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Mickelson becomes an impact player for Kansas
DYLAN SHERWOOD
@dmantheman2011
Kansas coach Bill Self saw something in senior forward Hunter Mickelson several years ago when Mickelson played at Arkansas, and what he saw seems to be coming to light this summer.
Now in his senior campaign, Mickelson appears to be looking to make an impact on next season's team as Kansas represents the U.S. in the World University Games.
The senior only played in 19 games during his first season at Kansas but has seen his minutes increase in the World University Games. Mickelson has made two starts during the tournament: one against Canada in an exhibition and the other against Brazil on Sunday. Mickelson took advantage of his
first official start in the World University Games to score 11 points and grab eight rebounds in USA's 81-72 win over Brazil.
Mickelson, a 6-foot-10 forward from Jonesboro, Ark., played his first two seasons at Arkansas, making an impact in the post for the Razorbacks in 2011 as a freshman. Mickelson set the freshman record in blocks with 72 and had 39 total blocks his sophomore year before transferring to Kansas.
Playing beside guys such as senior forwards Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor and junior forward Landen Lucas, Mickelson has been left out of the rotation the past season. All three players have been in the program for four years or more; only a part of the program for two years, Mickelson struggled for playing time.
Even seeing only 19 games of action last season for Kansas, Mickelson stepped up in a big role when Ellis went down with a knee injury against West Virginia in March. He played 13 minutes, collecting a season-high eight points, two rebounds and two blocks. He recorded three steals in a game where the Jayhawks trailed by 18 and defeated the Mountaineers in overtime.
The next game at Oklahoma, Mickelson recorded a season-high in minutes with 20.
Now a senior with a year in the program, Mickelson looks to be a contributor for next year's team that brings back all but three players. With the impact he is making so far in the World University Games, Self might see something else in Mickelson for his final go-around at Kansas.
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
Junior center Hunter Mickelson lobs a shot during the game against Canada on June 23. He went 2-for-4 on field goals for the night.
Former Jayhawks active in the NBA offseason
DEREK JOHNSON
@DJohnson1510
Six of 16 former Kansas basketball players in the NBA last year came in as free agents as the NBA offseason tipped off on July 1. After Cliff Alexander went undrafted, the list grew to seven.
Already, numerous former Jayhawk basketball players have flocked to new destinations.
Paul Pierce, the 10th overall pick out of Kansas in the 1998 draft, decided to sign back in his home state of California. The Clippers signed Pierce to a three-year pact worth
more than $10 million, according to ESPN. He will play for Doc Rivers, the same man who coached Pierce's only NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics.
Thomas Robinson was drafted higher than Pierce, but his career has not gotten off to as strong of a start. He has played for four different teams in a three-season span and
After 15 seasons with the Celtics, Pierce will travel to his third team in three years as he plays for the Los Angeles Clippers. The 1998 NCAA All-American is 16th on the all-time NBA scoring list, amassing more than 25,000 points in his career.
is adding another to the list.
Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year deal. He is averaging 5.1 points per game along with 4.8 rebounds in his career. In a brief stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, he averaged 8.8 points and 7.7 rebounds in just 18.5 minutes per game, both of which were highs for any team he's played on.
Robinson may not be the only Jayhawk on the Nets next season.
Following a disappointing NBA draft, Alexander earned a spot on Brooklyn's summer league team. Sports Illustrated's Jeremy Woo tweeted "Brooklyn could have interest in keeping him beyond that."
Besides free agency, the NBA offseason creates roster turnover through a multitude of trades. A result of one trade means the Morris twins are no longer together in Phoenix.
Former Big 12. Player of the Year Marcus Morris was part of a threeplayer deal that sent him to the Detroit Pistons. Marcus averaged double-digit scoring last year for the first time in his career and also yanked down a career-high 4.8 rebounds per game.
The Suns' decision to split up the Morris twins incited some remarks
from around the league. Marcus' twin brother and former Jayhawk Markieff Morris tweeted "this a foul game" following the trade.
As free agency continues, former Jayhawks Cole Aldrich, Darrell Arthur, Drew Gooden and Xavier Henry remain in limbo. Additionally, Sasha Kaun is leaving Russia for the NBA, Adrian Wojnarowski, sports reporter for Yahoo Sports, tweeted.
A full list of former Jayhawks who reached the NBA can be seen along with the online version of this article.