THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2003
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 9A
Axtell
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12A
received permission to transfer to another school.
Meanwhile, someone on the Texas staff orchestrated the release of Axtell's grades to a local radio station. Assistant coach, Eddie Oran initially took responsibility for distributing the grades but later claimed Penders had been involved in the decision.
Axtell filed a lawsuit against the university, Penders and Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds. The lawsuit was dismissed. Pen-
ders, who resigned after the 1997- 1998 season, later won a defamation lawsuit that Oran filed against him.
Even after Axell announced he was traisferring to Kansas, the nightmare didn't end — in fact, it got worse. He received a series of death threats while he was finishing his last semester at Texas.
"I'm walking down campus wondering if I'm about to take one in the back," Axtell said. "Pretty scary for a 19-year-old kid."
Today, the ugly split from Texas is in Axtell's rearview mirror.
"There's really no residue of it,"
he said. "People know what went down, and I haven't met one person in the last four years who has had anything negative to say."
Because of NCAA rules, Axtell's decision to transfer to another school in the Big 12 Conference left him with just two years of eligibility at Kansas. He joined the Jayhawks for the 1999-2000 season and averaged 8.7 points in 20 games before leaving the team to be treated for an undisclosed medical condition.
He returned the following season but missed 11 more games with a degenerative disc in his
back and an ankle injury. After averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in his senior season, his career at Kansas was over.
"It just stinks, you know," he said. "I wish I could have stayed healthy."
Axtell graduated, returned home and did odd jobs in Austin, as his back slowly began to get better. After a year-and-a-half, he decided to adopt a serious rehabilitation program and began working out with Jamerson, a former member of the Houston Rockets.
Jamerson said a healthy Axtell
"I really believe that if he stays healthy and works hard at his game, he can still play in the NBA," Jamerson said. "He's only 24, and his best basketball is still ahead of him potentially."
had a chance to make a living at pro basketball's highest level.
Jamerson said he thought the three main things were whether he was healthy, continued to work and stayed in the right mind frame, he could do it."
Axtell is still not willing to reveal the nature of the medical ailment that derailed his junior season, but he said it is a thing of the past.
"I'm definitely healed at this point," he said. "There's no lingering effects or anything."
"To me, it's no different than the back injury. It's just another injury."
As he prepared to join his new team for the last quarter of its season. Axell said that because his plans never work out, his only long-term goal is to take his basketball talent as far as it will let him go.
"Beyond that," he said, "I could care less."
Edited by Melissa Hermreck
Lee
CONTINUED FROM 12A
ankle low, since I was a baby."
And with that, the Kansas careers of Aaron Miles - the star McDonald's All-American point guard - and his friend, Michael Lee, began.
Also with that came a stereotype, almost a warning, about Lee. The perception was that Lee was at Kansas strictly to entice Miles to attend, and, to some extent, that was the truth.
So nothing special was expected of the 6-foot-3 former tight end and linebacker at Jefferson High School in Portland, Ore.
Last year, he sputtered along. The speed of the game was overwhelming. His shot became a permanent brick. He resorted to constant hacking on defense, earning the nickname of "Tweet" from his teammates, which referred to the noise of a referee's whistle.
By tournament time, he took the court with the walk-ons only at the tail end of blowouts. Through it all, Miles - who set a Kansas freshman record for assists and started all but one Jayhawk game - stuck by his boy, always assuring him they were in this together.
Lee said last season that if he were anywhere else and not playing, it would have been harder on him. "There were days I'd come home frustrated and Aaron would talk to me some or joke with me. He wouldn't let me get too down on myself," Lee said. "He made sure I knew he was behind me. He's a great friend."
As the offseason hit after Kansas' Final Four loss to Maryland, Lee vowed to be more than just a great friend to Miles. He strived to evolve into a great teammate. He spent endless hours shooting, perfecting his ball handling and restraining himself on defense.
When this season began, he felt ready to be more than just Miles' high school sidekick. His playing time became consistent. Williams commended him on a consistent basis. Lee took to heart Williams' plea of "help us by not hurting us."
