Selden returning for junior year

By Gary Bedore     Apr 11, 2015

Nick Krug
Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) is pressured by Georgetown forward Paul White (13) during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 at Verizon Center in Washington D.C.

Kansas University sophomore guard Wayne Selden Jr. has decided now is not the time to begin his professional basketball career.

Not after KU’s loss to Wichita State in the NCAA Round of 32, a game in which he went scoreless with no assists and two turnovers in 23 minutes.

“I’m using that last game and the season as my everyday motivation to get better,” the 6-foot-5 Selden said Friday in announcing his decision to return to KU for his junior season. “I’m happy to come back to Kansas next season. This is a special place.”

A two-year starter from Roxbury, Massachusetts, Selden averaged 9.4 points a game for the Jayhawks (27-9). He was second on the team with 95 assists, and his 2.6 assists per game ranked 12th in the Big 12. Selden scored 20 or more points in four games and led KU in scoring seven times.

“A lot of good things are coming up for KU, and I want to be a part of that,” Selden said. “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.”

Selden, a two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 pick, has 679 career points. He has hit 88 threes in 254 tries for 34.8 percent, which ranks 23rd on the Jayhawks’ all-time three-point percentage list.

“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 coach Bill Self said. “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.”

KU junior Perry Ellis enters the weekend undecided about his future. He is planning on speaking with his mom and dad about the matter again this weekend. KU’s basketball banquet is Monday night. KU’s Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre Jr. already have decided to enter the NBA Draft.

Kentucky trying for Thorne: Michael Thorne Jr., a 6-11, 270-pound graduate transfer out of UNC Charlotte, is taking a recruiting visit to Pittsburgh this weekend. He will visit Illinois on April 17 and KU on April 22.

The Fayetteville, North Carolina, native, who averaged 10.1 points and 7.3 rebounds last season for Charlotte, is now on Kentucky’s wish list, according to the Fayetteville Observer. Kentucky lost seven players to the NBA Draft this week.

Tatum cuts KU: Jayson Tatum, a 6-8 junior wing from St. Louis Chaminade High, has narrowed his list of schools to Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and hometown Saint Louis U. Tatum eliminated KU, Missouri, Illinois, Arizona, UConn and Wake Forest. He’s ranked No. 3 nationally in the Class of 2016 by Rivals.com.

Swanigan to Michigan State: Caleb Swanigan, a 6-8 forward from Homestead High in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who is ranked No. 17 nationally by Rivals.com, has put an end to talk of a Swanigan-Jaylen Brown-Ivan Rabb package deal to Cal-Berkeley. On Friday, Swanigan committed to Michigan State. Brown has a list of eight that includes KU and Cal.

Hoops Summit today: Several KU prospects will be playing in the Nike Hoops Summit at 2 p.m. today, Central time, in Portland, Oregon. It will be shown live on ESPN2.

The prospects: Jaylen Brown, 6-7, Wheeler High, Marietta, Georgia; No. 3 Malik Newman, 6-3, Callaway High, Jackson, Mississippi; No.. 5 Thon Maker, 7-foot, Orangeville Prep, Mono, Ontario; No. 7 Cheick Diallo, 6-9, Our Savior New American, Centereach, New York No. 11 Stephen Zimmerman, 7-foot, Bishop Gorman High, Las Vegas; No. 19 Brandon Ingram, 6-8, Kinston (North Carolina) High.

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