What’s it like coming off the bench to play in the Final Four, a year after playing in the Lions’ Den at Lawrence High School?

Asked of Stephen Vinson, KU walk-on forward and graduate of Lawrence High School, who played the final 5 minutes in Kansas University’s 94-61 win against Marquette in Saturday’s NCAA semifinals at the Superdome in New Orleans:

“It’s a dream come true, because playing in Lawrence, you never imagine that it’s actually ever going to happen — first to put on the Kansas uniform, but then to be on stage in that situation. It’s just unbelievable.

“You don’t realize that there’s 65,000 people there until you actually get on the court and see there are so many people behind you the whole time — there’s 30,000 people behind you. It’s pretty amazing.

“It’s indescribable, as far as what you’re feeling, but it is safe to say that it’s the best time I’ve ever had playing basketball.

“I didn’t turn in an all-star performance. I missed my first three-pointer. I had a rebound and an assist, so that’s my claim to fame. I got in the game , I went 0-for-2, I fouled a guy on a three-pointer, but I had an assist and I had a rebound, so I’ll take that.

“If I would have taken two bad shots, and air-balled them both and had coach mad at me, it wouldn’t have been as much fun. But the two shots I took, they were good shots. They both felt good. …

“I hope I get to play again Monday.”