Alexander “Sasha” Kaun arrived at Florida Air Academy a gangly 6-foot-10, 185-pound sophomore who had played basketball just one year in his hometown of Tomsk, Russia.

Today — two years after setting foot at the Melbourne, Fla., military school — Kaun is a polished 6-foot-11, 245-pound senior, who Wednesday orally committed to play basketball at Kansas University, choosing the Jayhawks over Duke.

“I came here to get an American college degree. There’s a better opportunity in America to get a job,” said Kaun, whose mother, Olga, a designer, at first wanted him to attend art school in the U.S.

“I wanted to play basketball. It was something to try,” said Kaun, who was talked into trying out for Florida Air Academy’s team by an older cousin from Russia, who graduated from the Academy in 2001. “The coaches worked with me and good things started happening.”

After hitting the weight room and working on his footwork and shot, Kaun blossomed his junior season. He averaged 13 points and seven rebounds and two blocks a game for his 29-0 state-champion team.

“After my junior year, I thought I might be able to do something in basketball,” said Kaun, who continued to rise on the AAU circuit this summer until he suffered a stress fracture in his foot, which sidelined him all of July and August.

By mid-June, schools like KU and Duke realized Kaun was a must-get.

“Kansas started recruiting me after the first AAU tournament (in May),” Kaun said. “That’s when all the schools started recruiting me harder.”

His final list included KU, Duke and Michigan State.

¢ 6Sports video: Sasha Kaun picks Kansas over Duke

“They were the best schools,” he said. “All the schools were great. I just felt I fit in at Kansas better. I felt at home there.”

Kaun, who said he committed Wednesday morning by phoning KU coach Bill Self with the good news and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski with the bad news, fell in love with KU on his visit Sept. 5-6.

“I was at coach Self’s home and met his wife and family,” said Kaun, who said a highlight was eating steak and mashed potatoes at the Self household. “I hung out with the players and liked them all. The family atmosphere was everywhere, but I felt it more at Kansas.

“It was a very hard decision for me. Duke is great. Their coaching staff and players are great, but I could only pick one school.”

KU’s style of play was a major factor.

“I like the way they play two big men at the same time, one in one out. They switch,” he said of KU’s high/low offense. “A lot of offense goes through the big men.”

Kaun — rivals.com’s No. 27-ranked player — will be a dominant big man, said Tom Topping, his AAU coach.

“He has a tremendous presence defensively. He has good timing with shot blocking,” Topping said. “His strength will be on the block. He’s a good perimeter shooter. Give him room and he’ll hit the shot. If you play too far off him, he tries to dunk everything.

“He is a delightful kid. He will do anything and everything coaches ask. He’s intelligent and smart, a perfect get for the University of Kansas.”

Analyst Mike Sullivan of rivals.com agreed.

“Kaun should be an impact player right away,” Sullivan said. “He has a nose for the ball and knows how to score. He has a chance to be a major scorer. He could be a couple years and out (to NBA).”

Kaun said his focus was college.

“I would like to think I’d stay four years and get a college degree,” said Kaun, who’s interested in computer science.

• Praise of Kaun: At the Air Academy, Kaun is a Cadet Lt. Colonel and Squadron Commander, responsible for the welfare of 65 students.

“Sasha will be a strong member of their team and community. We have seen great things from him and I know there is a lot more to come,” Air Academy coach Aubin Goporo said.

“It has been a real pleasure to watch Sasha grow as a person as well as athletically and academically over the past three years,” FAA athletic director Jim O’Malley said. “He is a terrific person and deserves all the great things that are happening for him.”

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It’s not a nickname: The name “Sasha” is “short for Alexander,” Kaun explained. “It’s like Jeff is short for Jefferson.”

• Nice class: KU has filled its three scholarship allotments by receiving commitments from Kaun, Russell Robinson, 6-1 from New York, and Darnell Jackson, 6-9 from Midwest City, Okla.

“It is a top-five class, maybe a top-three class,” Sullivan said.

Though KU has filled all 13 scholarships for 2004-05, there is always the chance KU could continue to recruit Malik Hairston, 6-5 from Detroit, who is said to favor Ohio State over Michigan, Michigan State, UCLA and KU. Some coaches, like North Carolina’s Roy Williams, are “over-signing” because of players heading to the NBA early and volatile rosters.