kansan.com
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
+ Volume 127 Issue 15
Trio of top basketball recruits considers Kansas
COMMENTARY
any young basketball player's life. For some, it's about the coaches; for some, it's about the campus; for others, it could just be about where their friends are going.
Picking a college to play for is one of the biggest decisions in
This year's top recruits, Ivan Rabb, Malik Newman and Diamond Stone, are looking to play college ball together. The trio roomed together for Team USA in 2013.
Last recruiting season, it was well-known that Jahill Okafor and Tyus Iones were going to play basketball for the same school in the fall. Much to every Kansas fan's dismay, the duo chose Duke University.
"We saw it at the USA games," Rabb said. "We're all really efficient, we love playing together. In USA, it's us three all the time, no matter what, we're always together. We're like best friends. We talk to each other every day on the phone."
With or without his potential future teammates, he plans to give both Kansas and Kentucky a visit.
"The two biggest ones are Kentucky and Kansas," Rabb said.
The three players are looking at three schools right now: Kansas, Kentucky and UConn.
"I'm really interested in that school, so I think I might end up at least taking a look at them if not taking an official [visit]," he said of Kansas.
Newman and Stone are more set on playing together than Rabb is. The two are looking at NC State and Miami as well.
Stone said he will make his announcement Nov. 12, while the other two have not yet made their dates public.
Newman talked to Bill Self, and Self explained what Kansas has to offer him.
Last season, Kansas struggled with cohesion on the court, so players with experience playing together may put the team in a better spot this season.
"He said that he will play me as a combo guard," Newman said. "Sometimes there will be two shooting guards on the floor or two point guards on the court at the same time. I'll never have to just play one position, and I like that."
Newman played both guard positions in high school, which fits well into Self's system.
Kansas has not yet signed any players for 2015, and if one of these three players signs, the odds dramatically increase of signing the other two.
Jones and Okafor committing to Duke was a big loss for Kansas, so hopefully Self can convince this trio to come to Lawrence next fall.
Edited by Kelsie Jennings
KHLOE KIM/THE DUKE CHRONICLE
Sonhomore quarterback Montell Cozart scrambles away from Duke defensive lineman Carlos Wray on Saturday. Cozart had less than 100 passing yards in the ga
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
Six different quarterbacks have started in Kansas football season openers in the past six years. In the past two years Dayne Crist and Jake Heaps started but did not finish the season.
Sophomore Montell Cozart was supposed to change all that.
After a 24-point first quarter to kick off the 2014 season against Southeast Missouri State, it appeared as if the Jayhawks had found their man under center.
Cozart hit a new low when he, along with the rest.of the
Since throwing two touchdowns in the first quarter of his sophomore campaign, Cozart has thrown just one in his last seven quarters. The Kansas offense has scored only 13 points total in its last seven quarters.
jayhawks, took a 41-3 beating in Durham against the Duke Blue Devils.
"It was a bad day at the office," coach Charlie Weis said.
In the low-scoring affair, Cozart completed just 11 of his 27 pass attempts and failed to reach 100 yards through the air. It was the seventh time in the Weis era that a Kansas quarterback had failed to crack the century mark in passing vards.
"Never thought that would happen, but he is still young in his development, and he's got a really big upside," said offensive coordinator John Reagan. "I'll tell you one thing: He's not pleased with his performance. He's looking forward to getting back out there."
of stability under center, Weis understood the importance of reaching out to his young quarterback.
No single position deserved sole blame after the 41-3 drubbing. But due to the lack
JOHN REAGAN
Offensive coordinator
...he is still young in his development, and he's got a really big upside."
"Montell had a full plate on Sunday," Weis said. "He met with Ron [quarterback coach], John [Reagan] and I on Sunday."
After their meeting Sunday, Weis said he believes Cozart will be more than ready for Central Michigan on Saturday.
"I'm not going to say, 'Hey Central Michigan, here is what we are doing,' but at the
end of the day on Sunday, he understood what the problems were and what we need to do to fix them," Weis said. "I expect Montell to play well this week."
But there still remains cause for concern after just two games. Last year the biggest critique of Cozart was his accuracy after he completed 37 percent of his pass attempts. After two games the Jayhawks rank last in pass offense and pass efficiency. Cozart's total quarterback rating ranks last in the conference.
Meanwhile, nipping at the struggling sophomore's heels is senior quarterback Michael Cummings, who has seen action in the first two games.
Cummings came in for Cozart after he took a blindside hit in the second half. Against SEMO, Cummins ran the ball twice
for 10 yards.
"Cummings will be ready to go if things don't go well," Weis said.
Cummings saw action in the final eight games of the 2012 season, and Weis said he expects him to continue playing a role for Kansas this season.
"Whoever gives us the best chance to win will play," Wets said. "Right now, we believe that's Montell."
