Advertisement
Advertisement
Based on height, weight, speed, reach and other factors, receivers generally end up better suited to play either outside or in the slot. That may be true for the passing targets within the Kansas football team’s offense, too. But first-year receivers coach Justin “Juice” Johnson wants to make sure the Jayhawks learning from him know how to line up and execute from every possible spot. By Benton Smith
The Kansas baseball team will fly to Taiwan next week to compete on the diamond. On Friday, the International University Sports Federation finalized the sixth World University Baseball Championship, which includes the Jayhawks, who will represent the United States. Kansas begins competition against Hong Kong on Thursday, July 5.
As always seems to be the case, the Kansas men's basketball team will tackle another tough non-conference schedule during the 2018-19 season. Six teams on KU's non-conference schedule — released Friday afternoon — competed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. National champion Villanova, Kentucky, Michigan State, Arizona State, Tennessee (possible opponent in the Preseason NIT) and New Mexico State are all slated to square off with the Jayhawks this coming season.
Though his first foray into professional basketball came with an inopportune season-shortening injury, former University of Kansas center Landen Lucas entered this summer recovered and eager to find his next opportunity. By Benton Smith
Each of the Jayhawks’ top three rushers from 2017 — Khalil Herbert, Taylor Martin and Dom Williams — return. Plus, KU added four-star Louisiana recruit Anthony “Pooka” Williams to its roster. An entirely different, unsung running back, though, left an impression on the team’s linebackers during spring practices. By Benton Smith
As departments across the University of Kansas campus are being ordered to make budget cuts of about 6 percent, the budget for Kansas Athletics Inc. is expected to grow by about 6 percent, leaders were told Wednesday. By Chad Lawhorn
Running back Pooka Williams and quarterback Miles Kendrick were the most celebrated signings recruited to spice up a sluggish offense, but unless Kansas significantly upgrades its offensive line, newcomers and holdovers alike at skill positions won’t have space to show their talent.
The search for a new athletic director at the University of Kansas is on pace to be done by the end of summer, but could wrap up as shortly as two weeks, Chancellor Douglas Girod said Wednesday.
Entering his junior season as a safety at the University of Kansas, Mike Lee, with his 21 games of experience, 16 career starts and numerous highlight hits, qualifies as the preeminent Louisiana native on the roster. So who better to provide some insight on the newest “Louisianimal” to join the Jayhawks? By Benton Smith
Expected to become a more integral part of the offense this coming fall, University of Kansas receiver Evan Fairs discovered this past spring a painless way to maximize his development. A junior, Fairs experienced the epiphany after first diagnosing a flaw. By Benton Smith
The Kansas football program’s 2019 recruiting class finally has a second member. Four months after four-star New Orleans quarterback Lance LeGendre became the first prep player from the class to send a commitment KU’s way, the Jayhawks found another pledge inside the Sunflower State. By Benton Smith
His junior year soccer season at Oak Park High in Kansas City, Mo., was winding down, basketball season around the corner, when Ochai Agbaji received a couple of scholarship offers to play Division I basketball.
The Kansas women’s basketball team released its nonconference schedule Tuesday afternoon.
Former Kansas standout Mason Finley claimed second in the discus competition at the USATF Championships in Des Moines, Iowa this past weekend.
Nobody knows the identity of the starting quarterback for the upcoming Kansas football season. Nothing new there. That has been the case pretty much every summer since gunslinger Todd Reesing hopped on his horse and rode it back to Austin.
If Kansas center Udoka Azubuike is going to follow up his fabulous, 120-slam, sophomore dunk-fest by reaching triple digits in dunks again during the 2018-19 season, he’s going to have to make sure he’s ready to catch the ball from at least one different position — the 4. By Matt Tait
The beauty of golf’s version of baseball’s Triple A is that unlike baseball players, golfers don’t reach a point where their paths to the big leagues are blocked by the dreaded “non-prospect” label.
This past weekend might have been all about former college basketball players learning their fate and preparing to make the jump to the NBA, following last Thursday’s NBA Draft in Brooklyn, N.Y. But there also was a significant piece of news regarding potential future Jayhawks that surfaced, as well. By Matt Tait
Chris Thompson rebounded from a slow start Saturday to finish strong and heads into the final round of the Wichita Open in a four-way tie for sixth, five strokes behind leader Scott Pinckney.
It’s not at all surprising that Devonte’ Graham was acquired on NBA draft night by Michael Jordan’s franchise, the Charlotte Hornets.
Web.com touring pro Chris Thompson fired a 6-under 64 Friday at Crestview Country Club to move into a tie for third halfway through the Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth.
