Seldom used during his freshman season, Jeremy Case went to work on his game last summer in the hopes of more playing time down the line.
Case returned to his native Oklahoma to drill and condition on his own and also with his dad Win Case's Oklahoma City University players.
"I played basketball with my dad," Case said. "I lifted weights. I played against college players there. I worked a lot. I think I became a better player."
Case, who scored 26 points in 21 games his rookie season, logging just 82 minutes, knows what it will take to be a contributing player on the major college level.
"One of the biggest things is defense," said the 6-foot, 160-pounder from McAlester, Okla. "Also getting better at running the point, seeing things and being more a leader."
Case, who hit six of 26 threes last season while dishing just eight assists against 11 turnovers in 21 games, believes his future is as a distributor as well as three-point bomber.
"I think it's my natural position," he said of the point. "In high school I ran a lot of two (guard). I didn't get used to running the one, but it's something I can do."
In high school, Case averaged nearly 25 points a game as a senior, leading McAlester High to the state playoffs. He hit more than 40 percent of his threes and had several games of 30 or more points.
During his junior year, Case hit 58 percent of his shots and 45 percent of his threes. He is McAlester's all-time leading scorer with more than 2,000 career points.
"Yes I do," he said with a grin when asked if he missed lighting up the scoreboard. "I miss getting all the shots I want a little bit. I played a lot. I feel I've gotten a lot better even though I haven't been doing that. I'm improved a lot."
Case is a likely red-shirt candidate.
KU coach Bill Self believes Case eventually will become a contributor.
"Jeremy is a good player. He is an excellent shooter that needs to get stronger," Self said. "He's worked really hard and I think has really improved himself."
 Full name: Jeremy Daryl CaseClass: sophomore Height: 6-0 Weight: 160 Hometown: McAlester, Okla. High school: McAlester Major: undecided Birthdate: November 10, 1984
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