It remains to be seen whether a personal meeting is exactly what Cozart needed or if he will continue to struggle as Kansas gears up for the gruesome Big 12 slate. One thing is certain: If Cozart has a few more outings like he did in Durham, not even a dozen meetings will keep him from being promoted to the bench by the end of the year.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
THE DAILY DEBATE
Would Andrew Wiggins have been better off playing for Minnesota or Cleveland?
Remember when Wiggins was said to be the next LeBron
"MINNESOTA"
By Kyle Hicks
@udkylehicks
Be the next LeBron James? Well if he truly is, then playing alongside the King himself would only be in his best interest, right? Wrong.
LeBron didn't get to where he is today by playing alongside Michael Jordan. He had to face the challenge of a mediocre supporting cast and become the leader of his team. With all LeBron and Wiggins comparisons aside (they are two very different players), this is exactly what Wiggins needs and will get from Minnesota.
One may question how being on a weaker team can benefit a top-tier rookie like Wiggins, and it's simple: He will learn. Upon being thrown into a main role with the Timberwolves, he will be forced to take more shots and step up as a leader. This new position could lead to early struggles, but as a 19 year old it is just another step in his learning process.
Let's compare this to his season with the Jayhawks. Late in the year with Joel Embid out and the rest of the team underperforming against the West Virginia Mountaineers, Wiggins was forced to take more shots. He put up 41 points. Kansas lost the game, but you could see his confidence grow throughout the game.
This year in Minnesota, Wiggins will be put in a lot of situations similar to this. He may not come out on top every game, but he will improve.
You might be thinking: If a top-5 scorer and rebounder like Kevin Love can't take Minnesota to the playoffs, how is Wiggins going to? He is playing for a different team than Love's Timberwolves. Not only is Wiggins himself bringing a defensive aspect Love lacked, but the Timberwolves have also added a slimmer Anthony Bennett, veteran scorer Thaddeus Young and rookie Zach LaVine who can match Wiggins' athleticism. There is no doubt point guard Ricky Rubio will create plenty of open looks, and only time will tell if Shabazz Muhammad will become the player he was at UCLA.
If this team was to be summed up with one word, it would be "potential." They have a lot of pieces — it is just of matter of putting them in the right spot. In the meantime Wiggins will continue to grow as a leader and become a more confident shooter. As this roster matures and becomes more acquainted with one another, Minnesota will become a team to look out for in the West.
So why would a rookie want to pass up an opportunity to play with the league's best? To make a mark of his own and lead an injured wolf pack.
"CLEVELAND"
By Matt Corte
@Corte_UDK
Playing with the mist toys that are the Minnesota Timberwolves will most likely lead to Wiggins scoring more points and perhaps winning Rookie of the Year, but remember, this discussion is about which team would've been best for his overall career not just a single season.
First, think about ball distribution and how important that will be. As most of us saw last year, Wiggins could create his own shot at times, but he also reverted to a one dribble, step back fade away jumper right inside the 3-point arc. In other words, it's the worst shot you can take in basketball unless you're Michael Jordan.
My guess is whoever's writing in favor of the Timberwolves is gushing about point guard Ricky Rubio and how much he'll help Wiggins. Let me respond by saying that's a joke.
Last year, Rubio shot an
abysmal. 381 from the field -- his best ever — which still ranked him 25th among qualified point guards in the NBA. Even with a career average of 8.1 assists per game, Rubio's poor shooting will ultimately doom Wiggins.
Why? Well, just think about guarding Rubio. Are you more apt to guard a terrible shooter like him? Or leave him partially open so you can cheat a bit and help double team the uber athletic Wiggins when he gets the ball?
The answer would be to help double down on Wiggins, which will happen a lot this year if Rubio doesn't drastically improve his jumper.
On the other hand, Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving had himself a decent season, finishing with a .430 shooting percentage that ranked him 18th among qualified point guards. The difference in shooting percentages between Irving and Rubio isn't drastic, but — and this is a huge but — Kyrie just played the
best basketball of his life this summer. At only 22 years old and still developing, Irving managed to capture MVP of the FIBA Basketball World Cup by averaging 12 points per game on more than 50 percent shooting from the field.
So, would an MVP on a nearly all NBA roster help distribute the ball better to Wiggins? Or someone who can't create space for other players because his shot resembles Shaq's from the free throw line? I'll let you answer this time.
What's sad is I almost left out the fact that Cleveland has a guy named LeBron James, who happens to play the same position as Wiggins, and who also happens to have won four regular season MVPs by age 30. I guess he could have been an "OK" mentor for Wiggins. Instead, that role will be filled by the likes of Thaddeus Young or, don't make me say this, Chase Budinger.
Alas, good luck, Andrew.
Edited by Kelsie Jennings
DAILY DEBATE RESULTS: SEPT.15,2014
Will Montell Cozart be the starting quarterback for the entire season?
YES: 60%
NO: 40%
20 PEOPLE POLLED
7
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