4B
SPORTS MONDAY,MAY 3,2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Potential Jayhawks impress at Invitational
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
Top-ranked recruits put on some electrifying performances at the Jayahawk Invitational Friday night.
Someday, one could become a layhawk.
Sophomores Perry Ellis, a forward from Wichita, and Shabazz Muhammad, a guard from Las Vegas, stood out in the game at the Coffin Complex at Haskell Indian Nations University on Friday.
After the game, which was part of a tournament for all-star high school teams from across the country, they gave a little insight into their college intentions.
Ellis said he wasn't specifically leaning toward a college close to his home.
"It it just depends on the school," he said. "If it makes me feel like home, it's no problem."
Ellis' list of schools stands at six Kansas, Memphis, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Kentucky and North Carolina.
He said all of those schools except North Carolina had given him an offer. But he is a long way from making a decision.
On the other hand, Muhammad, the eighth-ranked player by Rivals.com in the class of 2012, was quite animated about Lawrence and the University of Kansas.
As a sophomore, the stoic Ellis said he will go through the senior visits and attend Late Night in the Phog when the time comes.
"I'm waiting," he said.
His list of schools was a little longer than Ellis, but he had the same intention to wait until his senior year to decide.
"I could see myself going here,"
Weston White/KANSAN
Muhammad said. "I like it a lot."
But whether it was just because he was in town or if it was genuine interest. Muhammad couldn't say enough about Kansas.
Muhammad listed Kansas, Texas, UNLV, USC, North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky and Memphis as his favorites. He said there were a
couple more he was considering as well.
Shabaz Muhammed of Dream Vision dunks the ball Friday night during the Jayhawk Invitational Tournament. Kansas is among the list of universities that Muhammad is considering.
"It feels like home," he said
Weston White/KANSAN
High school sophomore Perry Ellis dribbles the ball Friday night against the Dream Vision during the Jawahir Invictual Tournament. Kansas has made Ellis an offer for 2012.
NFL
Ndamukong Suh arrives in Detroit
DETROIT — After months of preparation and pre-draft hysteria, the wait finally ended Friday for Ndamukong Suh.
The defensive tackle and No. 2 overall draft pick put on his Lions jersey and stepped onto an NFL
a rookie.
field for the first time.
About two dozen media members and the Lions' brass watched Suh go through drills and a no-tackle scrimmage as the team kicked off its three-day rookie minicamp in helmets and shorts at Allen Park.
"It was a good day," Suh said. "I mean, got out there, happy to
said Suh, who looked fit and trim.
be back on the field. ... No more combine training. No more of those things."
"That's one of the reasons we drafted him, because he's like that," coach Jim Schwartz said of Suh's physique. "He's really serious about his work. He's tough as can be. He's in great shape."
Suh said he's eager to absorb the Lions' defensive scheme, which will require him to adapt and play the run on the way to the quarterback.
"So I've got to get used to that and incorporate that in my body?"
Even with all eyes trained on Suh, he downplayed any pressure and said he considers himself just
"I was No. 2 coming out of college," Suh said. "Now I'm back to ground zero, so I've got to build myself back up, and that's the way I see it."
McClatchy-Tribune
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Barkley to be QB at USC this fall
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
LOS ANGELES _ There is no quarterback controversy at USC.
Sophomore Matt Barkley was the starter last season, maintained his status this spring and, barring injury, will no doubt be under center for the Trojans when they open the season Sept. 2 at Hawaii.
But on an afternoon when Barkley suffered a hand injury, senior Mitch Mustain stirred the fan base Saturday by passing for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns in the 'Trojans' final spring scrimmage at the
Mustain has sat behind Mark Sanchez and Barkley since transferring from Arkansas in 2007. He also, at times, was behind Aaron Corp, who transferred to Richmond after last season.
Coliseum.
Not one to get overly excited about anything _ most of his touchdown passes, after all, came against the second-unit defense _ Mustain acknowledged after the scrimmage that he was encouraged by his prospects.
Senior Mitch Mustain passed for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns as Barkley sat out injured last week in USC's final scrimmage.
Whv?
"One less guy in front of me," he said, "and (I'm) playing pretty well."
Mustain, freshman tailback Dillon Baxter, senior fullback Stanley Havili and senior receiver Travon Patterson were the other standout playmakers during a 98-play scrimmage.
"Our defense has a chance to be really good," Kiffin said. "I think
Asked to assess his team heading into the off-season, first-year Coach Lane Kiffin, as usual, did not mince words.
our offense has a long, long, long ways to go, especially in the run game."
USC's first-team offense irked Kiffin, who doubles as offensive coordinator, by going scoreless in the first half.
"We told the players at halftime, they were going to take their schoolship checks and give them back to the fans that came out today because it was an embarrassing performance," Kiffin said.
Barkley responded by connecting with Patterson for a 41-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. But
defensive tackle Jurrell Casey hit Barkley on the play, the quarterback's right hand slamming into the defender's helmet.
Barkley, who completed seven of 16 passes for 87 yards.
"Like throwing your hand full force into a wall," said
Barkley, who had surgery on his right wrist after last season, lay sprawled on the ground for several moments after the play and was examined by doctors on the sideline. He spent the rest of the afternoon with an icepack on the back of his right hand. A school spokesman said Barkley would be re-examined on Monday. Kiffin removed Casey from the scrimmage for knocking down the quarterback.
Baxter rushed for 129 yards in 13 carries and provided the highlight play when he took a handoff, spun twice behind the line of scrimmage and broke free for a 58-vard gain.
Asked whether he had seen that move before, Kiffin said, "Yeah, PlayStation 2, R-2 button."