Slowly, Lee's persona has been altered. It started with a homecoming trip to Oregon. The Jayhawks lost, but Lee starred, scoring 11 points in 20 minutes and outperforming Miles. He was now Michael Lee, Kansas 6th man, not Michael Lee, friend of Aaron Miles. Monday against Missouri, Lee cemented his place as a crucial fixture in the Jayhawk lineup. Again, Miles was off — he had the flu and turned the ball over six times — but Lee picked up his friend. In a career-high 28 minutes, Lee scored seven, grabbed four rebounds, knocked down two clutch last-minute free throws and, most importantly, permanently swayed minds.
Lee is now as important as anyone. Forget the past. Forget the recruiting process. Lee has deemed that all forgettable. He fights for loose balls. He swarms defenders — without fouling. He drives to the bucket hard and pulls up for jump shots with ease.
Who knows? Lee could fight for Kirk Hinrich's vacated starting spot next year. But for now, Lee is content contributing, because even that seemed unlikely to most Kansas fans.
Improbable to most, but not to his best friend, the one who wouldn't come to Kansas without him.
"I love him, and I love to see him succeed. Every time he does something, I'm happy for him," Miles said. "He means so much to this team now. I knew he had it in him."
He knew, Lee knew, now everyone knows. Lee is more than just Miles' friend.
Malashock is an Omaha, Neb., senior in journalism.
Football
CONTINUED FROM 12A
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound tight end originally committed to KU, but changed his mind two weeks ago and signed with Kansas State.
"Certainly there's guys that got away, and that happens every year," Mangino said, "but the key thing is that we got some really players.
Kansas was able to win the recruiting battle on another player, as Wichita native John Randle inked with the Jayhawks after previously considering Kansas State.
Mangino denied making any negative comments about Kansas State to his recruits.
"We're trying to sell KU." Mangino said, "and we think we've got something pretty good to sell."
Edited by Andrew Ward
2003 FOOTBALL RECRUITS
| Name | Pos | Ht |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Lyonel Anderson | TE | 6-3 |
| Tang Bacheyie | DB | 6-1 |
| Adam Barmann | GB | 6-4 |
| Mark Brown | DB | 6-3 |
| Markeith Childress | DB | 5-11 |
| Richard Estrella | OL | 6-4 |
| Marcus Hicks | CB | 5-10 |
| Zack Hood | OL | 6-4 |
| Moderick Johnson | WR | 6-5 |
| Chuck Jones | DE | 6-4 |
| Tony King | WR | 6-3 |
| Reid Kirhy | OL | 6-4 |
| Brandon McAnderson | LB/RB | 6-0 |
| John McCoy | LB | 6-3 |
| Zach Mims | OL/BE | 6-3 |
| John Randle | RB/DB | 6-0 |
| Bruce Ringwood | LB | 6-1 |
| Cesar Rodriguez | OL | 6-3 |
| Shelton Simmons | CB | 5-11 |
| Andy Temple | DE | 6-3 |
| Gabriel Toomey | LB | 6-4 |
| Phil Tuhalamaka | DT | 6-3 |
| Johnny Urritta | OL | 6-3 |
| Joe Vaughn | C | 6-2 |
| Scott Webb | K | 5-11 |
| Monroe Weekley | DE | 6-4 |
Hometown (School)
240 Rochester, N.Y. (Alfred State College, Wilson Magnet HS)
180 Windsor, Ontario, Canada (Sandwich Secondary)
210 Weston, Mo. (West Platte HS)
185 Tulsa, Okla. (Booker T. Washington HS)
200 Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach City College/Lakewood HS)
295 Los Angeles, Calif. (Cerritos Community College/St. Paul HS)
173 Rialto, Calif. (Chaffey College/Eisenhower HS)
255 Creston, Iowa. (Creston HS)
190 Houston, Texas. (North Shore HS)
275 Allerdona, Calif. (Pasadena City College/Long Beach Poly HS)
185 Florissant, Mo. (McCluer North HS)
290 Gladstone, Mo. (Oak Park HS)
220 Lawrence, Kans. (Lawrence HS)
250 Richwood, Ohio (Victor Valley College/North Union HS)
235 Kingwood, Texas Hinds Junior College/Arizona State/Kingwood HS)
175 Wichita (Southeast HS)
205 Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS)
253 La Puente, Calif. (Bishop Amat HS)
175 Georgetown, S.C. (Georgia Military College/Chopper HS)
230 Chesterfield, Mo. (Parkway West HS)
255 WestDasMoins, Iowa lowe Central Community College/Oklahoma Valley HS)
323 Riverside, Calif. (San Bernardino Community College/Norte Vista HS)
323 Pico Rivera, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio College/El En岩 HS)
290 Del City, Okla. (Northestern Oklahoma A&M/Del City HS)
180 Tulsa, Okla. (Union HS)
255 Fremont Dr. (Arizona Western College/Albuquerque HS)
Basketball CONTINUED FROM 12A
we're open we have to take the shots and we have to hit the shots," Scott said.
