FRIDAY,OCT.12,2001
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • 11A
Players hope Late Nite force will wow three recruits
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
Kansas senior Jeff Carey won't be around next season, but he stressed the importance of putting on a show at Late Nite with Roy Williams for the players that might soon take his place.
"Late Nite is a huge night for recruiting," Carey said. "I, personally, didn't come to Late Nite when I was a senior, but a lot of the guys on this team came to Late Nite and committed because of their experience there."
With three open scholarships to give this signing season and no commitments as of yet, tonight's festivities could bring a turning point for Kansas recruiting.
Jeff Graves, a 6-foot-9 forward from Iowa Western Community College, Moulage Niang, a 6-10 forward/center from El Cajon, Calif., and Kevin Bookout, a 6-8 forward from Stroud, Okla., all will attend Late Nite tonight.
Kansas has traveled down a lengthy road in recruiting Graves. Kansas was one of the first schools to recruit him and has been considered the front runner by many analysts throughout the
recruiting process.
Still, the jayhawks remain in a fight for Graves' services.
Graves enjoyed his visit to Illinois last weekend and is still considering Missouri, Long Beach State and Louisville.
Trent Lovewell, Graves' assistant coach at Iowa Western, said this weekend's visit could be the determining factor for Graves.
"He's going to KU this weekend, and after that it depends on what he will do," Lovewell said. "If he likes it, who knows what will happen. I know he wants to make a decision pretty quick. But if he doesn't make a decision, Louisville and Missouri are still there."
Niang was courted by many schools, such as UCLA, Stanford and Notre Dame but has narrowed his choices to Kansas and San Diego State.
In Bookout, the Jayhawks are recruiting one of the most versatile athletes in the nation. In addition to his prowess on the hardwood, Bookout thrives as a major-league prospect pitcher and Olympic-hopeful shotput and discus thrower.
Bookout will also visit with Kansas track coaches this weekend.
Notes. Kansas will conduct walk-on tryouts in Allen Fieldhouse beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday. Any student interested in participating should stop by the men's basketball office, 250 Wagonon Student Athlete Center and fill out preliminary paperwork. They are required also bring proof of health insurance and proof of a physical exam taken within the past year.
Notes:
Students can receive physical exams at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Former Kansas center Eric Chenowith was cut from the Sacramento Kings' training camp roster on Wednesday.
wednesday
He had joined 'the Kings' NBA camp after being cut by the New York Knicks last week.
Knicks last week. "We are a loaded team here," a Kings' representative said Wednesday night. "We have 12 guaranteed contracts and are at the luxury tax number and can't go over. We are set with big men with Vlade (Divac), Scot (Pollard), Mario Bennett, Lawrence Funderburke, Chris (Webber), guys like that."
Contact Malashock at 864-4858
Donations part of events at other Big 12 schools
By Ali Brox Kansan sportswriter
While the Kansas men's and women's basketball teams open the 2001-2002 basketball season with Late Nite with Roy Williams tonight, other teams around the Big 12 will have Midnight Madness events of their own.
Missouri is replacing Mizzou Madness with its first "Black and Gold Scrimmage." The men's team takes the court on Saturday, Oct. 27, in conjunction with the Tigers' football game against Texas. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to charity. Four days later, the women's team will have its first public scrimmage as part of "Tiger Night of Terror" on Wednesday, Oct. 31.
texas Tech's "A Sharp Knight in Texas" will take place tonight in the United Spirit Arena. Women's coach Marsha Sharp and men's coach Bobby Knight will address the crowd, and the teams will be introduced. At midnight, both teams will gather on the floor and join the crowd in singing "God Bless America." Both teams will practice for 30 minutes, and each will scrimmage for two 10-minute periods. Admission is a minimum $2 donation that will go to the American Red Cross.
The Iowa State men's and women's basketball teams will be unveiled at the "Cyclone Shoot Out" on Saturday, Oct. 20, in Hilton Coliseum. Features include an autograph session, player introductions, a 3-point contest, a benefit auction and
"We get a few,but they're few and far between. That makes a lot of sense."
Troy Mailen KU Public Safety Office
men's and women's scrimmages. Iowa State will donate $1 from each ticket purchased to the American Red Cross.
cased to the Oklahoma's version of Midnight Madness is "Late Night with Sooner Basketball" at 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 19. The festivities include autographs, contests and prizes for fans, as well as a scrimmage and the traditional 3-point and slam-dunk contests. The six newcomers on the Oklahoma men's team will sing a rendition of the "Boomer Sooner" fight song to end the event.
In conjunction with renovations to the Frank Erwin Center, Texas will have the "Texas Basketball Courtside Countdown and Erwin Center Open House" at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The event will include an autograph session with both teams, food drink, music and prizes. The coaching staff will also be in attendance. Texas will have its intrasquid scrimmage at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Contact Brox at 864-4858
READY FOR A LATENITE
Coach Roy Williams speaks optimistically about the Kansas men's basketball team's new crop of freshmen. "I don't think we'll find out much about the freshmen from the scrimmage at Late Nite, but by the first exhibition game, we'll know exactly what we're going to get from those guys."
Williams said. He spoke yesterday at the Wagnon Student Athlete Center during a news conference that was part of the team's preseason media day.
J. E. WILSON/KANSAN
J. E. WILSON/KANSANN
Junior forward Drew Gooden takes a break from the Kansas men's basketball team's preseason media day to speak on a sports radio talk show via a cellular phone. Gooden appeared at the media day news conference yesterday in the Wagnon Student Athlete Center.
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