THE UNIVERSITY OF DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007
TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007
5B
>> 'HORN BORN, 'HAWK BRED
Wright's jump one year early
This column was a tough one to put into words. Hey Julian Wright, do you know what I mean?
"It was hard," Wright said of his decision to put his name into the NBA draft.
"Money has never been my motivation." Wright said.
It sounded like it was tough, after listening to his explanation at his press conference Monday.
He also said he wasn't worried about getting injured and spoiling his NBA career. So what was it then? He said he was just looking for an opportunity to take his game to the next level.
"It's not anything negative," Wright said. "It's what I feel is necessary for me."
Fair enough, but I'm still shocked.
This was supposed to be a year away. Throughout Wright's time at Kansas, he assured the media and fans that he would return for his third season, graduate by May 2008 and begin his NBA career at that point. We all believed him, and it showed when Kansas lost to UCLA in San Jose, Calif.
I didn't notice any teary eyes in
the KU section, only slightly dreary faces who knew the next game was months away in November.
WRIGHT LEAVES FOR NBA
There were no farewells because no one thought them necessary, unlike every other season when fans have watched the departing seniors take their final steps in a Kansas uniform.
Wright's constant reiteration of his plan to return had Kansas fans filled with hope. This wasn't just hope for one more year of Wright's services as a Jayhawk, but for Kansas' future as a program — a kind of program where players like Danny Manning, Jacque Vaughn, Raef LaFrentz, Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich still stay around because they know they are a part of something more special than the NBA.
The most talented players rarely stay for four years, a harsh fact for most schools. Kansas has hardly been burdened by this, though. Only three players have ever left Kansas with eligibility remaining: Wilt Chamberlain, Paul Pierce and Drew Gooden. Now Wright is the fourth. In a couple of weeks, Brandon Rush could make it five.
Can we be a little disappointed?
"I don't think our fan can should be disappointed," Self said.
If everyone had returned, Kansas may as well have been penciled into the Final Four. This group was one year away from possible immortality in Jayhawk history. Now that Wright is gone, a huge piece will be missing, and the fans didn't even get to say a proper goodbye.
True, but it won't seem quite right without Wright.
"We're going to be good no matter what." Self said.
Robinett is an Austin, Texas senior in journalism.
Edited by Sharla Shivers
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
FANS (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Sophomore forward Julian Wright announced he is leaving Kansas for the NBA. Wright shared the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year award with teammate Brandon Rush.
“Most of us would joke about it,” Overbey said, “but that was saying two years from now.”
was normal. Wright bowled a few games and never mentioned anything about basketball, let alone the NBA. The subject rarely came up during his trips to Jaybowl.
Wright didn't have much time to bowl during the season, but he bowled three to four times a week after Kansas' NCAA tournament loss, laybowl provided a place for Wright get his mind off basketball. He even went there the day after the jayhawks' Elite Eight loss to UCLA. It's one of the many things Wright is going to miss when he's in the NBA.
"It's hard," Wright said. "It's still hard. I have mixed feelings, just walking on campus, the little things."
Fans will miss Wright too. He averaged modest numbers throughout his career, but he was still a fan favorite. They liked Wright's easy-going demeanor and smile. Although Wright had maintained he would stay for another year, students at the bowling alley weren't
"I'm surprised that he'd leave after saying what he did all season. But it's smart. I'd go."
ANDREW GRAY Leawood senior
"I'm surprised that he'd leave after saying what he did all season," said Andrew Gray, Leawood senior. "But it's smart. I'd go."
angry when he announced that he was leaving.
Wright doesn't plan on signing with an agent and working out with most NBA teams until the end of May. Until then, he's going to finish school, and Overbey hopes he'll have time to drop by the laybow.
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@kansan.com.
"His personality is definitely welcome here," Overbey said. "Every time he's in here to bowl the place just seems a little more lively."
Edited by Darla Slipke
COLAIANNI (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
one who is not loyal. Instead he should be thanked for the two years of highlights that he provided to Kansas fans.
Davis had his draft stock as high as it could be after his Final Four run in 2006, but this season his team was not as strong and Davis suffered nagging injuries, causing his stock to drop.
this year. Both were lucky and did not get hurt, but Davis saw his draft stock plummet. He went from being a top-15 pick to now being projected as a late second-round pick by nibadraft.net.
