Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY AN
HEERE'S BAT SHINES AS THIRD IN LINEUP
His versatility make him a valuable asset for the team. BASEBALL 5A
FRIDAY,APRIL 10,2009
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SOFTBALL TO FACE RANKED OPPONENT
The Jayhawks will play the Sooners this weekend. SOFTBALL 15A
MEN'S BASKETBALL
PAGE 1B
Appleton and Thomas to transfer, looking to get more playing time
BY TAYLOR BERN
tbern@kansan.com
While Kansas still waits to hear about possible recruits, it lost two players from last year's recruiting class. Kansas coach Bill Self announced on Thursday that junior guard Tyrone Appleton and freshman forward Qintrell Thomas will seek a transfer following the spring semester.
discussed their roles with me and
"During our season-ending meetings, Tyrone and Quintrell
have expressed their interest to transfer," Self said in a press release. "They have chosen to attend a university where they can have expanded roles."
Appleton
The announcement comes amongst anticipation for the addition of Xavier Henry and/or Lance Stephenson to next year's recruiting class
Appleton,
a Gary, Ind.,
native, transferred
from M i d l a n d
(Texas) College
and failed to
crack Kansas'
guard rotation.
He played in 21 games, including the first round NCAA tournament
game against North Dakota State,
and averaged 2.2 points per game
"Kansas has been a great experience, one that I will never forget," Appleton said. "I enjoyed my teammates, coaches and the fans. I am just looking for more time on the court and don't see it here. I want to be able to have a solid senior season."
Thomas, 6 foot-8 forward from Newark, N.J., scored a career-high 10 points against New Mexico on Dec. 3. In 26 games he averaged 5.4 minutes,1.5 points and two rebounds per game.Earlier this season Thomas said he had thoughts of transferring.
"Kansas has been great with the fans, my teammates and the tradition," Thomas said. "I think by transferring, I can find an expanded role elsewhere. I want to thank the basketball staff and administration for the opportunity to play at Kansas and have no ill feelings toward the program."
"Tyrone and Quintrell played an integral part of our success in winning the Big 12 title and advancing to the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen this past season," Self said. "We, as a staff, know whoever gets them will be getting good, hard-working players. They have been fabulous young men, good teammates and solid ambassadors for the university."
for the players on Thursday.
Self had nothing but admiration
RULES OF THE GAME
Edited by Liz Schubauer
Graphic by Brenna Hawley/KANSAN
RECRUITMENT IN 10 MOVES
BY ADAM SAMSON
Football prospects start the NCAA-regulated process as high school juniors
asamson@kansan.com
Football is back in session, at least this Saturday, as the Jayhawks take the field at Memorial Stadium take their annual spring game.
The spring game, set for 2 p.m., is an important weekend for recruits, said Brandon Blaney, recruiting coordinator and assistant offensive line coach.
"The spring game is somewhat similar to basketball's first practice and Late Night in the Phog." Blaney said. "If there's an enthusiastic, loud and large crowd, enthusiasm certainly makes a good impact on recruits' decisions as they go."
Kansas has begun to cast its recruiting net, so far offering scholarships to 60 prospects, 13 of whom have already orally committed to other schools. For the 5.7 percent of current high school juniors who will pursue Division-I college football, the coming months will paint a better picture as to where they stand in the recruiting process.
Here is a closer look at the college football recruiting process:
17830654427914001
SENDING OUT HIGHLIGHT FILM
JUNIOR CAMPS
Blaney said that Kansas received well over 1,000 highlight and game films every recruiting cycle, and that each coach had a voice in deciding which recruits to offer scholarships to.
Defensive back Tyler Patton said he started his recruiting process by sending his junior-year highlight film to about 40 schools. Of the 40 schools, many sent letters expressing interest in Patmon's cornerback skills, but only Iowa State and Kansas sent offers.
Colleges usually hold junior camps in the spring or summer, which allow a recruit to become
For a recruit, the highlight film is one of the first steps in the process and can affect the type of attention college coaches will devote to a recruit.
