LJWorld.com

Cole Aldrich always has stood out from his peers.

"I found an ID (card) a year or two ago from when I was in second grade. I was 4-foot-9. I was 6-foot tall in fifth grade," Aldrich, Kansas University's 6-foot-11 sophomore basketball center, said. "I was taller than some of the teachers in elementary school."

His height definitely came in handy as a child growing up in Bloomington, Minn.

"I used to be a goalie," said Aldrich, one the tallest 'keepers in the history of Minnesota youth soccer. "I only let in one goal the whole time I played. I was pretty good."

Aldrich - everybody around here knows he's a pretty good basketball player (more on that later) - also was, and remains, a standout bowler.

"I was in a league from kindergarten to sixth grade," said Aldrich, who has a personal-best score of 214. "My grandpa was a really good bowler. He had a few 300 games.

"I'm just a straight line-drive down the middle - power it," the 245-pounder added. "I'm very tempted to get my own ball and my own shoes. I'll go out bowling by myself or go bowl with random people if I have to, just so I can beat 'em and make myself feel good."

Not so good at golf - "I stink," he said. "I just do it to relax" - Aldrich has an additional hobby.

"Sledding," he revealed. "My buddies and I go sledding during the winter. Just because it's real cold outside doesn't make people stop going outside."

Aldrich, it should be apparent by now, has many interests outside of hoops.

"I've got a 3.0 (grade-point average). I definitely work hard at it," he said of his studies. "Sherron (Collins) says I'm a natural genius. I'm like Einstein."

"Don't believe him," junior teammate Collins stated. "But he probably could go on 'Jeopardy' and win. He could have his own reality TV show."

Like some of the centers at KU throughout the years - Greg Dreiling, Greg Ostertag and Scot Pollard come to mind - Aldrich is blessed with an outgoing personality off the court.

"I'm a very serious person," he said, smiling, when asked to reveal the least-known fact about him.

On the court, he is driven.

His whole personality package makes him a delight to be around, KU coach Bill Self says.

"What a great kid," Self said, growing serious when discussing the dues Aldrich already has paid.

"He got the heck beat out of him last year (at practice by Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun, Darrell Arthur) and kept coming back for more. Those three took turns beating up Cole. It made him tougher, harder. Everybody who saw us play was impressed after seeing him at the start of the season and at the end."

Aldrich averaged 2.8 points and 3.0 boards while logging 8.3 minutes a game in 40 games.

He endeared himself to KU fans forever with his eight-point, seven-rebound, four-block outing in KU's national semifinal victory over North Carolina and national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough.

"I do think that Carolina game gave him a lot of confidence," Self said.

Aldrich never has come close to bragging about that effort versus Hansbrough.

"It was just kind of : I was a little more rested than some of the other guys. I had a little advantage that way. It carries over with a little confidence," he said.

This year he figures to play 25 to 30 minutes a game - if he can stay out of foul trouble.

"One thing that concerns me : will the additional minutes take away his effectiveness?" Self said of Aldrich, who opened with eight points and nine boards in 19 minutes Tuesday against Washburn. "He was so aggressive and fresh in short spurts. Now at 27 to 30 minutes a game, will he wear down? I don't believe it'll be the case, but it's a big adjustment for guys like that."

Aldrich knows what's ahead.

"My role is going to change a lot. We've got a young team. We don't know our identity yet. It's a focus of mine to grab some boards," he said.

He's going to help the young Jayhawks, just as he was assisted by the veterans a year ago.

"I wouldn't say (I) scream at them," he said with a smile. "We (four returning scholarship players) are all encouraging because we know we were in their shoes last year. There's that freshman transition, trying to figure out the little things that make you successful on the college level.

"We expect to improve each game. We all have to find little ways to help our niche on the team, whether it's getting extra possessions on the offensive side, denying your guy the ball so he can't catch it. There's numerous things we can do as a group in order to win."

Self believes Aldrich will help lead the way.

"He can be the next great big man here at Kansas, no doubt about that," Self said.

And considering his personality, perhaps the next fan favorite?

"We've got the best fans in the country," Aldrich said. "You can't go anywhere without people saying, 'Congratulations, you played great.' It's a warm feeling when people do that. You go to Wal-mart at 1:30 in the morning, people say, 'You guys are great. Have fun this year.' I think we're going to do that.''