110 YEARS OF KANSAS BASKETBALL
From Left:
Julian Wright KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Raef LaFrentz KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Jacque Vaughn PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY
Scott Pollard PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY
JAYHAWKS HAVE SEEN PLAYING TIME IN THE NBA
Julian Wright - As a member of a young Kansas team that looked like it came straight from freshman orientation, Wright stepped up and became a leader. Despite numerous reports that he would return for his junior year, he decided to forgo his final two seasons and got drafted by the New Orleans Hornets with the 13th pick. However, he has had trouble getting off of the bench, still molding his game to become NBA-ready while averaging two points a game.
Raef LaFrentz — LaFrentz was actually drafted the same year as Pierce, seven spots ahead of him at pick three. His numbers never came close to rival-
ing Pierce's, and the blockbuster contract he signed with the Denver Nuggets often left him as an addition to trades to fulfill salary cap obligations. Still, his numbers have been respectable, putting up an average of 10.7 points per game coupled with 6.5 rebounds. His perimeter game, which made him such an unorthodox power forward, was prominent his first nine seasons, but he has only made two out of 26 three-pointers in the two years since.
Jacque Vaughn — In 126 games at KU, he averaged less than 10 points per game. Scouts still recognized his ball handling and leadership, causing him to be drafted by the Utah Jazz with the
28th pick. With the great John Stockton as his mentor, he found his niche as a backup point guard during the past 10 years. Currently, he is with the San Antonio Spurs. He is regarded as a seasoned NBA veteran, with a career average of 4.5 points and 2.5 assists per game.
Scott Pollard — A man of many hairstyles (including the duo-pontyta experiment that made people mistake him for a schoolgirl needing a shave), Pollard has managed to make his living emulating the play and often the appearance of Dennis Rodman. Playing for five different teams over his 11-year career, he averages more rebounds per game during his career (4.7)
than points (4.3). He was drafted 19th by the Detroit Pistons who saw similarities between him and Bill Laimbeer, a member of the infamous Bad Boy teams of the '80s.
Kansas can expect to add many more players to this list, as scouts are taking an interest in Darnell Jackson, Darrell Arthur, Sasha Kaun, Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, and Sherron Collins. These players are Bill Self players, and if he successfully helps them transfer their skills to the NBA, his already impressive recruiting abilities will be much improved. That may result in many future Kansas teams mirroring the standout team everyone is watching today.
1996-1997: March 21, 1997, will forever stick out as one of the worst days in KU basketball history. A team that was favored to win the national title lost to Arizona in the Sweet 16. It was the last game for Jacque Vaughn, Jerod Haase and Scott Pollard. The Jayhawks won the Big 12 regular season and postseason titles in what was the first year for the conference. They also started the season 22-0, the best start in school history.
1997-1998: Another sad ending for the Jayhawk faithful. No.1-seeded Kansas, which had two of its best players ever in Paul Pierce and Raef LaRentz, bowed out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Rhode Island. This team set a school record for victories with 35 and won the Big 12 regular season and postseason tournament.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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