With Wright gone, fans wonder who’s next

At a minute to 4 p.m., bowling in the Jaybowl stopped. Conversations ended. The volume on the big-screen TVs was turned up – high.

In another minute, Julian Wright, who made an off-the-court home at the bowling alley in the lower level of the Kansas Union, was to confirm he would forgo his last two seasons of college basketball in favor of declaring for the NBA draft.

As 4 o’clock turned to 4:02 and 4:04 without an announcement, the 50 or so fans cracked wise that Wright was – no surprise – running late.

“Well, we can be sure it’s not because he’s bowling,” one of them said.

While their disappointment was apparent, few fans wanted to do anything but send best wishes to the Kansas University sophomore forward.

“It came to me as kind of a shock,” said KU freshman Miles Golson. “I don’t know his personal circumstances, but it was a big disappointment to a lot of us.”

And Golson worried Wright’s move could have wider effects.

“Everyone’s always dreaded one of our major players declaring early. I wonder if another of our major players might go now,” he said.

Speculation that Brandon Rush, Sherron Collins and Mario Chalmers could declare has run rampant lately. Wright, who averaged 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds this season, is only the fifth player in KU basketball history to leave school early.

“He’s going to miss out on our national championship next season,” Golson said.

Even though Wright will be playing for pay, fans say he’ll still have a home, and friends, in the Jaybowl.