Keith Langford strolled into Allen Fieldhouse at 2 p.m. Tuesday, unaware Kansas University associate head coach Norm Roberts had just been introduced as head coach at St. John’s.

“I hadn’t heard. That’s cool. Isn’t that where he’s from?” Langford, KU’s junior guard, said of Roberts, a 38-year-old New Yorker heading home.

“I’m happy for him. I got to know him pretty well. His energy on the bench, his demeanor when it comes to handling players … of course we’ll miss him.”

KU’s players were gripped with mixed emotions — happiness for Roberts in netting his first major-college coaching job and sadness about him leaving KU.

“The funniest thing is the way he talks, his voice,” KU sophomore Jeff Hawkins said of Roberts, who has a raspy Eastern accent.

“He has a voice that makes me laugh. He is a good motivator. He makes players believe they can accomplish things.”

Roberts’ ability to communicate should help him succeed at St. John’s, KU junior guard Michael Lee said.

“He can yell at you and smile at you the same time pretty much,” Lee said. “His intensity stands out to me. I think being back home, understanding the kids in that area and what goes on in that area, will make him a successful head coach. He’ll bring in the right kids, and they’ll win.”

It was no big shock the Jayhawks lost Roberts, who had interviewed at SMU and Miami in the past couple of weeks.

“You always hear numerous things about him, like he’s the No. 1 assistant coach in America,” sophomore guard Stephen Vinson said. “When you get to know him, you can see why. Everybody knows he can recruit. He gets a bunch of New York kids to come to Kansas, Illinois and Tulsa. He will be successful.”

The KU players are confident coach Bill Self will bring in a strong replacement.

“I’m sure coach will do whatever it takes, and his (Roberts’) spot will be Kansas quality, also,” Vinson said. “But it definitely hurts losing him. He’s been a huge part of our success.”

Added Hawkins, “No one can replace his characteristics. A lot of coaches can fill a spot and bring something to the table. He’ll be missed, (but) there’s a lot of coaches out there.”

This won’t be the first time the Jayhawks have seen one of their assistants depart.

“We’ll just keep going,” Lee said. “It’s nothing new, nothing we haven’t seen in the past few years. Coach (Neil) Dougherty left (to take the TCU head coaching position) our freshman year. You bring in what you can and keep moving.”

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Late signing period starts today: Today marks the beginning of the month-long late signing period for high school players. KU, which signed Sasha Kaun, Russell Robinson and Darnell Jackson in November, has one scholarship available.

The Jayhawks are awaiting word from Malik Hairston, a 6-foot-5 guard from Detroit who is considering Kansas, UCLA, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and perhaps Oregon. Hairston planned to visit Oklahoma after Saturday’s Capital Classic in Maryland. Kaun and Robinson also will play in the Classic.

Kansas also is recruiting Alex Galindo, 6-6 from St. Benedict’s Prep School in Newark, N.J., who has been released from his UTEP letter of intent. He currently is in Puerto Rico visiting family. C.J. Giles, 6-11 from Seattle, wants out of his letter intent at Miami. Giles says he wants to visit KU and perhaps Gonzaga while also agreeing to talk to new Miami coach Frank Haith.

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Moving on up: Self has had six former assistants land head coaching jobs. They are: Roberts; John Phillips, Tulsa; Barry Hinson, Southwest Missouri State; Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts; Rob Judson, Northern Illinois; and Billy Gillespie, Texas A&M.

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Graves tapped: KU senior Jeff Graves on Tuesday was the No. 1 pick of the Kansas Cagerz in the USBL draft. The Cagerz said they expected to sign Graves and No. 2 pick Nate Johnson of Nebraska this week.

Members of the Cagerz reportedly earn between $300 and $500 a week, with free room and board.

Graves still will attend classes at KU while playing for the team.