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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPECIAL SERIES
Sept. 12: Larry Brown, Ted Owens Yesterday: Greg Ostertag, Scot Pollard Today: Nick Bradford, Jeff Graves, Jeff Hawkins, Ron Kellogg, Ryan Robertson, Billy Thomas Tomorrow: Xavier Henry, Josh Selby Thursday: Wayne Simien, Darnell Valentine Friday: Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Julian Wright Monday: Cole Aldrich, Nick Collison Sept. 21: Marcus and Markieff Morris Sept. 22: Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush Sept. 23: Paul Pierce
DOING WORK ONE LAST TIME
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
Nick Bradford
AT KANSAS
YEARS: 1996-2000
Hometown:
Fayetteville, Ark.
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 205 pounds
Jeff Graves
AT KANSAS
YEARS: 2000-2004
Bradford, known for his socks that nearly reached the knee, began his career at Kansas as a backup to roommate Paul Pierce. He was also a fill-in for then injured point guard Jacque Vaughn. By practicing against Pierce, Bradford elevated his defensive game.
a reserve for most of his freshman and sophomore years, but started as a junior and scored a career-high 23 points against Colorado on Jan. 30,1999.
He was sparsely used as
"For those students who camp out there every game, you do not know how much these 14 guys appreciate that," Bradford said on his Senior Day at Allen Fieldhouse.
"After guarding him every day, I knew I could guard anybody," Bradford said.
Hometown:
Lee's Summit, Mo.
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 255 pounds
Jeff Hawkins AT KANSAS YEARS:2001-2006
Graves put up a monstrous 16 points and 16 rebounds and may have been the team's Most Valuable Player in the 2003 title game against Syracuse, but as we all know, Kansas fell short 81-78.
He wasn't supposed to be a starter that season. That role was for Wayne Simien. But when Simien was out for the season with a dislocated shoulder, Graves stepped in. Sure, he had his bumps along the way. He was sometimes overweight and he once slept through a practice.
"All the adversity, all the booing, all the poo-pah about his appearance, his tats, hair, it was wild," his mother Sharon Graves said. "But I'm glad he stood his ground. He stayed Jeff. He was himself and he didn't try to let everybody else mold him. And he still played ball well."
Hometown:
Kansas City, Kan.
Position: Guard
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180 pounds
Even as a freshman, Hawkins always played, he just never grabbed a permanent starting spot. Hawkins had speed, tremendous leaping ability and a strong 3-point shot. In a game against Baylor in his junior year, he hit all five threes he took.
After graduating with a communications degree, Hawkins was looking for a way to stay close to basketball. He started as an assistant coach at Ellis High School, and is now the head coach at Perry Lecompton High School.
Ron Kellogg
AT KANSAS
YEARS: 1982-1986
Ryan Robertson AT KANSAS YEARS: 1995-1999
Hometown:
Omaha, Neb.
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 190
Kellogg, or "Special K" was a fixture on the bench under Ted Owens. Then Larry Brown came to town and brought Kellogg to life. Brown teamed him with Danny Manning in the 1984-1985 season, and Kellogg led the team with 17.6 points per game.
During that season, he scored 30 points against Wichita State, 31 against Colorado, 39 against Nebraska, 34 against Memphis State and 34 against Oklahoma in consecutive Saturdays.
After he led Kansas to an 82-76 upset over Oklahoma, Sports Illustrated put him on its front with the words "Kellogg Went Snap! Crackle! Pop!"
Hometown:
Saint Charles, Mo.
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 190 pounds
All-Americans Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce were in the same lineup, but Robertson was the one with the most minutes played in the 1997-1998 season.
His 485 assists are 10th in school history, he rarely turned the ball over, he played steady and dependable defense, he shot 80 percent from the free throw line and he was always one of the best students on the team.
The first time Robertson met coach Roy Williams, he thought: "He was awfully tan."
Billy Thomas AT KANSAS YEARS: 1995-1998
Hometown:
Shreveport, La.
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 208 pounds
"My most memorable basketball moment was when my mother, friends and family were in attendance when I became the all-time three-point scorer in KU history," he said. "Having them on hand for that moment was very special to me."
Thomas was nothing but a winner during his time in Lawrence. He was a part of four conference championships and he never lost a game in Allen Fieldhouse. He is one of the greatest three-point shooters in school history.
After a few unsuccessful seasons in the NBA, Thomas has worked as an assistant at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park. He also teaches private lessons at his own Billy Thomas Hoops Academy.
"I enjoy the teaching aspect of the game," Thomas said. "I also enjoy helping kids build confidence and I want to impart the same life lessons that I have learned on others."
SOURCES: "GAME OF MY LIFE; KANSAS: MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF JAYHAWKS BASKETBALL" RY STEVE BUCKNER BILL SELF, KUATHLETICS.COM, SPORTS-REFERENCE.COM, BASKETBALL-REFERENCE.COM, SPORTSILLUSTRATED.COM
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