and it well could, three of the big reasons will be Robinson, Kaun and Darnell Jackson, another long-term inhabitant. Sure, at least seven or eight others on the 2007-08 roster also will excite the fans, but there’s always this core of veterans for stability.
The loss of Julian Wright will be felt, and Brandon Rush will have to deliver sooner rather than later. There will be distractions as other players are bandied about as potential NBA hopefuls next spring. But there’s no reason to shortchange all-out concentration by the seniors. Their influence will be outstanding. Then if they go pro, they were going anyway.
I’ll betcha Self will bust a gut to have three or four legitimate seniors every year, though that will be impossible for 2008-09 due to the likely departures of as many as six current Jayhawks. Sometimes the game resembles a free-agent circus rather than a stable sport.
College short-termers who think they’re a cinch to rake in pro bucks should check the cover of the June 25 Sports Illustrated, featuring the starting five for the champion San Antonio Spurs. Bruce Bowen is the only U.S.-born member. Tim Duncan grew up in the Virgin Islands, Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto are Argentinians and Tony Parker came from France.
In the recent draft, San Antonio picked Tiago Splitter of Brazil, Giorgos Printezis of Greece and Marcus Williams of Arizona. The current 15-man Spur roster has seven “foreigners.” KU’s Jacque Vaughn and Fullerton State’s Bowen are rarities. SI calls the San Antonio operation headed by onetime KU assistant R.C. Buford “the most successful pro franchise of the last 10 years.”
College kids with NBA dreams better seriously consider how long they stay in school, and learn, when the influx of non-Americans is so heavy. Then there are occasional prep phenoms. Maybe Self and Co. will eventually have more four-year men than we expect.
l You see former Jayhawk Paul Pierce grinning while posing with newcomer Kevin Garnett with the Boston Celtics, and there’s a tendency to think the Celts will be back in the title quest. But great as those two are, the San Antonio success emphasizes that it takes a wide range of talent and role-players to really make waves. Paul and Kevin are as good as you can find, but the pro grind demands far more than just a 1-2 punch. Even Larry Bird and Magic Johnson needed vast help to win their title rings.
l Hats off to Chiefs coach Herm Edwards for rapping a fan who was encouraging a couple of Chiefs who were fighting in practice. All that leads to is ejection from a game. “I don’t want players to think it’s good to fight,” a red-hot Edwards said. “It’s never smart : if you think that’s right, you’re watching the wrong sport. You’ve got to walk away and keep your composure. Because you fight doesn’t make you a tough guy. A tough guy is a smart guy, you get another play to hit the guy legally.”
There’s already too much muckerism and hooliganism in sports, particularly football. It’s great to have somebody like Edwards provide a decent perspective.
