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University Daily Kansen, August 20, 1961
Guard Darnell Valentine is tripped up during the Iowa State contest last season. Darnell, who made the All-Big Eight team all four years of his collegiate career, was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, but has not yet signed a contract. Valentine guided the Jayhawks to a 23-8 season and a berth in the NCAA regional semi-finals.
Konek, Boyle, others compete for Valentine's guard position
By TRACEE HAMILTON Sports Editor
Sports Editor
Head basketball coach Ted Owens probably won't be able to replace guard Darnell Valentine, but he has plenty of candidates for the job.
Valentine, who was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers but has yet to sign a contract, was KU's 6-foot-2 all-everything guard who resumed his playing career as a Jayhawk, including a spot on the 1980 Olympic basketball team.
Owens said he had several possible replacements for the Wichita native.
"I think it will be a combination on Tad Boyle and Jeon Konek," Owens said. "There will be a real battle for that position." Boyle, a pre recruit from Greeley Central High School in Colorado, led the player to come out of Colorado in five years. The 6-foot-4 Boyle averaged 23.4 points with his high school team.
Konek, saw some playing time behind Valentine and then junior-train Tony Ganso. The 6-2 guard averaged 20 points on Wichita East High School.
Three other recruits, Tyke Peacock, Tom Seall and Jackie Fleier, round out Owens' choices for the vacant guard position. Peacock, 46, 165 pounds, also played with B.J. Dimmons. Peacock recently high jumped 7-3/4 in Switzerland.
Sewall is from Amarillo Texas Junior College, where he was a teammate of Jayhawk center Victor Mitchell.
The 6-3 Fleury, from El Camino Junior College in California, is a New Orleans native who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds a game.
Owens not only has a large group of guards, he also has a new assistant coach who should contribute valuable advice about the position.
Two-time All-America guard Jo Go White, who spent 11 years in the NBA, joined the coaching staff this summer, and stayed at Bayette. Norwood as assistant coach.
Mitchell, Guy and David Magley return from last year's starting lineup, and he knight, who has recovered from knee surgery, also will be back for the Jawhaws.
"His rehabilitation has gone well," Owens said, "and he's been cleared for full duty."
Knight will step in for Art Housey, the 6-10, 214-pound center who was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks. Housey, who showed vast improvement during his rookie season, has not yet signed with the Mavericks and may play basketball in Europe.
The Jayhawks also will miss John Crawford and Booty Neal. Both came off the bench for KU's 23-8 squad, Crawford, 6-7 forward, will try out with the Philadelphia 76ers, and if he doesn't join that club, he too will play ball in Europe or return to Kansas to graduate school.
Neal, 6-5 guard, now home in Washington, D.C., also will try out for a European team.
Two other Jayhawk players will attend law school this fall. Mark Knight will enter KU's School of Law, and George Thompson will go to Washburn.
Replacements for the graduated forwards will come from two recruits. Jeff Dishman, a 6-4 forward from Hutchinson Junior College, average 16 points and nine rebounds for the Blue Dragons.
Mark Ewing, a 6-9 forward from Cloud County Community College, averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunderbirds.
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