The Jayhawks Determined to Rebound

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

When the pre-season poll was released for last year's squads, the Kansas Jayhawks embraced the No. 1 ranking. The Jayhawks did return their best player Sherron Collins, and Cole Aldrich. Not to mention, freshman Xavier Henry decided he wasn't going to follow John Calipari to Kentucky and chose the Jayhawks.

With such a talented trio, along with a lot of depth, the Jayhawks stayed inside the top-5 for most of the season.

Once the NCAA Tournament came around, the Jayhawks were still the No. 1 overall team in the nation. That led to the No. 1 overall ranking in the tournament, and many media outlets selecting them as National Champions.

The Jayhawks started off the tournament with an easy win in the first round against LeHigh. 

However, their second-round action wasn't a cake walk. The Jayhawks couldn't get the job done against ninth ranked Northern Iowa, and was sent home after a 69-67 loss to the Panthers.

After the season, both Aldrich, and Henry decided their career as a Jayhawk was over. Both bypassed another year of eligibility and entered the 2010 NBA draft. Collins, also entered the 2010 NBA draft after finishing his final year of eligibility.

But the Jayhawks did return significant players from last year's squad, while acquiring one of the best recruits in the 2010 class.

"I think this team has a chance to be very good," said Head Coach Bill Self. "I don't think that very often you lose two lottery picks and your best player and you are suppose to get better."

The Jayhawks will have a lot of new faces on the court once the season starts. However, that didn't effect their ranking at all. The Jayhawks were tabbed as the No. 7 team in both the coaches and AP poll.

One reason, was this year's leader Marcus Morris. "Marcus was our most consistent player last year," said Coach Self.

"He (Marcus) may not have been our best player in every game, but he was probably our second or third best player at worst in most every game. He is consistent."

Coach Self will also expect a lot of contributions from Tyshawn Taylor, Travis Releford, and Mario Little.

"Mario is probably a three-four, kind of a bad matchup big guy or a big guard. And Travis is definitely a tall guard. But I see them being in our rotation and both having an impact," said Coach Self.

The Jayhawks will open up their season on November 12, 8:00 PM against the Longwood Racers. They could possibly be without their freshman Josh Selby, but that will not stop the Jayhawks from rebounding.

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Kansas Jayhawks: A Freshman Changes Everything

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

The Kansas Jayhawks have consistently dominated College Basketball. Head Coach Bill Self always surrounds himself with elite talent to reload every year.

The Jayhawks lost three starters from last years squad but also had reserves and a highly-touted freshman to commend their efforts.

Josh Selby was considered the best player, and point guard overall by Rivals.com. Not to mention, he did a lot to back up the notion. Selby is one of the best scoring freshman this year.

However, Selby is still fighting for eligibility to play for the Jayhawks this season. Selby was considered to fill the shoes of former-Jayhawk Sherron Collins. Collins was the main distributor, scorer and leader of the team with 30-plus wins last season.

Selby was looked on to at least share the role of filling his huge shoes. Nonetheless, until he is granted eligibility, the Jayhawks aren't the same team that was selected to finish second overall in the Big 12 conference.

Without Selby leading the way, the Jayhawks lack the pure scoring, and presence of a marquee guard to run their offense. They still have Tyshawn Taylor, Elijah Johnson, and Travis Releford but none of these players can run the point at the college level.

They are all off-guards that commend the point guards efforts. However, with Selby the Jayhawks are among the best teams in the country.

Right now, Coach Self is still waiting for an official nod on the eligibility of his freshman guard. However, until then a freshman changes everything.

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The Loss Of Collins, Aldrich, and Henry Not a Huge Blow For Kansas

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

The Kansas Jayhawks were equipped with one of the most talented and experienced groups in college basketball.

They had Cole Aldrich in the paint to block and rebound the ball. He was also used a lot in the pick-and-roll game, where he would slash to the basket for an alley-oop slam.

Xavier Henry was the aggressive slasher. He mostly set up for the three-balls on the wing but that didn't stop him from taking it to the basket on occasions. 

