There’s a touching Christmas story for all the world to see currently playing on the popular Internet site YouTube.com.

And it involves Kansas University basketball.

Click the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vThhJv8s0T4&NR=1 and you’ll view “Hunter’s Phone Call” – a 2 minute, 44 second video clip of KU coach Bill Self’s cell communication with 9-year-old Salina native Hunter Watson.

In the clip, Self both encourages Hunter, whose 7-year-old sister, Chloe, died on Oct. 17, and invites him to attend next Tuesday’s KU-Loyola game with seats behind the bench at Allen Fieldhouse.

The expressions on Hunter Watson’s face during the Dec. 10 call – and comments in his exchange with Self – are telling to say the least.

“I can’t believe it. I’m talking to the coach that has a team ranked 3 in the country!” young KU fan Watson exclaimed speaking on speakerphone with Self, piano music in the background.

“We’ve got some work to do. We’ve got to get to No. 1, don’t we?” Self asked the fourth grader at Coronado School.

“Yep,” Watson responded.

Suffice it to say, Hunter Watson accepted Self’s invitation to attend the Loyola game and will be on hand with his mom, Heidi Feyerherm, who posted the clip on You Tube.

It’ll be Hunter’s first game in the Fieldhouse.

“It’s been a really hard year. For Hunter, this type of thing is priceless,” said Feyerherm. “He had no idea. It (phone call) was quite the surprise for him. Hunter felt pretty special. I joked with him about how Bill Self was his friend now. We’ll be talking about KU and I’ll say, ‘Maybe Bill will call and you can talk to him.”’

She’s most grateful to both Self and Blue Beacon, a company that adopted Heidi’s family for Christmas and contacted Self, who also provided Hunter with a basketball autographed by all of KU’s players.

“He (Self) mentioned something about letting Hunter shoot baskets with the team. We’re hoping to stand next to some players,” Heidi Feyerherm added, realizing the Jayhawks will tower over Hunter, who “is a pretty much a sports nut. He’ll tell you the score from the (KU) games three years ago.”

Hunter said Wednesday his first reaction to Self’s call was: “Is this true?”

He added that he had “no clue” what would be in store for him in attending his first KU game, but indicated Sasha Kaun, Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers were players he’d most like to meet.

Hunter and his mom did have a Merry Christmas.

“It was good. It was different,” Heidi said of the Christmas without Chloe.

And they’ll have a memorable Jan. 8.

“We look forward to meeting you. Promise me you’ll do well in school,” Self said on the memorable phone call. “Will you do that?”

“Yes,” Hunter responded quickly.

¢

BC improves to 10-2: KU next will meet Boston College at 11 a.m., Central time, Saturday at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Eagles improved to 10-2 on Wednesday by thumping Longwood, 81-52. Junior guard Tyrese Rice led the way with 24 points.

Freshmen Rakim Sanders and Corey Raji had 14 and 11 respectively, while senior Tyrelle Blair contributed 10 in the Eagles’ victory.

¢

Unbeaten … so far: KU is trying to become 14-0 for the first time since 2004-05. The best start in school history is 22-0 in 1997-98.