Transfer shocks KU players
Kansas University’s basketball players had no clue David Padgett was unhappy at KU.
“I thought he fit in perfectly,” junior point guard Aaron Miles said.
Miles and his teammates learned of the 6-foot-11 Padgett’s decision to transfer at a team meeting with coach Bill Self on Thursday afternoon — right after Padgett told Self his intentions.
“It’s a shock,” Miles said, “but it’s his decision. I know coach and everybody on the team was looking forward to David being a big contributor next year. It’s disappointing to me. He could have been part of something special next year. We wish him well.”
“Shock” described the reaction of Padgett’s teammates.
“A huge shock to me,” sophomore Christian Moody said. “He didn’t show any signs of being unhappy — him, Omar (Wilkes) and Moulaye (Niang), nobody knew.”
Wilkes and Niang also have announced plans to leave KU.
“All I can say is I am surprised,” junior guard Michael Lee said. “It was unexpected. There was no indication.”
“Nobody had the slightest idea behind closed doors or anything,” sophomore Stephen Vinson noted. “People are shocked, but wish him the best.”
6Sports video: Padgett looking for new program
Padgett’s pick puzzlingThe only reason Padgett gave for wanting to transfer was that he wanted to be more of a perimeter player than a true post. He didn’t cite the fact he was the subject of criticism from fans in the student paper this year, or the fact he was blasted on many Internet forums and in some newspaper stories.
“David probably did get the worst of it,” Moody said.
“Coming in, everybody compared him to (Nick) Collison,” Vinson said. “People in the ‘Free For All’ (anonymous call-in column in student paper) were dogging him, giving him the ‘Chenowith tag.’ It bothers you. That is for cowards to call in and criticize and not leave your name. I’m not saying it contributed to this. It couldn’t help. Maybe it will make fans stop and think. We love the fans here, but you can’t love people who go off at the mouth and are cowards in criticizing (anonymously).”
“It might have gotten to him,” Miles said of the criticism. “But the ‘Free for All’ talks about everybody. They got on me. They get on everybody.”
KU coach Self downplayed fan criticism.
“Our students are the best,” Self said. “When you play at a high level at Kansas where there’s so much attention, not everything presented will be 100 percent positive. A lot of students camp out, sacrifice sleep and other things to get much better seats to watch us play.”
As far as Padgett wanting to play more on the perimeter and not being pleased with KU’s style of play, some players were baffled.
“It seemed to be where David got most of his points this year,” Moody said. “It’s what he wants more of. As a freshman, maybe he thought he’d get more shots.”
“I don’t know of many programs that let their big guys isolate from the wing,” Vinson said. “I guess he felt he didn’t have a great season. I felt he did. I hope he finds happiness somewhere else.”
One of the team leaders, Miles, said there were no chemistry problems at KU, and the public shouldn’t assume problems with the program because Padgett, Omar Wilkes and Moulaye Niang were transferring.
“There’s no problem in our team family,” Miles said. “I guess it’s just individuals wanting to be satisfied and happy, doing things for personal reasons. I do wish David well.”
“This team is close-knit,” Vinson said. “Coach Self is not here short-term. He is here long-term, and long-term you’ll find players he brings in will be quality guys and will stay. This isn’t a Kansas thing. This goes on all over the country. Arizona has lost players; Roy Williams lost players. I’d say fans should take it easy and be patient. We’re going to have one of the top teams in the country next year.”
- Niang still likely leaving: Self was asked if soph Moulaye Niang still planned to transfer despite the fact his prospects of playing might increase with Padgett gone.
“As of now, yes. There could be some changes, obviously,” Self said. “I think Moulaye’s intentions are to try to find some place where he’ll have an opportunity to play more … is what he told me all along. He likes Kansas so much, it’s a tough break for him.”
The Jayhawk players also expect Niang to leave. He visited TCU last weekend and will visit San Diego State this weekend.
- Future stop: Padgett hasn’t said where he would play next year. “I’d say North Carolina is a possibility,” Vinson said, “just because coach Williams loved him so much. It doesn’t necessarily mean he’s thinking about going there.”
UNC has no scholarships available, but two signees are thinking of turning pro and one current player, Damien Grant, could be a candidate for medical hardship.
- Recruiting: KU has seven scholarship players returning and three who have signed, meaning there’s room for three more scholarship players, two if Moody continues to put kept on scholarship as he was second semester. However, KU can sign just one more this year because of the NCAA 5 and 8 rule. KU could appeal to sign more players, but appeals have not been successful in the past.
KU is awaiting word from Malik Hairston, 6-5 from Detroit, who is considering KU, UCLA, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oregon. KU is recruiting Alex Galindo, 6-7 from New Jersey. Also, C.J. Giles, 6-11 from Seattle, wants out of his Miami letter of intent so he can visit KU. He told rivals.com on Thursday he definitely will visit KU. Also 6-7 prep junior Micah Downs of Bothell, Wash., said he’ll visit KU on May 15.
It’s unknown if Self has his eyes on any specific junior-college big men. “Our staff has done of great job in continuing to recruit guys in case something negative were to happen.”
He was asked if KU would recruit another big man. “We would if we could find ’em. We’re targeting whoever we can target. We still have guys in mind.”
- Big picture: Recruiting guru Mike Sullivan, on what losing Padgett means: “It means absolutely nothing. Bill and his staff have had a tremendous recruiting class coming in. He will continue to attract the best players in America on both coasts. Unfortunately, we are in an era kids are transferring for whatever reason. It’s a risk for the player. The great programs, like ones run by Bill Self, will be fine.”