Kansas University sophomore Sherron Collins, who was hindered by a bruised left knee the final weeks of the 2007-08 basketball season, had arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair cartilage damage in his knee.
“Sherron had some knee problems this year, and we knew it was going to require surgery after the season,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Had he had surgery (when knee started to bother him), it would have knocked him out the rest of the season. He toughed it out and was a primary reason for our success.”
Self indicated the 5-foot-11 Collins “definitely needed to get some things cleaned up (in knee). A lot of times these take three weeks (for return to pick-up basketball). There’s no need to rush it. It’ll probably be a couple months, probably the summer (before he’s full speed).”
KU’s medical team performed the surgery in Lawrence. Per KU policy, the name of the surgeon was not revealed.
Collins’ injury history includes repairing a stress fracture in his left foot in early November, a severe right ankle sprain in January and bruised left and right knees during the season.
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Self on Monday’s season-ending Hawk Talk Radio Show indicated junior Mario Chalmers had not yet decided whether to enter his name in the NBA Draft.
If Chalmers decides to declare by Sunday’s deadline and not sign with an agent, he would be allowed to withdraw from the June 26 draft by June 16 and retain his collegiate eligibility.
“Mario hasn’t made a decision yet, which is fine,” Self said. “I think if he is a lock first-rounder – if he does declare – there would be a great chance he would go and should go. If he’s not, I think there’d be a great chance he’d come back.
“If you had Mario, Sherron, Cole (Aldrich) and Shady (Darrell Arthur, who has declared but not signed with agent) to build around, we could be as good as anybody. The bottom line is I can’t hold my breath that long. I don’t think that will happen,” he added of all returning, “but I guess there’s a chance. There’s a chance we could lose both of them (Arthur, Chalmers). Either way I’m confident we’ll be good.”
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Taylor to visit: KU is hoping to add a seventh player to its incoming recruiting class of 2008.
Tyshawn Taylor, a 6-foot-3 senior guard from St. Anthony High in Jersey City, N.J., was released from his Marquette letter-of-intent. He will make an official visit to KU on Wednesday and Thursday.
Taylor told Rivals.com he’s considering a final visit to Texas or Florida. He also is considering Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech and has not officially eliminated Marquette from his list. He opted out of his letter after Marquette coach Tom Crean left for Indiana.
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More on Canada: KU’s exhibition game against Carleton University (7:30 p.m., Aug. 30) will be played in Scotiabank Place, home of the Ottawa Senators hockey team. The arena seats 20,500 fans. KU will play McGill University at noon the same day at University of Ottawa’s 1,000-seat Montpetit Hall. KU will play Ottawa at 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31, also at Montpetit Hall. KU will be allowed 10 days of practice leading up to the Canada trip.
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No White House date: Self isn’t sure when the Jayhawks will be heading to the White House to be honored by President Bush.
“I want to say we’re positively going. I don’t know if I can say we’ll do it before school is out. After that everybody goes their own way,” Self said. “We’ve been in contact with the White House to see if the schedule can work out. He (President Bush) has a few things going on that may not allow him to say, ‘Be here three weeks from tomorrow. I’ll make it work.’ I don’t think it works that way,” Self cracked.