Videos and photographs are no substitute for seeing things in person, but judging by the looks on their faces and bounce in their step on the videos that have been floating around the Internet, former Kansas guards Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk have yet to come down from Thursday night’s NBA Draft high. By Matt Tait
Former University of Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger won’t be leaving Lawrence anytime soon. On Friday, Zenger told the Lawrence Journal-World that he plans to join the coaching staff for the Free State football team. Zenger will serve as the linebackers coach for the Firebirds, who made it to the 6A quarterfinals last fall.
Devonte’ Graham understands how much his time playing at the University of Kansas helped prepare him for professional basketball. By Shane Jackson
Sometimes good things really do happen to good people.
Forever linked during their KU careers thanks to their close friendship, sweet shooting strokes and ability to lead Kansas to a lot of victories during the past four seasons, Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk delivered one final act together as Jayhawks on Thursday night by becoming second round picks in the 2018 NBA Draft. By Matt Tait
He was seated in the stands at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with his agent, coach from Ukraine, parents and girlfriend, when former Kansas guard Svi Mykhailiuk heard his name called out in this year’s NBA Draft. By Matt Tait
As predicted by most mock drafts throughout the past several weeks, former Kansas point guard Devonte’ Graham became the first KU player selected in the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday night, when the Atlanta Hawks picked him with the fourth pick of the second round, No. 34 overall. By Matt Tait
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, who has spent his entire 33-year coaching career in college basketball, has a phrase he uses for the way prospects view their chances at making it in the NBA when draft time rolls around. By Matt Tait
Even 10 years later, looking at who should have gone where in the 2008 NBA draft has a subjective element to it.
Former University of Kansas golfer Ryan Vermeer qualified for the PGA Championship for the second year in a row Wednesday by winning the PGA Professional Championship at Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside, California.
Teammates describe University of Kansas linebacker Osaze Ogbebor as fast. And the 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior agrees with that assessment. Ogbebor even ventures to call himself the fastest linebacker at KU right now — an argument he admits comes with a technicality. By Benton Smith
Kansas freshman Quentin Grimes won’t forget the locker room celebration anytime soon. Grimes, who spoke to reporters in Allen Fieldhouse Tuesday, described the scene after Team USA captured a gold medal with a 113-74 win against host Canada. By Shane Jackson
Bill Self’s basketball teams always have been known to play tough defense, but in recent seasons it sunk it to me that what they actually do best is play with an extreme degree of confidence offensively.
With his latest prized pupil sitting to his right and their recently claimed gold medals tucked safely away in their respective homes, Kansas coach Bill Self on Tuesday heaped the kind of praise onto KU guard Quentin Grimes that is not often attached to a true freshman. By Matt Tait
It’s been more than two months since a federal indictment alleged the guardians of two unnamed University of Kansas basketball players — widely believed to be current KU big man Silvio De Sousa and former forward Billy Preston — received illegal payments in a scandal orchestrated by an Adidas executive. But nothing that has transpired since leads head coach Bill Self to think De Sousa will be ineligible to play as a sophomore this coming season. By Benton Smith
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self on Tuesday stopped short of saying that the door was completely closed for Lagerald Vick to return to Kansas for his senior season. And it’s clear, at least as of Tuesday, that Self and Vick will sit down for a conversation about the Memphis native’s options and desires in the coming days. But whether that meeting leads to the 6-foot-5 guard rejoining the Jayhawks for one more run is uncertain. By Matt Tait
As the University of Kansas continues its search for a new athletic director, Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione recently took time to discuss the characteristics of those groomed under him who may be in the running for the KU job. By Matt Tait
New to representing USA on an international stage, University of Kansas freshman Quentin Grimes took some time to feel out his surroundings this past week at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship. Although Grimes entered the event in a unique position, playing for his college coach, Bill Self, the 6-foot-4 guard didn’t interpret his situation as a green light to assume a starring role on a roster full of talent. By Benton Smith
When Elijah Johnson began contemplating his summer plans while playing in Israel this past season for Galil Gilboa, the former University of Kansas guard thought he wanted to include some form of a youth basketball camp in his off-season calendar. Johnson also recognized if he were to add one such experience to his agenda, upon returning to the area where he played college basketball, he wanted to give it an uncommon spin. By Benton Smith
Now that Kansas basketball coach Bill Self has finished leading Team USA to a gold medal at the U18 FIBA Americas tournament, Self can turn his attention back to the Jayhawks and preparation for a fast-approaching 2018-19 season. By Matt Tait
USA Basketball defied a quick start from host team Canada well enough Saturday night in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship gold medal game. But when coach Bill Self needed his group of U.S. players to totally take control, University of Kansas freshman guard Quentin Grimes did his part to make it happen in the second quarter. By Benton Smith
Moments before the first pitch was even thrown, Frank Mason was hopeful that his charity softball game could become an annual event. Mason, who played for the University of Kansas between 2013-17, will forever be attached to the area. And that is why the first charity event he coordinated — since getting drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2017 — was held at a place close to Lawrence.
