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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017
Svi Mykhailiuk to test the waters of the NBA Draft
Junior guards Devonte' Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk smile after a Mykhailiuk three in the second half against UC Davis on March 17. The Jayhawks defeated the Aggies, 100-62
Missy Minear/KANSAN
AMIE JUST
@Amie_Just
Kansas junior guard Svi Mykhailiuk is entering the NBA Draft without hiring an agent, according to Kansas Athletics.
Mykhalliuk averaged eight points, three rebounds and 1.9 steals per game during his junior season. His name was also in numerous places in the Big 12
leaderboard. He was eighth in three-point field goal percentage (38.9 percent) and eighth in three-point field goals made (1.9 per game).
"Kansas has prepared me for this opportunity and after talking with Coach Self, my family and teammates, it is my plan to work hard and take my game to the next level," Mykhailliuk said in a Kansas Athletics news release. "I have matured a
lot in my three seasons at KU as a player and a person, playing for great coaches and with great teammates, many who are in the NBA. I have got a lot stronger under coach (Andrea) Hudy and have improved my overall game every year. It's everyone's dream to play in the NBA and not going with an agent allows me to see where I stand after the combine and workouts."
Kansas has prepared me for this opportunity."
Svi Mykhailiuk junior guard
In various NBA mock drafts, Mykhailiuk's name doesn't appear. DraftExpress has two Jayhawks landing on NBA teams: Josh
Jackson and Frank Mason III. The same can be said of NBADraft.net's mock draft.
"We support Svi 100 percent with his decision to test," Self said in the release. "I know he'll prepare very hard for it and after the combine, he'll get accurate feedback and make an informed decision which is what the rules are designed to do. In no way, shape or form is this a surprise. We expected this."
The hard deadline for remaining in the NBA Draft is May 24. On or before that date, Mykhailiuk has to decide whether he will remain as a draft prospect or withdraw his name and return to Kansas for his final season as a Jayhawk.
Freshman guard Josh Jackson still has yet to declare for the NBA Draft.
Basketball banquet officially closes memorable season
AMIE JUST
@Amie_Just
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Missy Mincar/KANSAN The bench celebrates senior guard Tyler Self's three pointer in the second half against UC Davis on March 17. Kansas won, 100-62.
There are no more games to be played. There are no more awards to be won. The book on the 2016-17 basketball season is closed.
The final stamp on the season came on Tuesday evening at the Double Tree Hilton in north Lawrence during the annual basketball banquet.
At the banquet, an all-encompassing season video was played, coach Bill Self gave his remarks on the year and Frank Mason III was presented with the lone team award.
"When we played our best, I'd say we were as good as anybody," Self said of his team this season.
As for how he'll remember this team? Well, there are a lot of reasons.
"I think I'll remember how fast they were. I think I'll remember how unselfish they were," Self said. "But more importantly, I'll remember how tough they were because when you play in a league as good as ours, and you're down double digits nine times and you win eight of those games, that's pretty remarkable. You may never see that again."
But more importantly, I'll remember how tough they were."
Bill Self Kansas coach
Mr. Jayhawk - Frank Mason III:
Frank Mason III has one last collegiate award to add to his trophy case. This go around, it's not a national accolade, but one handed out by his team.
The Danny Manning Award, according to coach Bill Self, is presented to a player with class and a humble attitude, while
Mason's had plenty an opportunity to give speeches after winning awards this offseason. He's been presented with the player of the year awards from the Associated Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches, USA Today and Sporting News. He also won the Naismith Award, Wooden Award, Oscar
"And the guy that won it, in large part, we felt sorry for him because he hasn't won anything since the season's been over anyway," Self said sarcastically. "But Frank, come get the Danny Manning Award."
making large contributions to the team on the court.
SEE BANQUET PAGE 9
Freshman Gleb Dudarev claimed the Big 12 Male Athlete of the Week award for the third time in 2017.
Contributed photo
Thrower Gleb Dudarev wins Big 12 Athlete of the Week
▶ SHAUN GOODWIN
@ShaunGoodwinUDK
For the third time in 2017, freshman Gleb Dudarev has claimed the Big 12 Male Athlete of the Week award after his NCAA leaderboard-shattering performance at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Arizona.
Dudarev rocketed to the top of the NCAA hammer throw rankings this week, in his first collegiate hammer throw of his young career.
In his first-ever throw
But Dudarev topped it with his next throw.
in the event as a Jayhawk, Dudarev launched his 16-pound weight 71.11-meters (233-feet-3.5), putting him both at the top of the national rankings and Kansas' all-time rankings.
In the next throw, the Belarus native beat his previous attempt, throwing his weight 72.69-meters (238-feet-5.75), to sit atop of the national rankings by more than three feet. Dudarev went on to post three more
Dudarev claimed first place by more than 23 feet. He also crept into the 2017 top 25 hammer throws in the world, coming in at No. 25.
Dudarev, along with the rest of the Jayhawk squad, will next be in action at the Kansas Relays at Rock Chalk Park on April 19-22.
throws over the 235-foot mark, giving him the top five throws in Kansas history.
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