rebounds and four assists.
For Kansas, freshman guard Erica Hallman saw extended time on the floor with the injury to Waltz. She finished the game with eight points, four
Freshman forward Crystal Kemp and sophomore guard Aquanita Burras each had seven points and five rebounds for the Jayhawks.
After its second tough loss of the season to Colorado, the road does not get any easier Kansas. The team will travel to Austin, Texas, for its only meeting of the year with the
12th-ranked Longhorns on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
"We need to stay positive and come out tomorrow and get ready for Texas," Washington said. "By the end of the year we will be playing against big teams and we will be playing our best basketball."
Edited by Andrew Ward
Cornhuskers continue to excel in rebounding
BvJeff Sheldon
Daily Nebraskan via U-wire University of Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. - In picking up its first conference victory Sunday, the Nebraska women's basketball team gave Oklahoma State a lesson on the finer points of rebounding.
Call it "boarding school" if you will.
In its last two contests, Nebraska has exploited its physical advantage en route to its two best offensive games of the season.
The correlation is not a coincidence, NU Coach Connie Yori said.
"Everyone knows rebounding is the most key statistic in any game other than maybe field goal percentage," Yori said. "When we rebound well, we have a chance."
Though the Cornhuskers currently rank seventh in the conference in rebounds per game and ninth in rebounding margin, the Huskers have outrebounded their last two opponents, Kansas and Oklahoma State, by an average of 10 rebounds.
Both Yori and junior forward Alexa Johnson agreed Nebraska had become a better team on the glass with the addition of volleyball standouts Laura Pilakowski and Greichaly Cepero.
"They have helped us immensely," said Johnson, who grabbed a team-high eight boards in Sunday's win. "Their leaping ability is amazing and they communicate really well. Everything they did in volleyball translates really well."
Rebounding fundamentals
nave become a focus in practice now that the Huskers (8-10, 1-6 Big 12 Conference) are comfortable with the new coaching staff's offensive and defensive sets, Johnson said.
"There's not a time in practice that if we miss a block out we don't hear about it," Johnson said.
Nebraska's resurgent rebounding game figures to be tested Wednesday night against Baylor (14-5, 3-4 Big 12).
While Oklahoma State and
Kansas both ranked in the lower half of the conference in rebounding, the Bears enter the 7:05 p.m. contest in the Bob Devaney Sports Center tied for first in rebounding margin (+7.8) and second in rebounds per game (43.7).
A youth movement in the post had taken Baylor to the top of the Big 12 standings before the Bears lost four of their last six against upper-echelon conference teams Texas, Texas Tech, Colorado and Oklahoma.
Freshman forward Sophia
Young is pulling down a conference-best 9.3 boards per contest, while sophomore Steffanie Blackmon also ranks seventh in rebounds per game (8.3) while scoring 18.5 points a game, good for fourth in the Big 12.
Johnson said those numbers made it no surprise Baylor puts up a league-high 79 points per game.
"A lot of their points come off offensive put backs," Johnson said. "They're really deep at the post, so we're going to have to work even harder on boxing out."
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