The man working the television camera looked to the media relations staff for help and asked for a microphone check. After Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk was asked to say “check” into the mic, he leaned forward over it and softly said, “Boo!” with a little smile.
Nothing about the 17-year-old basketball star from Ukraine suggested he was uncomfortable or in any way overwhelmed.
Whether he brings enough strength, skill and athleticism at such a young age to earn significant playing time on a loaded Kansas team remains to be seen, but if he doesn’t, it won’t be because he doesn’t believe in himself.
Asked what he does best as a basketball player, Mykhailiuk answered with one word: “Everything.”
Asked what position he considered himself, he said without hesitation that he’s a guard. He will join a crowded field on the perimeter that includes small guards Frank Mason, Devonté Graham and Conner Frankamp and wings Wayne Selden, Kelly Oubre and Brannen Greene.
Kansas coach Bill Self typically likes to play four bigs and five perimeter players, but there is nothing typical about the depth of this team, even by Kansas standards.
Oh well, it’s better to have too much depth than not enough.
