Post by sep on May 12, 2006 18:21:16 GMT -5
Very interesting, one of the top recruits in the nation finally made his decision. It really was an interesting saga as several teams went in and out of the fold and some thought as of earlier this week he might commit to Baylor...in the end he is going with the traditional powerhouse in KU. Your thoughts?
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- After sleeping on it one more night -- and leaving three coaches on edge for 24 more hours -- highly touted basketball prospect Darrell Arthur finally made his college choice.
The 6-foot-9 forward and one of the top unsigned high school seniors in the country said Tuesday that he will play basketball for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks.
"I'm really looking forward to playing at Kansas," Arthur said. "I liked all three schools, but coach Self was the difference."
Arthur averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots as a senior at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas. Rivals.com ranked him the No. 3 power forward in the country and 16th-best recruit overall.
"Darrell is one of the premier athletes in America," Self said in a written statement. "He has excellent perimeter shooting skills and can certainly score in the post. His athletic ability and shot-blocking should make him a presence defensively. His versatility will definitely be a bonus for our team and will allow us to play with more interchangeable parts.
Arthur chose the Jayhawks over Baylor and LSU, putting an end to a long process in which Arthur canceled a Monday news conference to ponder his decision a little longer.
Still reeling from a scandal that cost the program its entire non-conference schedule last year, Baylor and coach Scott Drew can only wonder what might have been.
"If I had decided yesterday, I probably would have gone to Baylor," Arthur said. "But I prayed hard about it and talked with my family and decided I wanted to go to Kansas."
Arthur joins McDonald's All-American teammate Sherron Collins, who already had signed a letter of intent to play for Kansas, in the 2006 recruiting class.
The 5-foot-11 guard from Chicago's Crane High School averaged 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds last season.
Arthur and Collins give the Jayhawks two pieces they were missing last season, when they surprised many by tying Texas for the regular-season Big 12 title and then defeated the Longhorns 80-68 in the Big 12 tournament championship game.
Despite once again getting upset in the NCAA tournament's first round -- this time to No. 13-seed Bradley -- Kansas returns its top seven scorers and top five rebounders, and is sure to be ranked among the top 10 in most preseason polls.
"His decision to pick Kansas after such an intense recruiting period with many other good choices definitely will impact our program in an immediate way," Self said.
The 6-foot-9 forward and one of the top unsigned high school seniors in the country said Tuesday that he will play basketball for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks.
"I'm really looking forward to playing at Kansas," Arthur said. "I liked all three schools, but coach Self was the difference."
Arthur averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots as a senior at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas. Rivals.com ranked him the No. 3 power forward in the country and 16th-best recruit overall.
"Darrell is one of the premier athletes in America," Self said in a written statement. "He has excellent perimeter shooting skills and can certainly score in the post. His athletic ability and shot-blocking should make him a presence defensively. His versatility will definitely be a bonus for our team and will allow us to play with more interchangeable parts.
Arthur chose the Jayhawks over Baylor and LSU, putting an end to a long process in which Arthur canceled a Monday news conference to ponder his decision a little longer.
Still reeling from a scandal that cost the program its entire non-conference schedule last year, Baylor and coach Scott Drew can only wonder what might have been.
"If I had decided yesterday, I probably would have gone to Baylor," Arthur said. "But I prayed hard about it and talked with my family and decided I wanted to go to Kansas."
Arthur joins McDonald's All-American teammate Sherron Collins, who already had signed a letter of intent to play for Kansas, in the 2006 recruiting class.
The 5-foot-11 guard from Chicago's Crane High School averaged 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds last season.
Arthur and Collins give the Jayhawks two pieces they were missing last season, when they surprised many by tying Texas for the regular-season Big 12 title and then defeated the Longhorns 80-68 in the Big 12 tournament championship game.
Despite once again getting upset in the NCAA tournament's first round -- this time to No. 13-seed Bradley -- Kansas returns its top seven scorers and top five rebounders, and is sure to be ranked among the top 10 in most preseason polls.
"His decision to pick Kansas after such an intense recruiting period with many other good choices definitely will impact our program in an immediate way," Self said.
