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4B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 29. 2008
RELEFORD (CONTINUED FROM 18)
and led Bishop Miege to the Kansas 5A State Semi-Finals during his junior year.
"Coming here, I think I made a real good decision," Releford said.
Zych has coached plenty of talented players at Bishop Miege, Jamar Howard went on to play at Wichita State. Jarrad Henry played at Pepperdine. Another player, Isaac Miles, graduated from Bishop Miege in 2006 and went to play at Creighton. He's now at Murray State in Kentucky. Zych said there's something that separates Releford from the rest.
After playing with Relefond since the ninth grade, Kansas freshman guard Tyreel Reed only needs one word to describe Relefond's game: smooth.
"He's a very smooth player, a great defender," Reed said. "He can play on and off the ball." Reed and fellow freshman Conner Teahan all played on the same AAU team, the KC Pump-and-Run.
"Travis can really defend," Zych said. "I think coach Self would tell he's probably a better defender than an offensive player right now. He's more of a slasher on offense, with the ability to really defend the ball."
"We're just excited about getting him up here," Reed said.
Releford said he's excited about being reunited with Reed and Teahan next season. He's also anxious to suit up alongside freshman Cole Aldrich — a player he he's competed against and met at some summer basketball camps. But Releford hasn't spoken with any of the other members of his Kansas recruiting class — Marcus and Markieff Morris, Quintrell Thomas and Mario Little. He heard they're all good players. But right now, Releford
BLESSED WITH FAMILY
A couple of weeks ago, Releford answered the phone. On the other line was his father, Tracy. He called to let his son know that he had just seen him play on television. For most fathers, the conversation would be pretty standard — your kid plays a game, so you call to let him know he played well. Except, Tracy Releford's situation is a little different. It was the first time Tracy had ever seen his play basketball. Tracy is in prison, behind bars, serving a sentence for first-degree murder.
"He can watch TV now and he saw me on Metro Sports, one of the highlights," Releford said. "He said he saw a highlight of my dunking."
Releford said he's hopeful his father will be out of prison before he's out of college. He's said he's hoping the next time his father sees him play, his dad will be there in person — at Allen Fieldhouse.
With his father incarcerated, Releford developed a close bond with his mother.
It wasn't just Travis either. Vann has six children, including Travis' younger brother Trevor who is a sophomore on the Bishop Miege basketball team. Staying close to family was important for Reefold.
"She took care of me since day one," Releford said. "I mean without my father, I just look up to her for that."
"My family is being able to see my games, all of them." Releford said. "My mom said she wanted to be there to watch me play."
also, Vann said she was impressed with Bill Self, Danny Manning and the entire Kansas coaching staff. Oh, and the fans, too.
"The KU fans are great," Vann said. "It feels like home. Coming from a low-income family, it's a dream come true. It's truly a blessing."
LOOKING FORWARD
On Friday night at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Releford stood at the free-throw line. Every eye in the gym focused on the high school senior. With Bishop Miege ahead 45-41 and struggling to put away Blue Valley Northwest, Releford released his free throw and clanked it off the rim.
Releford was matched up all night with Blue Valley Northwest freshman Brett Comer. Comer — bearing an uncanny resemblance to former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison — came into the game averaging 20 points per game. On the first play, Blue Valley Northwest controlled the tip and Comer drove to the lane. Releford jumped and swatted Comer's shot.
The game was another opportunity for more curious strangers to get a look at the blue-chip recruit. A local television station promoted the game as its "game of the week."
"The freshman was just schooled by the division one" one fan said.
Throughout the game, Relefond showed flashes of talent that made college coaches salivate. With 2:08 left in the third quarter, Relefond went to his right and threw down a strong dunk. A few minutes later he elevated into the lane and made a short jump shot.
Vann is elated about her son's choice
compare him to Kansas junior Brandon Rush. They're both from Kansas City, are close to the same size and play the same position. The comparison makes sense. Well, for everyone except Releford.
"I attack the goal more," Relefond said. "He likes to stand out and shoot threes, but that's really not my game. I like getting to the rim and making plays."
