One of the coolest parts about the couple of weeks of Bill Self Basketball Camps that take place each summer at KU is the ability of young people to meet, interact and goof around with some of their favorite players.
At times, that means taking a shooting tip from their favorite Jayhawk or getting a pat on the back for a job well done from a current or former player.
At others, as was the case on Monday at Horejsi Family Athletics Center, a handful of lucky campers get the opportunity to ask of their favorite Jayhawks absolutely anything they want.
You should see the way these young hoopers get pumped up by just being called on to ask their question. And then, if the question is a particular hit and the gym goes nuts, the pride on their faces as they sit back down is sensational.
Monday afternoon, senior-to-be Devonte’ Graham addressed this year’s campers, first telling a little bit about his story, how he got to Kansas, why he came back for his senior season and things of the like.
After that, Graham opened it up for a 5-10 minute Q&A session with the hundreds of young Jayhawk fans who packed the bleachers.
Obviously, Graham was not able to call on everyone who put his or her hand up. But he got to as many as he could and, in doing so, gave an even greater glimpse into just who the man who wears No. 4 for the Jayhawks really is.
Here’s a quick sampling of some of the things Graham was asked, along with his answers…
**Q – Do you think you can play in the NBA?**
> A – “Yes. I hope I do. I hope I can.”
**Q – If you do make it to the NBA, is there one team you hope you’ll get drafted by?**
> A – “If I’m lucky enough to get
> drafted, I’d like to get picked by the Miami
> Heat or somebody like that.”
**Q – Lebron James or Steph Curry?**
> A – “Lebron.” [crowd roars with
> approval]
**Q – Where do you think will Josh Jackson get drafted?**
> A – “I’m saying Top 3. I think he
> might actually go to Boston (which has
> the No. 1 pick).”
**Q – Are you better than (former UCLA star) Lonzo Ball?**
> A – “I’ll let him answer that. [points
> to kid wearing a Graham jersey sitting
> nearby] Kid responds with a simple,
> “Yeah.” [crowd applauds loudly]
**Q – Can you do a back flip?**
> A – “No. Frank (Mason III) can,
> though.”
**Q – How do you think Frank Mason will do in the NBA?**
> A – “I think he’s gonna have a good
> career. He’s definitely gonna get
> drafted and he’s gonna be good.”
**Q – What size shoe do you wear?**
> A – “I wear size 13.”
**Q – What’s been your favorite game during your time at KU so far?**
> A – “I’m gonna have to say the
> Oklahoma game here when we won in
> three overtimes and the West Virginia
> game here last year when we came
> back.”
**Q – Can you dunk?**
> A – “Can I dunk? Yeah.”
**Q – What do you call your hair style? (asked by J.J. Howard, son of Kansas assistant coach Jerrance Howard)**
> A – “I call it the J.J.”
**Q – Did you ever think you’d end up playing at KU when you were younger?**
> A – “Honestly, I did not. I grew up a
> UNC fan, being from North Carolina,
> and that was my dream school before I
> came here.”
**Q – Why do you wear No. 4?**
> A – “That’s when I started playing
> basketball, when I was 4 years old.”
**Q – Who are your roommates?**
> A – “Svi (Mykhailiuk) and the Lawson
> brothers (Dedric and K.J.) from
> Memphis. Do you guys know them yet?”
**Q – How did you guard (former Oklahoma star) Buddy Hield?**
> A – “How did I guard him? I just
> locked him up.”
And, with that, Graham was off the hot seat.
There were a couple of repeat questions mixed in there and Graham made sure to point that out, giving props to those nearby who could answer because they had been paying attention.
Before the Q&A got going, Graham asked the packed house, by a show of hands, how many there wanted to play college basketball one day? Almost every hand went up.
Next, he asked a follow-up about how many of the campers wanted to play in the NBA some day. Most of the hands stayed up.
Graham then got to the heart of the matter and asked how many of them knew what it took to play in the NBA. A few hands dropped but several stayed up.
Graham’s response?
“Can you guys tell me?”
More camp fun is slated for later today, with the first session running through the end of the week and the second session starting next week.
Stay tuned to KUsports.com for much more from camp.