Noah's stock did not drop significantly. He ran the risk of getting hurt when he returned to Florida, but was able to stay healthy and will be a top-10 pick.
be able to experience the college life for one more year, the life that is so different from the day-to-day traveling that is life for an NBA player. But Wright needs to do what is best for himself, and what is best for his family. Right now, that is taking the money and beginning what he hopes is a long and prosperous NBA career. Even if his career is not successful, he will likely make enough money to create financial stability for his family for the rest of his life.
Players like Florida's Joakim Noah and Louisiana State's Glen Davis both elected to come back
Wright probably wouldn't get hurt if he decided to come back to Kansas for his junior year. He would
That does not appear to be a likely possibility, because unlike other players, he knows he will be one of the top selections.
"I don't know if there's really a need to test the waters," coach Bill Self said. "There are enough people that like Julian in the top 15 picks that have him very high on their board."
Edited by Joe Caponio
WRIGHT (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
"I know I'm in for a long development process," he said. "I'm not ready for a full season right now. But I know that."
Wright had a strong season, starting 37 of 38 games and averaging 7.8 rebounds per game, but will have to make an adjustment to play in the NBA. Instead of playing under the basket, like he did at Kansas, he will move outside the paint and have the opportunity for more iump shots.
Colaiani is a McLean, Va., senior in journalism and political science.
He'll also have to build up his strength. An NBA season lasts 82 games, more than double the collegiate season.
Wright's decision to jump to the NBA was a surprise, because he had said just weeks earlier that he was "100 percent" certain he would return to Kansas for a junior season.
On Monday, he said that during the season he was focused on playing for the jayhawks, and after the season ended he was caught off-guard to learn that he would have options.
"I was kind of surprised I was being looked at seriously this year," he said. "It's hard. It was a tough decision."
He said that his family helped him gather information about where he might be selected. Self has been out of town on recruiting trips recently, but visited with Wright when he was in Lawrence. On Friday, Wright stopped by the coach's office to let him know he had made up his mind.
Self headed out of town for the weekend, with Wright planning to announce his intentions on Monday, but reporters found out about them before the weekend had ended.
Wright had one final meeting with
Self on Monday, but the coach didn't try to talk him out of his decision.
"If I were Julian, and I were in this situation, I'm not sure I wouldn't have made the same decision," Self said. "The only reason for him to stay would have been to get his degree."
After this semester, Wright will be 30 credit hours away from graduation, and will continue to work toward that goal, even as he plays professional basketball.
He said that he couldn't turn down the opportunity to play with the world's best players next season, and is already watching NBA games of the teams that might have high picks in the draft.
It may seem like an early jump to outsiders, but Wright is feeling confident about his decision. In high school, he began playing on the varsity team as a sophomore. He started a majority of the conference games for Kansas as a freshman, and now, as
a 19-year-old, he prepares to face the best players as a professional
BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK:
Rush in no hurry: Sophomore guard Brandon Rush is the other Jayhawk considering entering the NBA draft, but don't expect a decision from him anytime soon.
"He's still 10 days to two weeks away from knowing," Self said. "It's in his best interest to gather as much information as he can."
Postseason banquet tonight: The team will hold its annual postseason banquet and awards ceremony tonight at 7. Tickets are sold out for the event, which will take place at the Holiday Inn Holdome.
Kansan senior sportswriter Michael Phillips can be contacted at mphillips@kansan.com.
Edited by Joe Caponio
a look back HIGHLIGHTS
vs. Texas, March 12, 2006
In the Big 12 Tournament championship game, Wright had two highlight-reel dunks against Texas. Wright threw home a one-handed dunk on a fast-break and also completed a windmill dunk in the game's final seconds.
vs. Florida, November 25,
vs. Florida, November 25, 2006
Against the top-ranked Gators, Wright scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 10 re-bounds. Wright scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half.
vs. Missouri, February 10 Wright scored a career-high 33 points against Missouri in Columbia on Feb. 10. Along with his career-best, he also pulled down 12 rebounds and two blocks.
vs. Colorado, January 27 Wright attempted a windmill dunk at Allen Fieldhouse against Colorado, but missed — badly. As he went up for the dunk, the ball deflected off his knee. Wright lay on the court for several minutes before being benched for the rest of the first half
■ vs. UCLA, March 24
In the Elite Eight, Wright struggled against UCLA's defense,
scoring just eight points.
LOWLIGHTS
In No. 3 Kansas' embarrassing home loss, Wright had one of his worst games of the season. He had just six points, on 3-for-10 shooting, and committed six turnovers.
vs. Oral Roberts, November 15.2006
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