Releford has heard some people
Still, Releford said he knows Rush. Held even like to ask him what it's like for a Kansas City native to play at Kansas.
"I thought about asking him," Releford said.
He hasn't yet.
Bishop Miege held on against Blue Valley Northwest, 57-48. Releford helped ice the game with an assist to his brother, Trevor.
For one moment, Releford allowed himself to think about playing in front of 16,300 at Allen Fieldhouse. Releford — who has been a regular at Kansas home games this season — said the undefeated Jayhawks have caught his eye. He said he liked watching Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers play defense. For Releford, a national championship is a possibility.
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
Kansasagine Travis Reileford takes in the Kansas-Nebraska game Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. Reileford, who signed with Kansas in November, has a regular spectator at games this season.
"They got a chance," he said.
Then the question is asked, what about next year? Kansas could realistically lose seven or eight players next season, depending on which players leave for the NBA draft. Releford nodded his head. He's thought about that.
"I look forward to coming in and getting used to the system, learning all the plays and getting to know the
players." Releford said. "Coach Self, he's a really good coach. He's down to earth. I just like everything about the school."
Edited by Katherine Loeck
2008 Kansas Basketball Commits
Name
Travis Releford
Marcus Morris
Markleigh Morris
Quntrelr Thomas
Mario Little
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Hometown
Shawnee Heights
Cherry Hill, N.J.
Cherry Hill, N.J.
Elizabeth, N.J.
Mariana, Fla.
School Rivals.com
Bishop Miege 16
Apex Academy 13
Apex Academy 23
St. Patrick NR
ipola Junior College NR
Chipola Junior College NR
er in high school, would also catch on occasion to relieve junior Buck Afenir
"Ryne's excited to be out of second base." Price said. "I think he's relieved to have the pressure off him from playing second base where he can relax, play hard and focus on swinging the bat."
Despite Ryne's struggles at second base, Land said the team needed Ryne and his tenacious attitude somewhere in the field.
“He's a dirtbag on the field,” Land said. “He dives for everything. He busts his butt to get to every ball he can get to”
ON THE MOUND
Not every returning starter from last season is on the move. Afenir will remain behind the plate, and Land will stay at first base and senior Erik Morrison is still at shortstop.
All three weekend starters from last season – junior left-handers Andy Marks and Nick Czyz and sophomore lefty Wally Mariel – return, although Marks will be sidelined with a shoulder injury until sometime between March
and April.
Compared to all the shifts being made in the field, Kansas' rotation and bullpen situation seems pretty bland.
"His rehab is going very, very well"
Price said. "We're hopeful to get him back on schedule or even a little bit early, but my hope is he's 100 percent when we bring him back."
Even without Marks, Price is confident in his staff. He said both Czyz and Marceli had strong falls and he expected sophomore left-hander Shaeffer Hall, senior right-hander Andres Esquibel and junior lefty Sam Freeman to compete for starting spots in Marks' absence.
Further alleviating Marks' injury is
the time the Kansas coaches will have to work with their staff before their first game.
"The best thing that's going to take place is, from a pitching standpoint, our guys will be game-ready to pitch when we get to Hawaii," Price said. "That has not always been the case. We've pushed our pitchers."
In the bullpen, Kansas returns its top set-up man, senior right-hander Hiarali Garcia, and closer, junior righty Paul Smyth.
Price said Smyth, who saved seven games in 2007, had improved his slider
"Obviously, he needs to continue to improve his off-speed pitches so he can miss some barrels and strike some more guys out than he did a year ago." Price said. "We need him to take another step in his development toward trying to be the same kind of guy Don Czyz was for us two years ago."
and change-up since last season.
So while last season was a forgettable one on many levels for Kansas, there's really no substitute for the experience the lajhawys now carry into 2008.
"The big thing for us is a year ago we were the youngest team in our league
and we pitched the youngest guys in our conference on the weekend," Price said. "They were all put in pressure situations. If we grow from that experience, shouldn't have as many growing pains and our level of performance should improve."
Edited by Sasha Roe
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