Page 8
University Daily Kansan, February 1, 1983
Freshmen starters bolster KU squad with hope Boagni finds niche as Jayhawk forward Thompson fights back for starting spot
By GINO STRIPPOLI Sports Writer
Sports Writer
Kerry Boagni grew up in the shadows of UCLA, the mecca of college basketball.
He dreamed about playing basketball at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. That dream nearly turned to reality when Baumgartner verbally committed to UCLA early in his senior year at Santa Fe High School in Gardena, Calif.
But something was wrong. Boagni did not feel comfortable with his older brother, but his younger brother Kelvin made hard realize that he was not comfortable.
"Kelvin and I always slept in the same room and he was always there to talk to," Boogie said, "Kelvin said I wanted to go to UCLA and that made me think
"Kelvin and I always slept in the same room and he was always there to talk to. Kelvin said 'I don't think you'll be happy at UCLA' and that made me think. A week and a half later I made my decision."
Kerry Boagni freshman forward
"A week and a half later I made my decision."
THAT DECISION made Ted Owens and the KU coaching staff happy men. Boogain, one of the top high school coaches, decided to sign with the Jawharks.
The much-heralded player seemed to be just what the Jayhawks needed. He was a tall, pure shooting forward who could crash the boards. He excelled in early practices and earned a starting position. He gave Kansas fans a sign of things to come when he scored 26 points in the team's intrasquad game and 16 in an exhibition against the Yugoslavian National Team.
When I came here I never thought it "dress right away" and said, "I'd stand right away." I didn't.
Boogi scored 45 points in his first three games as a Jayhawk, and he was just warming up. In KU's next two games he scored in team in scoring with 23 and 27 points.
BUT THEN Bogani's game went sour. Although he led the team in
scoring in two of the next four games, he was not playing as he did in the first five games. He started turning the ball over and was almost non-existent on
Eventually, in late December, he lost his starting job. He was relegated to a reserve role, one with which he was unfamiliar.
"I really wasn't concentrating and I was getting down on myself after a bad performance," Boagni said. "I wasn't leaving the bad performances behind me like I should, but the coaches had patience with me and I kept trying."
"Kerry shot well from the outside early in the season but then he lost some confidence," assistant coach Bob Hill said. "Since then, his inside game has grown and that complements the rest of the game."
BOAGNI DID NOT start the first two conference games, against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but he was in the lineup for both the Missouri and Kansas State games last week. In those contests, Boagni, who averaged 15.3 points in non-conference games and is averaging 14.5 in conference games, showed the same well-rounded play he had displayed early in the season.
Against nationally ranked Missouri, Boagmil had a team-high 17 points. He hit eight of 15 shots from the field. Against the Wildcats in hostile Aebearn Field House, Boagmil hit seven of 10 shots, scoring 14 points.
Boagni rooms with two other freshmen, forward Calvin Thompson and point guard Jeff Guiot, who make up three-fourths of the Kansas 1982 recruiting class (Ron Kellogg is the other freshman). Boagni said some advice he gave to Guiot ended up working for him as well.
"Jeff and I were talking and he said to me that he wanted to start," Boagni said. "I told him to keep working hard and it would come and it did. Then we took my position and I had to work harder and now all three of us are in there."
"I don't think I'll ever be satisfied with my play. Every aspect of my game needs work and I just have to practice to become a better player."
For Boagni, Thompson and the other freshmen, the slow start was not expected, but Boagni said it hasn't caused the team's teams for improvement.
NOW BOAGNI, a National Merit Scholar and a business major planning to go to law school, seems to be back at the peak of his game, where he was during much of his high school career. He averaged 24 points and 17 rebounds a game his senior season. He was named to eight nationally recognized teams by the trade magazine's first team and McDonald's All-America team. Only 16 other high school seniors were named to as many teams.
The Jayhawks, who once stood at 4-0,
have lost seven of their last nine and
stand at 8-9 going into Wednesday
at Iowa State in Iowa State at
Allen Field House.
"I think we're optimistic and we just talk about what it is going to take to make Kansas a winner," Bougni said, "we're losing, we're improving a lot."
"As long as we keep our heads up and continue to learn going into the post-season tournament we'll be okay. We'll have a look better out because we'll be ready."
By JEFF CRAVENS Sports Writer
It hasn't been an easy road for Calvin Thompson.
He was the most sought-after high school senior in Kansas last year, coming out of Kansas City Wyandotte with the reputation of being an outstanding all-around basketball player.
