Julian Wright poster
Remember forward Julian Wright's two years as a Jayhawk with The Kansan's commerative poster.
TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
10B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 1B
WRIGHT SAYS GOODBYE
Wright shouldn't be blamed for leaving
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
RCOLAIANNI@KANSAN.COM
Amanda Søllerc/KANSAN
Sophomore forward Julian Wright and coach Bill Self announced that Wright would skip his junior and senior seasons and enter the NBA Draft on Monday at a press conference. Wright said he expects to be drafted between 10th and 15th overall.
You can't convince me that Julian Wright is making the wrong decision by declaring for the NBA draft. It is not possible.
In this day and age, Wright could go from a top-10 pick to not even playing for some team in Greece with one disastrous play.
It seems to happen every year. A player goes up for a rebound and comes down awkwardly. That player tears every ligament in his knee and must spend more than a year rehabilitating and will never be the same player that he was the year before.
Wright's draft stock cannot get much higher. He is going to be a top-10 pick. He is going to get a guaranteed contract. And he is going to sign a multi-million dollar endorsement deal with Adidas or Nike or any one of the big shoe companies. Wright is going to be able to make every financial worry he has ever had go away.
Wright will be able to set himself and his family up for the rest of his life. He will have a life that he could have never dreamed about, and he should take it.
Kansas fans should not be upset with Wright's decision to declare. They should understand the reasoning and the risk that Wright would be taking if he decided to return. He should not be viewed as some-
Forward decides to forgo final two seasons at Kansas to pursue NBA career
Seriously, is there anyone on this campus who if told they could make $5 to $10 million next year would turn it down? I would leave Lawrence tomorrow if I was offered a job like that, and I love this place.
SEE COLAIANNI ON PAGE 5B
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
ulian Wright won't get much of an offseason.
Now that he's declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft, he'll balance his 15 hours of schoolwork with traveling around the country to work out for NBA teams.
"I expect to be between 10 and 15, somewhere in that range," the sophomore forward said.
In the NBA, rookies are given contracts based on when they are drafted. The 10th pick is guaranteed $3.3 million over two years, while the 15th pick receives $2.6 million over two years. All contracts include an option where the team can keep the
player for a third season at a slightly higher rate.
"Money has never been my motivation," Wright said. "I'm just grateful to have this opportunity."
The NBA draft order will be determined on May 22, after the league's regular season ends. Wright said that he will hire an agent toward the end of May, and that his family is gathering information on potential companies.
He is still eligible to return to college for his junior season as long as he does not hire an agent and withdraws from the draft by June 18.
details
SEE WRIGHT ON PAGE 5B
10. 4 average points per game in two seasons
6. 3 average rebounds per game in two seasons
49 blocks in Wright's sophomore season
55 — steals in Wright's sophomore season
52
52 career starts
33 career-high points in a single game
33
Wright leaves behind other kind of ball; Jaybowlers will miss "JuJu," Big Bully
BY MARK DENT
It's hard not to notice Julian Wright's influence on the lawbowl.
A newspaper clipping on the bowling alley's bulletin board shows Wright with his arms stretched across a few lanes, gripping Big Bully, his ball. In another clipping, he's fully extended on top of Missouri's Kalen Grimes, throwing down a nasty dunk.
Until last week, students could see Wright rolling a ball down the lanes while others admired. Now the pictures on the board are only reminders of what used to be.
Wright, a sophomore forward, announced he was going to enter the NBA Draft Monday at an afternoon press conference. His days as a Jayhawk basketball player and student bowler are ending sooner than expected.
Wright's friends at the bowling alley were as shocked as any other Kansas fan when they heard he would leave. Last Wednesday, everything
"It's like losing a favorite customer," said Trent Overbey, captain of the Kansas bowling team and a friend of Wright's. "I'll miss him in here. He definitely a character."
SEE FANS ON PAGE 5B
The Jayhawk baseball team lost 9-1 to the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in Tulsa. The team looks to exact revenge for the February loss today.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
BASEBALL
Jayhawks hope to avenge 8-run rout
BY ALISSA BAUER
After barely letting No. 6 Texas get the series victory last weekend, an improving Kansas looks to make a much better showing against Oral Roberts.
When the Jayhawks (18-20, 4-8) made the trip to Tulsa, Okla. on Feb. 27, the Golden Eagles had their way with the visiting team, 9-1. Four series down, the Jayhawks are in the middle of Big 12 Conference play. Although they have yet to be swept by a Big 12 team, the Jayhawks have not won a Big 12 series yet this season.
Price said tonight's game plan would revolve around the three relievers he has slated, starting with junior right-hander Andres Esquibel (5-3). Price wants to make sure his relievers are prepared to pitch this weekend against Baylor.
"They're one of the best teams in the Midwest," Price said of Oral Roberts. "We just need a 'W' to field some momentum before the Baylor series now."
Robby had a strong outing against Texas and hopes to carry momentum into the game against Oral Roberts.
Afenir made his first start as a designated hitter on Sunday, going 3-4 with one run scored. He and freshman third baseman Robby Price are in position to make the biggest offensive impact tonight.
"We welcomed them here, we knew we could beat them and we just couldn't come up with that last one," sophomore catcher Buck Afenir said on Sunday.
Coach Ritch Price and his team
are hoping to find the spark they need in tonight's contest against the Golden Eagles.
But after the 8-run loss Oral Roberts (16-14) game, the Jayhawks' bats will need to be more effective
tonight. Although Kansas dropped game three to Texas to lose the series, the Jayhawks did out-hit the Longhorns 30-29.
He was the only Jayhawk with an RBI against the Golden Eagles in February.
Kansas, however, may have the advantage tonight. Oral Roberts is fresh off a 3-2 Sunday victory at previously top-25 Long Beach State, but it is just one of three victories the Golden Eagles have picked up on the road. Though Oral Roberts is 13-1 in Tulsa, the team is just 3-13 on the road.
Second baseman Jake Kahaulelio hurt the Jayhawks in February, going 4-4 with two runs scored. Kahaulelio leads his team with seven doubles
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 3B
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