WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2007 | SPORTS | WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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MEN'S BASKETBALL
Self's camps underway
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Sophomore forward Darrell Arthur goes up for a dunk Tuesday afternoon. The bleachers at the Horejsi Family Athletic Center were full of campers attending the Bill Self's camp.
By Dylan Schoonover
dschoonover@kansan.com
Last week, Bill Self's basketball camp kicked off with more than 800 campers taking the courts.
Kids ages 8 to 18 of all different skill levels received instruction from Kansas players and coaches. The 5-day camp let kids get up close to their real-life heroes. During the final full day of the camp, former Jayhawk players returned to play a game against the current players. The campers yelled and holdered for their favorite players and jeered the team that they didn't want to win. Former player and current administrative assistant Brett Ballard helped serve as master of ceremonies for the event.
Seniors Russell Robinson and Sasha Kaun are experiencing their last Bill Self Basketball Camp while incoming freshman Tyreel Reed is switching from being the camper to the coach. He said growing up attending Roy Williams' Basketball Camp always left him dreaming about one day playing in Allen Fieldhouse.
"You guys have got to get loud," Ballard yelled. "Let the players hear it. If they lose there won't be ice cream at dinner tonight."
The players and coaches put in several hours each day. A college or high school coach, plus at least one current player, help with drills across the school district to offer instruction to kids at a 1 to 9 coach to camper ratio.
"I remember being the kid staring up at the players," Reed said.
Four former Jayhawks, including Aaron Miles, Michael Lee, Nick Bradford and Billy Thomas returned to offer their basketball insight as well as put on a show for the campers. Miles and Thomas will both participate in the NBA's developmental summer league in hopes of returning to the NBA where both have played partial seasons in the past. Miles will play for the San Antonio Spurs, while Thomas will join the Milwaukee Bucks. Thomas played for the Washington Wizards during the 2005-2006 season and said he wants another shot at the top level.
"I've been fortunate with my opportunities," Thomas said. "I feel
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good - I think I can get back to that level, but if not teams from Europe have already been calling me."
have directly. For current standout Brandon Rush, hobbling around the gyms with his leg heavily bandaged isn't the ideal experience of being a coach to the kids. Self said Rush was limited in his activities outside of attending his physical therapy.
Tomorrow, the second and last session of Self's camp will conclude. Once the session closes, the players will be back in their regular summer routine of conditioning
in the morning, followed by weights and pick-up games in the evening. During July, Self and his staff will spend the majority of their time on the recruiting trail.
in brief
Edited by Joe Caponio
Talib named to Nagurski Award watch list
Junior cornerback Aqib Talib has been added to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list. The award is given to the best defensive player in college football.
Talib was named to the AllBig 12 first team and a second team All-American during the 2006 season.
"Aqib is very deserving to be on this list"coach
Talib
Mark Mangino said in a statement. "He is preparing himself to have an outstanding season."
Talib is one of only three players from the Big 12 to be named to the list. The list includes 55 players from across the country.
— Dylan Schoonover
Big 12 commissioner resigns, heads to Big Ten
The Big 12 Conference announced late last week that Commissioner Kevin Weiberg is resigning next month to take a job with the Big Ten Conference.
Weiberg has been head of the conference since Dec. 4, 1998.
"I am proud of the growth and progress of the Big 12 over the last nine years." Weiberg said in a statement. "By working together our members have excelled competitively, significantly grown revenues, and established a strong national presence and leadership position among the major conferences."
Among Weiberg's achievements is increasing the conference's annual
distribution to schools. In 2006, the Big 12 handed out $106 million. By comparison, the conference handed out $54 million in
its first year.
"Kevin has done a terrific job for the Big 12 Conference," Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins said in a statement."I have known Kevin for
Weiberg
more than 25 years and have always respected the work he's done. He led the Big 12 through its formative years, and leaves the conference in great shape, poised well to face the future."
Kansan staff report
The conference has yet to announce a permanent replacement.
Women's golf leads athletics in team GPA
More than 60 percent of University student athletes had grade-point averages of 3.0 or better, according to records released by Kansas Athletics on Monday.
The 247 student athletes were named to the Athletics Directors' Honor Roll. Thirty-six of those had a 4.0 GPA.
Overall, the student athletes had a 3.02 GPA, which was a Kansas Athletics record. The women's golf team led the Athletics Department with a 3.44 team GPA.
"I am absolutely delighted with the academic performance of our students in the spring 2007 term," Athletics Director Lew Perkins said in a statement.
Kansan staff report
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