Boot Camp off to early start

Everybody reported on time, raring to go for the start of Boot Camp 2006 at 6 a.m. Monday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“There will have to be a serious case of electricity going out or whatever for somebody to be late the next two weeks,” Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self said after Day 1 of the two-week preseason conditioning program.

“It was a good first day and probably the easiest we’ll have,” Self added. “The guys seemed to respond well and were enthusiastic. The first day will set the tone for the second day, and they’ll know more of what to expect.”

Self said “our best workers today were Brandon (Rush), Rodrick (Stewart) and Mario (Chalmers). They were ready.”

The morning session of Boot Camp lasted 45 minutes. The Jayhawks ran and performed defensive slides. Boot Camp takes place without the use of a basketball.

The first day of practice will be the Oct. 13 Late Night in the Phog at Allen Fieldhouse.

Releford visits MU: Travis Releford, a 6-foot-4 junior from Roeland Park Miege, made an unofficial visit to Missouri last Saturday and participated in a pick-up game with other high school players, as well as members of MU’s team.

Releford, who is considering KU, North Carolina, Duke, Illinois, Missouri and others, guarded Scott Suggs, a 6-5 junior from Washington High in suburban St. Louis, who has Missouri, Illinois, KU, Iowa, Saint Louis, Southern Illinois and Washington on his list.

“It (recruiting) is just now getting started,” Releford told the Columbia Tribune. “It was cool coming down here playing with these guys. They’re all nice. That’s about it.”

Watching the action was former MU guard Kareem Rush, brother of KU’s Brandon Rush. Kareem, who was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats last April, may attend preseason camp with either Seattle, Miami or New York.

More recruiting: Derrick Rose, a 6-4 senior guard from Chicago’s Simeon High, made an unofficial visit to Notre Dame last weekend. Rose, whose buddy, Demetrius Jones, attends the South Bend, Ind., school, met with Irish coach Mike Brey before leaving town. Rose has an official list of KU, Memphis, DePaul, UCLA and Indiana. … Kyle Singler, a 6-8 forward from South Medford, Ore., reportedly had a great trip to Duke last weekend, but did not orally commit. He will attend KU’s Late Night in the Phog and is also considering UCLA and Arizona.