White House visit June 3

Kansas University’s basketball players and coaches are going to accept President Bush’s offer to visit the White House.

The 2008 NCAA champions, coach Bill Self said at Wednesday’s Assists Foundation autograph signing session at Crown Automotive, are planning on traveling to Washington, D.C., on June 3.

“It’s close to being finalized, but June 3 is the day,” Self said.

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Collins keeping fit

KU sophomore Sherron Collins, who had arthroscopic surgery April 21 to repair cartilage damage in his left knee, has been watching his weight during his first week and a half of inactivity, Self said.

“He looks good. He has to be careful though. He could put on weight easily,” Self said of the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder who has had weight issues in the past. “I think he feels a lot better. We will not let him do anything for a while. We are positively not going to let him do anything for the majority of the summer.”

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More honors for Self

Self and Tennessee women’s coach Pat Summitt will receive the Winged Foot Award on May 14 at the New York Athletic Club. Former KU coach Larry Brown will be the keynote speaker on behalf of Self and KU. The Winged Foot Award annually is presented to head coaches of the NCAA champs.

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Basketball Boogie update

Self has started to heavily promote “Bill’s Basketball Boogie” to benefit Self’s Assists Foundation.

The Boogie, which will include food, drink, live music, live and silent auctions and shooting contests with KU hoops players, will be held June 7 at Kansas Speedway.

The Boogie, according to Self’s official Web site (basketballboogie.org), is designed to “raise funds to create a multi-purpose athletic campus (in the Lawrence/Kansas City area) and help our community-based institutions improve their existing facilities. … These facilities will provide our young people with well deserved new and safe places to play, and it will also provide you and your families with a lifetime of benefits. Our goal for this project is to ensure that the kids we are raising have the necessary resources to outlive their parents.”

Additional details will be released in coming weeks.

“This deal June 7 will be huge,” Self said. “There will be 1,000 to 2,000 people at the Speedway. It’s going to be the party of the summer. I hope everybody will help take part in a good cause.”