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NEWS / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
DRAFT (CONTINUED FROM 25)
Like Aldrich, Kansas freshman Xavier Henry was selected by a team with an established player at his projected position. Unlike Aldrich, Henry was not traded. Memphis, with the 12th pick in the draft, selected the sweet-shooting
19-year-old despite the presence of O.J. Mayo as their starting two-guard.
Mayo averaged 17.5 points per game last year at just 22 years old, and projects to be a
Henry said. "I had to take a back-seat in Kansas but I'm a versatile scorer and I can help with that."
long-term star for the Grizzlies. Adding another young talent at shooting guard doesn't necessarily add up for the franchise's long or short term.
Bill Self said he sees Henry's immediate role as a sixth man and scoring threat off the bench, and Henry said he could see himself excelling in the role.
"I've grown up as a scorer. I had to take a backseat at Kansas but I'm a versatile scorer and I can help with that."
XAVIER HENRY former Kansas guard
If small forward Rudy Gay leaves in free agency as projected, however, Henry may slide into the spot, even though at 6-foot-6 he would
be one of the smaller starters in the league at that spot.
Should Aldrich and Henry merit their high draft spots, the effect on Kansas would be great in terms of recruiting and
"I've grown up as a scorer,"
"It was a great night for those two and their families," he said, but also a great night for our program to see two kids taken that high at 11 and 12."
recognition. Even before the duo has a chance to prove that, though, it still thrills Self to have a night like Thursday for the program.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Kansas guard Sherron Collins pumps up the crowd during a game against LaSalle University at Allen Fieldhouse in December 2009. Collins went unpicked last week's NBA Draft, but later signed with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Collins snubbed at draft, later signs with Charlotte
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
twitter.com/c_thibodeaux
Ever since the Jayhawk's loss to Northern Iowa, Sherron Collins has been a ghost.
He spent time working out for the NBA draft in Las Vegas and returned home to Chicago, where he is now. He cut off contact with almost everyone outside of his inner circle.
On June 24, the winningest player in Kansas basketball history watched as his two younger teammates, Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry, were picked 11th and 12th in the 2010 NBA draft.
He sat through 60 names and never heard his own called. Now Collins will try to make an NBA team another way. He signed with Charlotte' Bobcats' summer league squad the day after the draft and will begin playing July 5 in Orlando, Fla.
Coach Bill Self said draft night must have been a disappointing night for Collins, but it looked like things worked out.
"To wake up this morning and
know that Michael Jordan and Larry Brown want him in their camp is something to certainly take the sting off from last night," Self said. "Hopefully, he will go in there with the right frame of mind and with an attitude to go earn it"
The point guards on the team include North Carolina standout Raymond Felton, who is the primary starter. Felton is a pending free agent. D.J. Augustin from Texas is the backup.
Also challenging Collins for a guard spot on Charlotte is Kansas State's Denis Clemente, who was also passed over in the draft. Throw in Justin Dentmon from Washington, who spent the past year playing overseas, and Collins has a lot of players to compete against.
Self said Collins had not responded to his recent text messages, so the chances of Collins talking to the media any time soon are slim.
"I think it's disappointing," Self said after the draft. "I can't believe he is not one of the best 60 prospects to come out of this draft."
Calling names such as Pape Sy from France — who averaged just
over five points per game last season just doesn't make sense compared to the 15.5 points per game and 4.5 assists Collins supplied the top team in the country. Junior forward Marcus Morris said he was upset about the snubbing.
"I thought Sherron had a great college career and I think, other than John Wall, he was the best point guard there," Morris said. "Things happen that way, but I was very upset about that one."
Self would not elaborate on reasons he was told for Collins not being drafted by teams. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound guard has been known to put on pounds now and again. Mix the weight issues with his less-than-desirable speed and height, that may have led to him not being drafted.
But since essentially every NBA team passed on him, Collins now has the opportunity to prove them all wrong by making his way into the NBA any way he can.
"What I would do to educate Sherron is say don't be mad at anybody," Self said. "Just change it."