Kansas team to beat in 2010 — if 2 guys stay

NBA draft to alter hoops landscape, but KU, 'Cuse, Kentucky, Wake are tops

By Ken Davis, NBCSports.com contributor, April 6, 2009

DETROIT - Kansas coach Bill Self celebrated the one-year anniversary of his team’s national championship by leaving the Final Four and returning home to Lawrence. After accepting numerous national coach of the year awards this season, Self didn’t stick around Motown to watch Michigan State and North Carolina battle for the 2009 championship.

Like so many other Division I coaches, Self has already turned his thoughts toward the 2009-10 season.

And the Jayhawks certainly expect to be among the contenders for next year’s championship, depending on the outcome of some important decisions that will be made in the coming weeks.

Self will talk to NBA sources regarding the future of junior guard Sherron Collins and sophomore center Cole Aldrich. Kansas was eliminated by Michigan State in the round of 16, but through the regional finals, Collins was the tournament’s second-leading scorer (25.7 ppg) and Aldrich was the top rebounder (15.7).

“I’m going to gather information from Tuesday through Friday and hopefully we can visit soon after that,” Self said. “Then they can have information that is somewhat more factual than what they have now.

“Right now, it’s just a lot of people saying a lot of stuff. I told them before they think or lean one way, they should know. They both are having the time of their lives. But if it’s best for them to go now, then they need to go. If it’s time to exercise a little patience, then they need to do that. But we won’t know that for a few days.”

There have been reports that top 10 recruit Xavier Henry, who signed a letter of intent with Memphis, now wants to attend Kansas after coach John Calipari’s decision to move to Kentucky. Henry’s brother, C.J., may consider transferring from Memphis to Kansas. The Jayhawks are also involved with top recruits Lance Stephenson and John Wall.

“We’ve added two good players [recruits Thomas Robinson and Elijah Johnson] to a team that, if we don’t lose anybody, could be pretty good,” Self said. “There’s a lot of unknown with us with Cole, Sherron and recruiting.”

The Jayhawks are not alone. Many programs are awaiting decisions from players still evaluating their NBA draft status. And the recruiting picture may not become clear until the coaching carousel stops spinning. It’s difficult to offer an accurate forecast for college basketball until those decisions are made, but until more information is available NBCSports.com will go with Kansas as its preseason No. 1 pick.
________

April 25, 2009  - WOW!
The 2009-10 Jayhawks are 14-deep, experienced, and talented at every spot.

Returning All-Americans Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, as well as virtually everyone else from last year’s team, and with the addition of the two Henry brothers (C. J. and Xavier), touted recruits Elijah Johnson and Thomas Robinson, and transfer Jeff Withey, the 2010 Jayhawks are absolutely loaded and should be the pre-season No. 1 pick. Coach Self is so awash in talent he will have a tough, but enviable, time deciding playing time. 

Let’s start at the point.  Last year’s starting combo-guards, 5’11 junior Sherron Collins, and 6’3 sophomore Tyshawn Taylor will be back, but will be pushed by the additions of 6’3 sophomore C. J. Henry and 6’2 freshman Elijah Johnson, a four-star recruit.  Henry had committed to KU three years ago, but chose to play minor league baseball, and his college expenses will be paid by the NY Yankees.

Five other players can play either shooting guard or small forward. I expect that incoming freshman 6’6 Xavier Henry will likely nail down the small forward slot (he’s that good), but will be pushed by returnees 6’5 senior Mario Little, 6’3 senior Brady Morningstar, 6’3 junior Tyrel Reed, and 6’5 sophomore Travis Releford, all who will provide experience and leadership.

At power forward, both Morris brothers (6’10 Markieff and 6’8 Marcus) return for their sophomore year, hopefully much improved, and will be pushed by highly-rated 6’8 freshman Thomas Robinson.

All-American 6’11 junior Cole Aldrich returns to man the center position, and may be joined mid-semester by 7’0 freshman transfer Jeff Withey.

I expect that Xavier Henry will replace Morningstar at small forward, with Collins, Taylor, Marcus Morris and Aldrich completing the starting unit. The second team is so good I believe it could compete for the Big 12 title.