Padgett hangs up KU jersey
Freshman standout David Padgett isn’t sure where he’ll play basketball next season, but it won’t be at Kansas.
Padgett, a 6-foot-11 freshman from Reno, Nev., told coach Bill Self on Thursday that he had decided to transfer. A highly touted McDonald’s All-American in high school, Padgett becomes the third — and highest profile — player to leave the Jayhawk squad after Self’s first year as head coach.
“I think I’ll have more opportunities to be a face-up player and play the four position at another school,” Padgett said.
Touted as similar in ability and style to Jayhawk All-American Nick Collison, Padgett was heavily recruited by Roy Williams and signed with the Jayhawks in fall 2002. When Williams bolted Kansas for North Carolina after the 2003 Final Four, Padgett told the newly hired Self he would honor his national letter of intent with Kansas.
As a freshman, Padgett started 19 of 31 games for the Jayhawks and averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. He was hobbled by a slight stress fracture that kept him out of conference games against Kansas State and Texas A&M.
With his surprise announcement, Padgett joins freshman Omar Wilkes and sophomore Moulaye Niang in leaving the Jayhawks, who still are expected to compete next year for the national championship.
“There’s no reason the expectations should be dampened at all,” Self said.
6Sports video: Padgett looking for new program
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