Brandon Rush

Former Kansas University basketball standout Brandon Rush, who last week bought a condo in Indianapolis, plans on returning to his college hometown often during a long NBA career.

“I love Lawrence. I don’t know what it is about it. I fell in love with it as soon as I got here,” said Rush, a Jayhawk for three seasons before being tapped No. 13 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2008 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-6 Kansas City, Mo., native, who was traded to the Indiana Pacers on draft day, was in town Friday and Saturday to sign some national championship books and visit with his former KU teammates.

“I definitely love it not having to go to class now. School started on Thursday. I was pretty upset for some of the guys. They get to go back to school and I don’t,” Rush joked.

“I was with some of the guys last night. They were so mad they had to get up and go practice at 9 o’clock and have another one today at 2 (Saturday). I’m glad I never have to go through that again.”

All kidding aside … Rush said he’ll be hitting the books again someday.

“I am 30 hours away from a degree (in communication studies),” he said. “I’ll try to get my degree somehow, try to do summer classes online, try to get it out of the way. I want it for myself. I think it’d be a good thing for me.”

Of course, there’s no rush to land a diploma.

As the 13th pick in the draft, he’s ticketed to make $1,499,300 his rookie season and $1,611,800 the following year. The Pacers have an option for the third and fourth years at $1,724,200 and $2,463,880, respectively.

“I haven’t bought much. I bought a lot of clothes, a car and condo. That’s about it. I’ve been spending no money on jewelry or anything,” Rush said.

Rush – who along with fellow KU draftees Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers and Darnell Jackson will be attending the NBA’s rookie transition program next week in New York – already has received advice and direction on handling his newfound money and fame.

Family friend William Bazzle has spent a lot of time with Rush since the June 26 draft in New York.

“I’m not an agent. I’m like an adviser, a close family friend,” said Bazzle, cousin of KU freshman Travis Releford. “(As a rookie) you have to realize there are people who want to come around just because he’s in the NBA and not because he’s Brandon Rush. They may not want to get to know him, but want something from him. It’s a fast life, the NBA life.

“Brandon doesn’t let too much affect him. He will be fine. People should expect big things out of him,” Bazzle added.

Rush, who has been told by coach Jim O’Brien he’ll be playing shooting guard and small forward, expects much from himself his rookie season.

“I’ve got to battle (Mike) Dunleavy, Danny Granger and Marquis Daniels. We’ve got a team full of guards,” Rush said. “I think I could start there sometime, probably not the beginning of the season.

“We were one game out of the playoffs last year. Hopefully we’ll make the jump this year.”

He won’t have to compete for minutes against brother Kareem Rush, who played for the Pacers last season, but shortly after the draft signed with Philadelphia as a free agent.

“It would have been nice to be on the same team, but we both play the same position,” Rush said. “It was good for him to get away and go to Philly. They need a shooter like him. He can step in right away.”

As far as the team he leaves behind … Rush is hopeful KU will reload, not rebuild this season.

Bill Self’s Jayhawks lost all five starters off the 2008 national title team.

“I think they’ll struggle like we did my freshman year,” Rush said of a 25-8 season that did include Big 12 regular-season and postseason titles and a first-round loss in the NCAAs. “They’ll struggle a little bit but turn it around at the end of the year hopefully.

“I think the key is Sherron (Collins, junior guard). Sherron has to step up and play. It’s going to be Sherron’s show.”

Rush offered some advice to KU’s newcomers, who are busy practicing for a three-game Labor Day weekend trip to Canada.

“Take your time. Learn the game first. Don’t think you know everything, because you don’t,” said Rush.

He plans on spending some quality time with the team Sept. 19-20 when the Jayhawks receive their national title rings at a private ceremony.

“It’ll be fun. Everybody’s coming back. It’ll be like a homecoming,” Rush said.

Rush hasn’t decided what he’ll do with his ring.

“I’m not going to wear it. I’ll give it to my grandma or mom,” he said.

Remember, he doesn’t need any memorabilia to remind him of his three years in Lawrence.

“Brandon loves KU. I tease him all the time about the Jayhawks,” family friend Bazzle said. “He is a Jayhawk for life. He said he wants to ride that national championship until the day he dies.”