Then you had super bad Sherron Collins. He only stood 5-foot-11 but his heart made up for the lack of size. 

2010 NBA Draft: Latest News on Un-Drafted Prospects

You seen a lot of smiles coming from the 2010 NBA draft. However, you seen a lot of frown afterwards for the players that was unable to be selected during the draft.


Now that the Summer League teams are forming, those un-drafted prospects are starting to get calls from NBA teams.


Here is the latest news on the un-drafted prospects


Sherron Collins 


Collins is an under-sized point guard that didn't hear his name on draft day for numerous reasons. Many question his work ethic because he seemed to be out of shape a lot at Kansas. He also went on poor shooting stretches.


However, the Bobcats have over-looked that and invited him to play on their summer league team.


Denis Clemente


Clemente, the electrifying point guard from Kansas State. Many questioned his true ability because he was previously unknown before this year.


Similar to Collins, he was sent an invite to join the Bobcats Summer League team as well.


Scotty Reynolds


It was an overall bad season for the senior. If he would have came out his freshman year, he would have been a lottery or mid-first round pick. However, he stayed and many say a lot of his flaws on offense.


He is the first All-American to not get drafted.


However, the 6-foot-1 guard landed a spot on the Phoenix Suns summer league team.


Brian Zoubek


Zoubek was what the Lakers needed with their second round pick. However, after seeing De'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks fall to them, they went another way.


Zoubek is proably one of the most underrated prospects in the 2010 NBA draft.


The Nets brought him in to play on their summer team to try him out.


Charles Garcia


Throughout the college basketball season, Garcia could have been a first-rounder. However, inconsistency bumped him all the way to the second. 


I don't think nobody expected him to go undrafted. But he did and he is know going to have to prove himself on the Knicks summer team.


Samardo Samuels


Samuels had too many flaws to ever be considered as a sure draft pick. He is 6-foot-8 with no freakish length or upside.


He was still invited to play on the Chicago Bulls Summer League team.


Manny Harris


If I would have told you that Harris would go undrafted, would you believe me? Harris is a big-time scorer and the main thing about him would be his position at the next level.


He was invited to play for the Cavaliers Summer League Team


Other notable summer league invites


Jerome Dyson - Cleveland Cavaliers
Jon Scheyer - Washington Wizards
Mikhail Torrance - Miami Heat

Underrated NBA Draft Prospect - Sherron Collins

Sherron Collins, the player with the most wins in KU history.

Collins is listed at 5'11'' but he is very big. He is built and brings a lot of strength to the point guard position.

Every time scouts see a player that is listed under 6-feet, they usually don't give them a chance. But look at what happened when the Denver Nuggets gave Ty Lawson a chance to prove himself.

Collins will most likely be in the same situation. 

He is 5'11'' but unlike Lawson, he won't be a mid-first round selection.

The interesting thing about Collins that teams are overlooking is his ability to take over games. 

There were countless games over his career where he stepped up and made the big plays for Kansas. He is no doubt, the reason why the Jayhawks stayed competitive and won a lot over the past four years.

There are not many players in the draft that are mature enough or display that mentality that you need to be a great NBA player.

Along with that, over his four-year career, Kansas played some of the stiffest competition in college basketball. 

Collins' benefited from that, because he played a lot of NBA talent over the years. Not to mention, he had to play against NBA star Mario Chalmers in practice every day.

He is a very good point guard with the all-around skills you need to succeed. He has the great vision and passing skills that are required. With that, he has the ability to create for others and himself.

He stretches the floor and gives defenses headaches. Most teams have a hard time containing him because he is too quick. He often likes to drive the lane, but when the defender takes the lane away, Collins shoots right over him.

His range spans out to the NBA three-point line, but he does have often cold-flashes and should look to stay consistent.

Collins is a great ball-handler and not too many defensive guards can keep him in check. He has the ability to be a prime-time player at the next level. He has all the intangibles you need to be a successful player. The only other thing missing is the height.

Written by DeAnte Mitchell