10 FEATURE
WHO'S GOT NEXT?
Sherron Collins has filled the role of brilliant-point-guard-from-Kansas admirably, following in the footsteps of Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson, Aaron Miles and Kirk Hinrich and, well, the list goes on. Now, The Wave looks at who's next up to run the show for the Jayhawks.
Tyshawn Taylor
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 180 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Kansas has often played a two point guard system in recent years, even going back to the start of the decade, when Hinrich and Miles started alongside each other. This has been the case for most of this year, with Taylor, a natural point guard, playing alongside Collins.
In Short:
Taylor will likely fill the same role next season, but thanks in part to his incredible quickness, he could become the Jayhawks' primary ball handler in 2010-2011. Taylor has been an enigma at times for Kansas, but has also flashed brilliant potential.
What they say:
"Tyshawn is a guy who makes plays you can't coach. He's a difference maker from a speed standpoint and that kind of stuff. I think we've got to get more out of Tyshawn moving forward for us to have a chance to do what we want to do."
- Coach Bill Self
"That's what Tyshawn is, is speedy and crafty and he can get in the lane and hit all those off-balance shots. Then Coach always gets mad, and then it goes in and he claps."
- Sherron Collins
Elijah Johnson
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 183 pounds
Year: Freshman
In Short:
Johnson is the best athlete on this list. Check that. He's the best athlete on the team. The high-flying freshman from Las Vegas has become a fan favorite with thunderous dunks. The most notable instance occurred against Texas Tech, when he elevated past his man for a ferocious slam.
Johnson would have received legitimate minutes on most teams this year, but with Kansas' depth at guard, he only started twice. In his first career start, Johnson played just 15 minutes and had 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, three rebounds, an assist, a steal and no turnovers.
What they say:
Eujan could be the Cole of 2008. Bide his time, bide his time - Thomas could be also - and then when they get an opportunity, make the most of it."
- Self on Johnson and Thomas Robinson.
"Elijah can really handle the ball. Hes so athletic. He reminds me of Mario a little bit, but also has a little street ball swagger to him."
- Cole Aldrich, drawing comparisons between Johnson and Mario Chalmers
C.J. Henry
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 pounds
Year: Redshirt freshman
In Short:
If Henry can stay healthy, he has shown phenomenal athleticism and played mistake-free basketball in limited action. He's also a lethal marksmans from outside, hitting on 55 percent of his three-pointers this year.
Henry was originally a Kansas recruit in 2005, but signed a contract with the New York Yankees after being selected in the first round of the draft. Since then, he's spent four injury-plagued years in the minors, sat out with injuries for one year at Memphis, then transferred to Kansas to play alongside his brother, Xavier.
"Xavier, deservedly so, gets a lot of credit. And the reason C.J. hasn't gotten the credit is because he's kind of been out of sight the last several years. But out of sight doesn't mean that he can't play. I really believe we're going to be pleasantly surprised with the impact he'll have on our program."
What they say:
- Bill Self
"People will see when they come watch us play. They won't be like 'Oh, he's my brother.' They'll say, "That's C.J."
-Xavier Henry
Player to be named later
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Year: High school senior
In short:
Despite having just one verbal commitment for next season, the Jayhawks are in contention for several other highly-touted players, including the top two point guard prospects in the class of 2010.
Brandon Knight, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard, is the No.1 overall prospect and has a reputation as an exceptional basketball mind.
The Jayhawks are in Knight's final three, along with Connecticut and Kentucky.
Kansas is also after Josh Selby, a 6-2, 183-pound guard, who is the No.4 recruit in the country. Selby's final four schools are Kansas, Kentucky, Connecticut and Arizona.
Tim Dwyer
THE WAVE MARCH 3,2010
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN