Kansas Jayhawks WiretapMay 2013 Kansas Jayhawks Wiretap

McLemore Defers Decision On NBA Draft

Mar 30, 2013 3:25 PM

Ben McLemore deferred talk of his NBA future after the Kansas Jayhawks’ 87-85 overtime loss to Michigan.

“No, not at all, I haven’t thought about what I’m going to do,” McLemore said. “Not right now, not yet. I’ve spent this year focused on playing college ball and getting better each and every day.”

McLemore led the Jayhawks with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, further solidifying his projection as a top-5 pick.

Bill Self plans to sit down with McLemore and his family, after gathering pertinent information from league insiders, and go over the pros and cons.

“I’ll support whatever direction (McLemore) and his family wants to go,” Self said. “And he needs to explore. He needs to look into doing what would be potentially great for his family, and if it’s the right time, he needs to go.

“But if it’s not, he should stay. But we’ll discuss it.”

Tony Adame/Wichita Eagle

Tags: Ben McLemore, Kansas Jayhawks, Big 12 Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NCAA Misc Rumor

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Wiggins Still Weighing College Options

Mar 21, 2013 9:05 PM

Andrew Wiggins is still contemplating his college choice.

"I really don't know when I'm going to sign," said Wiggins. "When I know where I want to go, I'll sign. But I just don't know."

Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford made up an Excel chart for Wiggins, so he could rank his final four schools -- Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina – in areas of interest such as atmosphere, fans, weather, coaching style, play style, campus, general feel and more.

"With the sheet, we want to help him to figure out exactly what is most important to him, what might not be most important and rank them among those schools," Fulford said. "At the end, you add it up and see who is leading. That doesn't necessarily determine the final decision, but that gives you a solid basis to build off of."

Grant Traylor/Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, North Carolina Tar Heels, Florida State Seminoles, Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, Southeastern Conference, High School, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NBA

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Julius Randle Commits To Kentucky

Mar 20, 2013 1:20 PM

Julius Randle has announced that he will attend Kentucky.

Randle is widely considered the third best overall player in the incoming class of 2013.

Randle also considered Kansas, Florida and Texas as his final choices.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Julius Randle, Kansas Jayhawks, Texas Longhorns, Florida Gators, Kentucky Wildcats, High School, NCAA

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Gonzaga, Louisville, Kansas, Indiana Receive No. 1 Seeds In Tournament

Mar 17, 2013 6:47 PM

The NCAA announced the 2013 Tournament Bracket on Sunday with Louisville, Kansas, Gonzaga and Indiana receiving the four No. 1 seeds.

Midwest
1. Louisville
2. Duke
3. Michigan State
4. Saint Louis

South
1. Kansas
2. Georgetown
3. Florida
4. Michigan

West
1. Gonzaga
2. Ohio State
3. New Mexico
4. Kansas State

East
1. Indiana
2. Miami
3. Marquette
4. Syracuse 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Kansas Jayhawks, Louisville Cardinals, Indiana Hoosiers, Gonzaga Bulldogs, NCAA Tournament, NCAA

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Withey, Kansas Win Big 12 Tournament

Mar 16, 2013 9:19 PM

Kansas defeated Kansas State 70-54 to win the 2013 Big 12 Tournament.

Jeff Withey of the Jayhawks was named Tournament MVP, and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammate Perry Elllis, Kansas State's Angel Rodriguez and Rodney McGruder, and Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Jeff Withey, Kansas Jayhawks, Big 12 Conference, Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament, NCAA

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Marcus Smart Headlines Big 12 Awards

Mar 11, 2013 6:09 PM

Marcus Smart has been named the Big 12 Player of the Year, becoming the first freshman to win the award since Michael Beasley in 2008 and Kevin Durant in 2007. Smart also was named Freshman of the Year.

Smart is joined on the All-Big 12 First Team by Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey of Kansas, Rodney McGruder of Kansas State and Romero Osby of Oklahoma.

On the All-Big 12 Second Team are Travis Releford of Kansas, Angel Rodriguez of Kansas State, Markel Brown of Oklahoma State, Will Clyburn of Iowa State and Pierre Jackson of Baylor.

On the All-Big 12 Third Team are Isaiah Austin of Baylor, Oklahoma's Amath M'Baye and Steven Pledger, LeBron Nash of Oklahoma State and Iowa State's Melvin Ejim.

Withey was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Marcus Smart, Oklahoma Sooners, Baylor Bears, Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders, West Virginia Mountaineers, TCU Horned Frogs, Big 12 Conference, NCAA, NCAA Award

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McLemore Overcame Extreme Poverty To Become Top Prospect

Mar 2, 2013 1:38 PM

Ben McLemore overcame extreme poverty and other hardships as a youth to become the one of the top prospects in the country.

McLemore grew up in one of the poorest urban communities in Missouri, and said there were times when he would go one or two days without food.

"It's a hard feeling — just starve," he said. "Dang, what are we going to do? Dang, how are we going to eat? How are we going to put food on the table?"

McLemore’s mother worked nights for a cleaning company, while he and his younger brother cycled through odd jobs fixing bikes, trying to earn a few dollars for hot dogs or Hot Pockets.

"You get those hunger pains," McLemore said. "I am so hungry. We don't have any food. What are we going to eat? Your stomach hurts. Then you get so upset and mad, like, no food. You start having tantrums and don't want to do anything. You get mad at everybody because you don't have any food. That's what happens when you don't eat. You are so sluggish. It's just bad, man.

"It's hard to play basketball when nothing is inside of you."

McLemore is performing well in the classroom after redshirting last season as a partial academic qualifier.

"He loves life," Bill Self said. "He loves getting up and going to class. He loves the camaraderie with his fellow students. I have not seen a kid enjoy being a college student much more than him."

Eric Prisbell/USA TODAY

Tags: Ben McLemore, Kansas Jayhawks, Big 12 Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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