USA Basketball’s U18 team faced its toughest competition to date at the FIBA Americas Championship Friday evening, but with University of Kansas freshman Quentin Grimes leading the way, head coach Bill Self’s group of U.S. players knocked off Argentina, 104-92, in the tournament semifinals. By Benton Smith
Between bouncing from airports to gymnasiums and back again, all in the name of proving himself worthy of some NBA team’s draft pick, Devonte’ Graham’s travels over the past several weeks occasionally have brought him back to Lawrence, where he made a name for himself on the college basketball landscape as a point guard at the University of Kansas. It was during one such brief swing through KU’s campus that Graham really felt like a former college player and a college graduate. By Benton Smith
It wasn’t quite on par with the complete demolition job USA Basketball pulled off to flatten Panama earlier in the week, but the US opened tournament play at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship Thursday night in similarly devastating fashion. By Benton Smith
With one of the biggest days in his basketball existence coming up next week, no one would have blamed Devonte’ Graham if the aspiring NBA point guard had spent this week focusing on his future. However, when asked to participate in the 10th annual Rock Chalk Roundball Classic, a charity fundraiser for families with children who are battling cancer, the recent University of Kansas graduate and busy pro prospect saw no reason to decline. By Benton Smith
That time of year arrived again again Thursday night, that time when Ben McLemore dominates the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic and leaves everyone in the packed gymnasium at Free State High wondering the same thing to themselves as they either line up for autographs or head outside for fresh air.
After back-to-back years of playing an All-American at point guard, the position will look distinctly different this coming season at the University of Kansas. No Frank Mason III. No Devonte’ Graham. No upperclassman in waiting. By Benton Smith
For freshmen, one of the more enjoyable aspects of the first days as Kansas basketball players involves playing with and against NBA athletes that they in the past they had seen only on television.
Over the course of the past several years, Wayne Selden has played in enough Kansas basketball summer camp scrimmages that they all basically blend together in his mind. The former KU guard, now with the Memphis Grizzlies, finally experienced one that took on a different feel Wednesday afternoon inside Horejsi Family Athletics Center. By Benton Smith
One of the biggest Kansas basketball celebration weekends of the year is set to tip off Thursday night, when Brian Hanni’s 10th annual Rock Chalk Roundball Classic charity basketball game gets going at 7 p.m. at Free State High. By Matt Tait
University of Kansas freshman Quentin Grimes supplied his most productive outing to date at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship Tuesday night, helping USA Basketball seal up first place in Group A, with a victory over Puerto Rico. By Benton Smith
Former University of Kansas receiver Chase Harrell has left the Big 12 for the SEC. Two months after making public his decision to leave KU, Harrell announced Tuesday his plans to enroll and play football at Arkansas. By Benton Smith
Sure, Udoka Azubuike spent most of May hearing from NBA evaluators about his draft stock and potential as a player at the next level. That doesn’t mean the big man returned to the University of Kansas with the notion of adding a 3-pointer to his repertoire, to replicate the skillsets of many professional centers. By Benton Smith
Appropriate for a game live-streamed on YouTube, USA Basketball’s U18 team produced what amounted to a 40-minute highlight mixtape Monday night at the FIBA Americas championship. By Benton Smith<
It seems not at all uncommon for a team’s most confident athlete in the huddle, on the diamond or in the layup line to double as the most confident. Think: Todd Reesing, Jose Altuve, Allen Iverson.
In the wake of the en masse departure of four starting guards who helped the Jayhawks reach the Final Four this past March, the Kansas backcourt looked rather thin the first week of June, when players arrived on campus for summer classes and workouts. The backcourt took on a more formidable air, though, once freshman point guard Devon Dotson arrived in Lawrence this past Thursday. By Benton Smith
Bill Self didn’t face many snags during his debut as head coach of USA Basketball’s U18 team Sunday night at the FIBA Americas championship. Nevertheless, after the US rolled past Dominican Republic, 105-73, in its preliminary-round opener, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, the University of Kansas head coach sounded as demanding in June as he would in the heat of Big 12 play in January or February. By Benton Smith
Olathe — All in all, not a bad Sunday afternoon for University of Kansas rising junior golfer Andy Spencer.
Udoka Azubuike shouldn’t have to completely re-invent himself during his junior season at the University of Kansas to cement his NBA stock. In fact, according to the 7-foot center from Nigeria, some teams he spoke with in May while weighing his future said he had a chance to become a late first-round pick this June if he decided to stay in the 2018 draft. By Benton Smith
Already a 2018 national champion in the 10K, University of Kansas distance runner extraordinaire Sharon Lokedi completed her NCAA outdoor track and field career Saturday night, in Eugene, Ore., with a 12th-place finish in the women’s 5K race at the NCAA Championships.
Ottawa High product Kord Ferguson (third place in the discus throw) and Kansas sophomore Bryce Hoppel (fourth in the 800 meters) earned first-team All-America honors at the NCAA track and field outdoor championships on Friday at Oregon's Hayward Field.
Kansas standout distance runner Sharon Lokedi won the 10,000 meters on Day 2 of the NCAA outdoor track and field championships on Thursday at Oregon's Hayward Field with a meet record time of 32:09.2.
With their red-shirt year now behind them, Memphis transfers Dedric and K.J. Lawson have jumped in feet first to their first official season as Jayhawks. But just because it was Dedric who drew most of the attention and praise during the Lawson’s red-shirt season does not mean that K.J. is merely here as an afterthought. By Matt Tait
Actual practices won’t begin until early August, but a crucial stretch of preparation leading up to preseason camp began this week for University of Kansas football players. By Benton Smith
After winning an NCAA indoor pole vault title in March, Kansas junior Hussain Al Hizam tied for fifth at the NCAA outdoor championships on Wednesday at Oregon's Hayward Field.
Here’s how the popular storyline goes for Kansas and its perennial powerhouse basketball program: After a two-year, personnel-driven shift from a lineup with two post players to just one big man, Hall of Fame basketball coach Bill Self will return to his comfort zone and send two big men onto the court again.
The summer of 2017 was one of hope for Kansas football. A year later, at least for those not personally invested in the successes and failures of the team, a similar sense of interest in KU football likely doesn’t reverberate much outside of the Lawrence city limits. That’s just fine with David Beaty. By Benton Smith
It was a sneaky-quiet 20 points and it came in a camp scrimmage against his teammates, but the particulars were not important. What was noteworthy was the way Kansas forward Dedric Lawson scored those 20 points during the Blue team’s 81-74 loss to the Red squad at the first Bill Self Basketball Camp scrimmage of the summer on Tuesday afternoon at Horejsi Family Athletics Center. By Matt Tait
I always tamp down my expectations when taking a first look at a young big man playing basketball. And then there was Tuesday afternoon’s scrimmage at Horejsi, home of the Bill Self basketball camp.
Amid conference play during his second season as a backup point guard at Toledo, former Lawrence High standout Justin Roberts began to determine he wanted to try something new. A few months later, Roberts solidified his plans to transfer from the MAC program and complete his college career elsewhere. By Benton Smith
For Brandon McAnderson, leading rusher for Kansas during its 12-1 Orange Bowl season, what started as a project intended to help his cousin ended up as a means of helping his alma mater.
With KU’s star-studded and mostly new cast of guards scattered all over the place on Monday — one at the USA Basketball tryout, others working camps nearby and one more yet to arrive on campus in the first place — the Jayhawks’ first day of summer workouts took on a decidedly bigger look. By Matt Tait
Broad-shouldered offensive tackle Turner Corcoran isn’t the only member of Free State High’s football team picking up interest from a number of college programs. Offers for rising seniors Keenan Garber and Jax Dineen also began piling up this past spring. By Benton Smith
For college baseball players, it’s not the first impression that lasts the longest, it’s the last one.
Up 16 pounds from his playing weight at the end of the 2017-18 season, Kansas junior Mitch Lightfoot, said Sunday that, with all of the beef on this year’s KU basketball roster, getting bigger was not just the goal but also necessary for him to fit in. By Matt Tait
A 6-foot-6 Free State High offensive lineman, Turner Corcoran’s college recruitment exploded over the past couple of months, as he began receiving scholarship offers from such celebrated programs as Notre Dame, Nebraska, Michigan and Clemson, making his future a popular topic. By Benton Smith
The Big 12 Conference wrapped up its annual spring meetings on Friday and did so with a couple of big things to celebrate. By Matt Tait
Fresh off of his experience at the Professional Basketball Combine in Florida in late May, former Kansas guard Lagerald Vick has pulled his name out of the 2018 NBA draft pool and is undecided about his immediate future. By Matt Tait
Regardless of what Brady Tanner’s Friday entailed or where it took him he would be smiling. Tanner’s grin just might stretch a little wider tonight, when the Special Olympics inducts the Lawrence athlete into its Kansas hall of fame. By Benton Smith