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sports
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017
Josh Jackson selected No.4 overall by Phoenix Suns
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Freshman guard Josh Jackson attempts a shot from under the basket against Oklahoma on Feb. 27. Jackson was drafted No.4 overall in the NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns.
▶ WESLEY DOTSON
@WesDotsonUDK
As expected, former Kansas guard Josh Jackson became a lottery pick on Thursday night.
The Phoenix Suns selected Jackson with the No. 4 overall pick during the 2017 NBA Draft.
Jackson will join a Suns team that was in desperate need of a small forward. The only true small
forwards on the roster last season were T.J. Warren and Derrick Jones Jr.
Warren and Jones combined to average a mere 19.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season.
"I think I can bring a lot of defensive versatility, offensive versatility," Jackson said to ESPN after he heard his name called. "I can guard one through four on the defensive end, and I can also play one through four on the offensive end."
Jackson, who chose not to work out for the Boston Celtics due to scheduling conflicts, said his decision might have affected his draft position.
However, Jackson said he is thrilled with where he ultimately landed.
"You know, I'm here today,I'm happy, I'm glad to be a Phoenix Sun now."
Jackson said.
The Celtics traded the No.1 pick to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Boston picked Duke's Jayson Tatum with the No.3 pick.
Jackson, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, averaged 16.3 points,7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and posted a Kansas freshman record 13 double-doubles this past season at Kansas.
Although former Kansas center Landen Lucas wasn't drafted in Thursday's NBA draft, he'll still be a part of an NBA franchise - at least for the summer.
Lucas announced in a tweet on Friday that he will play for the Boston Celtics in this year's NBA Summer League. "Excited to play with the Boston Celtics for summer league," Lucas said in the tweet. "Thank you for the opportunity."
He considered five offers to play on NBA summer league teams before deciding on the Celtics, according to the Kansas City Star.
Lucas averaged 8.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this past season at Kansas.
Dzwierzynski: Improving Memorial Stadium is purely beneficial, regardless of proposed $300 million cost
BRENDAN DZWIERZYNSKI
@BrendanDzw
Kansas Athletics announced that a $300 million renovation will be coming to Memorial Stadium, which will include an indoor practice facility and infrastructure upgrades.
As the old saying goes, "you need to spend money to make money." In college athletics, the same general principle applies. This is why Kansas spending $300 million on Memorial Stadium renovations and other football-related projects is a fantastic move for the long-term future of the program.
For many of us, Memorial Stadium is a special place, where many Saturday afternoonoons have been spent cheering for the Jayhawks through thick and, unfortunately, a lot of thin moments. But, it's impossible to argue that the stadium doesn't need improvements.
It's the seventh-oldest stadium still used by an FBS team. It shows signs of wear across its exterior. It's severely outdated by contemporary standards.
It's undoubtedly time for an upgrade.
This is a great move for all interested parties. For the fans, it's going to enhance the game-day experience for the die hards who trek down the hill to see the Jayhawks play. For the players, specifically future recruits, it becomes a more inviting and
welcoming place to play. For Kansas football as a whole, it's a sign that the program is truly dedicated to improving.
When Kansas Athletics director Sheahon Zenger announced the plan on Wednesday, the first thing that jumped out was the price tag for the project. It's important, however, to not get caught up in the $300 million cost to renovate, because it's not as if that's money that would have otherwise been spent on something else at the University.
Discussing college athletics finances is a great way to find out that someone has absolutely no idea what they're talking about. Kansas football isn't going to use $300 million that otherwise would have gone to improving the School of Education or updating equipment in the School of Journalism or whichever department you feel is underfunded.
Things like the Williams Fund and private donors are main sources of income for supporting Kansas Athletics projects. It's understandable that seeing a huge sum of money being spent on football facilities could cause a stir, considering the financial straits the University might be facing in some areas. The reality, though, is that this money will be completely disconnected from the rest of the University.
Alabama is a perfect case study for this. A gold standard for college football, the Crimson Tide's on-field success has generated an unconscious amount of money
Football is a massive tool for recruiting (both athletically and for general students), alumni relations and income, and if you don't see that then you simply aren't paying attention.
and publicity for that school. It's unrealistic for Kansas, or really any program, to think it can reach Alabama's level of success, but it's clear that improving football will improve the University in other areas.
Again, you need to spend money in order to make it. Putting money into the program now, or at least in the near future, will show dedication to the program and is going to help bring in more high-level recruits over time. The football team needs to get better, and this move will
Most of the arguments against the spending come up baseless and sound unintelligent. The money isn't being stolen from other University programs. Memorial Stadium is nearly 100 years old - it needs to be repaired and updated.
help in that pursuit.
And if your argument is based around asking why you would spend $300 million to help a football team that won two games in the last two seasons combined, take a moment and think critically.
Why wouldn't you spend money to try to improve the program? What else would you do, just ignore the disaster and let the team fall into irreparable ruin? That notion is ridiculous and poorly thought out at best.
The cost of this project is a small price to pay for improving the team, and subsequently the University, over time. Don't get caught up in the price tag or the view from your ivory tower. Trying to better the football team is better for all of us who support the University.
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