"It's a collective effort," Blaney said. "There isn't one coach pulling the trigger. Every single position coach and coordinator has a recruiting responsibility and has a say in who we recruit, especially at their position."
The NCAA permits coaches to call recruits at any time throughout the recruiting process, but there are limitations on how often the coach may call.
"It's very stressful and strenuous on a high school student because it's probably one of the biggest decisions you'll have to make," safety Bradley McDougald said. "It may seem like a lot of fun having coaches call your phone but after a while it gets to be really repetitive."
CONTACT FROM COACHES
familiar with the school, coaches and other recruits vying for scholarship offers. Kansas held its annual junior day event Feb. 21, when high school juniors were invited to campus for an unofficial visit.
"The number-one essential to recruiting is wherever you're thinking about going, make sure you go to a camp there," offensive lineman Gavin Howard said. "Because that's how the coaches look at you, they get to coach you, and you see how they coach also."
EVALUATION
SPRING GAME
SATURDAY
Football's spring game will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Admission will be free to the public and gates will open at 1 p.m. Fans will receive a free 2009 magnet schedule. The team is asking that fans enter and sit on the west side of the stadium. The game will be broadcast on KUathletics.com as well as the Jayhawk Radio Network, 610 AM and 105.9 FM in Lawrence. Metro Sports and Kansas 22 will telewishe the game.
The evaluation period, which begins in May and continues until
signing day, is when coaches prioritize players. Blaney said that during the evaluation process, coaches looked for progress from the athlete's junior to senior year to determine whether the player would continue to grow in the program and eventually contribute at
SEE RECRUIT ON PAGE 3B
COMMENTARY
Spring scrimmage starts super season
Ah, spring. The weather is starting to warm up, baseball season has finally begun, and now the football season is about to start. Yes, the spring game, a staple of the spring season for any collegiate program, is scheduled for kickoff 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Memorial Stadium. The highly glorified scrimmage will give fans a look ahead to the upcoming season.
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5
Let's look a little more closely at the division that Kansas could take control of this season. Iowa State, well, it'll still be Iowa State. Yes, they have some good young talent, but the departure of head coach Gene Chizik could leave
It tends to be a bigger deal at football-crazed schools like Georgia and Alabama, but there's no reason Kansas fans can't get excited for the spring game this year. The Jayhawks are coming off their two best consecutive seasons in school history, including two back-to-back bowl victories. Now, with the spring game, the hype can start for the Jayhawks' shot at a Big 12 North championship.
Colorado has some turmoil of its own with a possible quarterback battle leading up to next season. Cody Hawkins no longer seems to be the apple of head coach/dad Dan Hawkins' eye, and he may lose the starting job. Isn't it about time? He ran backwards 16 yards just to get sacked for a safety against Kansas last season. The Buffaloes also lose defensive tackle George Hypolite, who was a big factor in their run defense last season. Mark Colorado down for another average season.
them near the bottom of the Big 12.
Kansas State is bringing back coach Bill Snyder for another shot at rebuilding the program.
SEE BRECKUNITCH ON PAGE 3B
TENNIS
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Kansas freshman Ekaterina Morozova volleys against Kansas State at First Serve Tennis April 8. The team's next match will come against UmaLane, which just restored its team this year after the school suspended t and 15 other sports following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Upcoming match may hit close to home for Wilbert
BY JUSTIN HILLEY jhilley@kansan.com
Tulane University's tennis team consists of only eight freshmen. No sophomores, juniors or seniors — just eight freshmen.
In August of that year, Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, causing massive destruction to the university, and because
of post-storm budget cuts, eight of 'tulane's 16 sports, including tennis, were suspended.
This is the Green Wave's first tennis season since the suspension, and, after assembling a spring record of 10-10, it is traveling to Lawrence today to compete against the layhawks at 2 p.m. at First Serve Tennis, 5200 Clinton Parkway. With a new coach Terri Sisk, Tulane's squad of freshmen — ranked among the top 25 national signing classes of 2008 by TennisRecruiting.net
— is working to return to eminence
"They are a rebuilding team
SEE TENNIS ON PAGE 3B
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