Wayne Selden Jr. announces he’ll return to KU

By J-W Staff Reports     Apr 10, 2015

Nick Krug
Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) roars at the Jayhawks' bench after hitting a three against Iowa State during the second half on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

At least one member of Kansas University’s men’s basketball team has announced his intention to stick around for the 2015-16 season.

Days removed from freshmen Kelly Oubre Jr. and Cliff Alexander deciding to enter the 2015 NBA Draft, KU announced in a release Friday afternoon sophomore Wayne Selden Jr. will be back for his junior season.

Kansas got bounced from the NCAA Tournament in the Round of 32 each of the last two seasons — Selden’s first two go-rounds as a Jayhawk.

The sophomore guard referenced his most recent game in a KU uniform — a 78-65 loss to Wichita State, in which he went scoreless in 23 minutes — in his announcement.

“I’m using that last game and the season as my everyday motivation to get better,” Selden said. “I’m happy to come back to Kansas next season. This is a special place.”

A two-year starter from Roxbury, Massachusetts, the 6-foot-5 Selden averaged 9.4 points per game in 2014-15, and led KU with 46 three-pointers made. He was named to the 2015 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team, after scoring 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting in KU’s 62-52 win against Baylor in the semifinals and a career-high 25 points versus Iowa State in the championship game, a 70-66 loss. In all, Selden had four 20-point efforts during his sophomore campaign and led KU in scoring seven times.

An All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection both seasons at KU, Selden was second on the team as a sophomore with 95 assists and his 2.6 assists per game ranked 12th in the Big 12.

“Wayne is such a great kid and competitor and feels that there are so many things to accomplish, not only as an individual, but as a team,” KU head coach Bill Self said in the release. “He is committed to this program and I know he’ll work his tail off to put himself into in a spot to be a high (NBA) draft pick, hopefully next year, and put our team into position to have another great year.”

Selden already is looking forward to next season.

“A lot of good things are coming up for KU and I want to be a part of that,” he said in the release. “We’re going to represent the USA at the World (University) Games this summer. We’re moving into new dorms (McCarthy Hall) before school starts and we’re playing in Maui (Hawaii) next year.”

A decision from KU junior Perry Ellis regarding his future is expected in the coming days.

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