He showed up at the beginning of the year with a weight problem and found himself on the bench for the first time in his life.
Larry George/KANSAN Freshmen Kerry Boagni and Calvin Thompson get to take a short rest at practice at Allen Field House while listening to instructions from Bob Hill, assistant coach. Boagni and Thompson have cemented their starting positions at the forward spots for the Jayhawks after spending some time on the bench this season.
Not quite the storybook beginning for a college career.
But Thompson has bounced back and has started in the past four games for the Jayhawks, averaging 11.5 points a game compared to the 3.6 points a game before he was in the starting position. He shot from 49 percent to shooting percentage from 45 percent in the non-conference schedule to 56.8 percent.
"At first it was hard to adjust to a new role of coming off the bench," Thompson said. "I think the coach recognized that I needed some more time out on the court, and it's really helped my confidence now that I'm starting."
"WHEN I WAS coming off the bench, I really tried to keep the enthusiasm up and the rest of the bench in the game. I was told that the bench was an important part of the team last year. I had to keep up with the competition, I had to keep up the enthusiasm."
Although Thompson felt the death of his father, it did not have a negative effect on his play or in his academic work.
"It it'd slow me down. It encouraged me to become a better player and be more successful."
Thompson, who is majoring in business administration, was a member of the National Honor Society during his senior year at Wyandotte after making the honor roll for three years in high school. He has had to adjust to the academic rigors of playing basketball and going to school.
"I feel that it takes a freshman a year to get adjusted and to pick up good study habits." Thompson said. "I spend a lot of my time on the basketball court and I really have to give extra effort to my school work."
DURING HIS senior year at Wyan-
dotte, he led the Bulldogs to a 22-1
record and a third place finish in the
state tournament.
"We had all of the talent at Wyandotte," said Thompson. "Here, you go up against good players on every team.
"We have to cut down on our turnovers and continue to play hard as a team. It's helped a lot that we have been able to stick together and fight. If we hadn't been as close as we are, we would have broken down by now."
THOMPSON, WHO was named to three all-American teams including Basketball Weekly and the National High School Coaches Association, was heavily recruited by all of the Big Eight schools. He said that Missouri and Kansas recruited him the hardest and that he made his choice long before he
signed his letter-of-intent with the Jayhawks.
"I committed early to attend KU, but several other coaches called the principal at my high school and said that 'w wasn't giving them a fair竞赛' — which he did around a little bit but deep down, I always knew that I was coming here.
"I wanted to stay close to home and the tradition is so good here that it is always a place for me."
Thompson came to Kansas with Kerry Boagni, Jeff Guiot and Kornell, in one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. Thompson said he was not an avid golfer but the faster-paced college game where he has to be in good condition to play.
"CALVIN IS a great shooter," said assistant coach Bob Hill. "I think that in the years to come, Calvin will be able
"I committed early to attend KU, but several other coaches called the principal at my high school and said that I wasn't giving them a fair chance. I looked around a little bit, but deep down I always knew that I was coming here."
Calvin Thompson freshman forward
to create his own shot in any type of situation."
"Next year we will have a dominating big man and that will allow us to run," Thompson said. "We can run and be successful, but we need to get the bound reef first."
Thompson said that besides the freshmen, the addition of Greg Dreiling, the seven-footer who transferred from Wichita State and is sitting out this year, will give the Jayhawks an excellent team next year.
"This year, everyone has to concentrate on finding their man and boxing out. He (Dreling) won't be able to do it better, but he will make a big difference."
When Thompson talks about his freshman teammates, a certain tone of self-belief is apparent.
"I feel we have a great bunch of freshmen." Thompson said. "We have to stick together and play hard and it will pay off for us in the future."
EFFECTIVE LISTENING
Two Class Sessions February 7 and 9
Two Class Sessions
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Register and pay $10 materials fee at the Student Assistance Center, 121 Strong Hall.
ENGINEERS COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATES
We're McDonnell Douglas—one of the world's leaders in fast moving, exciting fields, military and commercial aircraft missiles, spacecraft, electronics, automation and health services.
And we're looking for people who are looking for the opportunity to put what they've learned to work—people like you, what we offer is a wide variety of advanced technical programs on the leading edge of technology (involved, in programs on the leading edge of technology).
So, if you're an engineer or computer specialist who wants a job with real responsibility, sign up at your Placement Office for an interview.
We'll be on campus.
Tuesday, March 1, 1983
MCDONNELL DOUGH
An equal opportunity employer
U.S. Citizenship required
4