Ex-Jayhawk Wright bounces back in Vegas
Julian Wright’s best performance to date in the Las Vegas summer league followed his worst.
The 6-foot-8 former Kansas University forward, who had zero points off 0-for-9 shooting in New Orleans’ 72-58 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday night, bounced back with 14 points off 5-of-8 shooting in Friday afternoon’s 94-86 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
After scoring the game’s first two points off a dunk, one of Wright’s shoes tore apart.
He was able to find another pair of size 15s with the help of University of Nevada-Las Vegas officials and continued to play.
He finished with seven rebounds with four assists against two turnovers in 33 minutes. He hit four of five free throws and had a blocked shot for the 0-4 Hornets.
In four games, rookie Wright averages 9.2 points and 6.5 rebounds. He has made 41 percent of his shots and 80 percent of his free throws.
Ex-Jayhawk guard Billy Thomas scored 10 points off 4-of-6 shooting in Milwaukee’s 84-76 loss to Boston.
He hit two of four threes and had one assist against two turnovers in 14 minutes.
Former KU center Jeff Graves scored four points with two rebounds in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-88 loss to Denver. He had two rebounds and three turnovers in 12 minutes.
• Miles gets favorable pub: The Washington Post reports that former KU guard Aaron Miles has a chance to make the Wizards’ roster for the 2007-08 season. The Wizards are looking for a pure point guard to back up Gilbert Arenas and Antonio Daniels.
Miles is playing the point for the Wizards’ summer-league team, along with ex-Virginia Tech guard Brian Chase.
“I heard from a few teams, but looking at the situation here, I just felt that it was a good opportunity,” Miles told the Post. “I feel that with the experience I’ve picked up along the way, I can come out and be an effective point guard in this league.”
Miles averaged 10.2 points and 3.7 assists for the Pau, France, team in the Euroleague last season.
• Warren excels: KU’s Bill Self was one of 19 college coaches to watch North Crowley (Texas) High senior guard Willie Warren explode for 45 points in a Team Texas victory over Chicago Mean Streets on Thursday at the Nike Peach Jam in South Carolina.
The coaches: Self, Missouri’s Mike Anderson, Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel, Texas A&M’s Mark Turgeon and Kansas State’s Frank Martin as well as Bruce Weber, Matt Painter, Jim Calhoun, Lorenzo Romar, Tubby Smith, John Brady, Bruce Pearl, Billy Gillispie, Mike Brey, John Thompson, John Pelphrey, Stan Heath, Kelvin Sampson and Al Skinner.
According to Rivals.com, “Warren was deadly as a pull-up three-point shooter. He scored in the midrange. Free throws were a constant. The Mean Streets, a team that shines on the defensive end of the floor more times than not, just didn't have an answer for Warren.”
Warren, who is considering KU, Kentucky, Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma and others, is expected to cut his list and set up some official visits at the end of the month.
• Xavier Henry fares well: Xavier Henry, a 6-6 junior guard from Putnam City (Okla.) High, scored 29 points in Athletes First’s victory over Boo Williams at the Peach Jam.
He has a list of KU, Memphis, North Carolina, Texas and Ohio State.
“I’m going to go to North Carolina for their Late Night, and then after that I’m going to have to find time to get to schools like Ohio State and Texas,” Xavier Henry told Rivals.com. “I had a phone call with Roy Williams not too long ago. I try to keep in touch with them and try to learn more about their school.
“I’m just looking at the playing styles of the schools, and relationships with coaches and players. I like the fast playing style, and I like to have set plays when we need them.”
Of playing at the Peach Jam in front of lots of coaches, Xavier Henry, the son of ex-Jayhawk Carl Henry who has visited KU several times, said: “It’s exciting to let everybody know what you’ve got. Even if they don't tell you you’re good, if you've got something, they'll see it.”
• Pan Am update: USA Basketball will not slice the Pan American Games roster to 12 players Sunday as previously announced. The team will be trimmed from 32 to 16 players Sunday. Four more players will be cut by Thursday before the team leaves for exhibition games in Washington, D.C., and the tourney at the end of the month in Brazil.
KU’s Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins are vying for spots on the team.
“We’re looking at skill level, toughness and experience since we'll be playing against older guys in a tough environment,” U.S. coach Jay Wright said. “Brazil is the favorite, and we’re playing in Brazil. I want to find out our personnel. And then once we have that, decide if we’re going to go quick or be a big, long team.”
KU coach Self headed to Philadelphia on Friday to watch Collins and Chalmers practice. Self is a member of USA Basketball’s selection committee.
[More
at www2.ljworld.com]
