Lawrence and Douglas county
St. Louis prep Beal chooses Florida
High school junior says KU was runner-up
November 30, 2009, 10:11 a.m. Updated December 1, 2009, 12:00 a.m.
Advertisement
Bradley Beal tried to squeeze several caps onto a podium Monday morning in the St. Louis Chaminade High School library.
The Kansas University hat was the only one that kept falling off.
“KU just got eliminated,” a media member joked as the caps from finalists Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Duke and Ohio State remained in place.
Sure enough, the omen proved true. Beal, Rivals.com’s No. 7-rated player in the Class of 2011, placed a Florida cap atop his head a few minutes into his news conference, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard picking the Gators just before the start of his junior season.
“Probably next, it would most definitely be Kansas,” Beal said, indicating the Jayhawks were his runner-up selection. “That’s a great school. I love coach (Bill) Self. I just really like Florida, just a little bit more than I like Kansas.”
Beal visited with Self for a final time Saturday and Florida coach Billy Donovan on Sunday in St. Louis. Beal told Donovan of his decision Sunday.
“He came to practice last night and said, ‘Kelvin, I’m going to take care of your boy,’’’ Chaminade coach Kelvin Lee said of Donovan. “I said, ‘That’s all I want ... for Bradley to be happy.”
Beal said he spoke to Chaminade grad David Lee, a former Florida player who plays in the NBA, in the recruiting process.
“David ... he helped me with the decision. He told me some pros and cons about Florida,” Beal said. “He told me I couldn’t go wrong with the decision. I tried to choose the school that would fit me best.”
Chaminade coach Lee is no relation to David Lee.
“David really didn’t have anything to do with it, but having David there helped sway it. We’re proud of that,” coach Lee said.
Beal, who averaged 23.5 points a game his sophomore season, can’t sign a letter of intent until November of 2010.
KU targets: KU, which has signed combo guard Royce Woolridge, will try to ink two more players in the recruiting Class of 2010, Self said on Monday’s Hawk Talk radio show.
“We know we lose Sherron (Collins, senior) and I don’t want to say we know for sure, but Cole (Aldrich, junior) is not going to be here more than likely,” Self said. “The situation becomes, ‘Will we lose anybody else?’ The answer is obviously definitely more than likely. We’ve got to sign a couple difference-makers, guys who can impact the program immediately. We need a little guard, a guy who can come in and handle heat and help us win games. That’s my priority and then the next best player.”
No. 1-ranked Brandon Knight, a 6-3 point guard from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has a list of KU, Kentucky, Florida, UConn and Miami. No. 4-ranked Josh Selby, a 6-2 point guard from Baltimore, has a list of KU, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami and Syracuse. No. 21-ranked Doron Lamb, a 6-4 shooting guard from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., has a list of KU, Kentucky, Oklahoma, UConn and Arizona. Maurice Walker, a 6-10 center from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., will visit KU Dec. 18-19.
Milt Newton attends Roy’s 600th win: Roy Williams singled out a special guest in the stands after earning his 600th victory as a college coach on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C. That person was former KU player Milt Newton, now vice president of player personnel of the Washington Wizards.
“Son. You were there for No. 1,” North Carolina coach Williams told Newton after a win over Nevada, as reported by carolinablue.com.
Indeed, Newton played for Williams in 1988-89. Williams went 418-101 in 15 years at KU.
Williams is wearing a sling after undergoing surgery last Tuesday for a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He slipped on the stairs at a charity golf event in October.
Withey returns: Jeff Withey (stress fracture, knee) was cleared to shoot at practice Monday. Self hopes Withey “will be able to impact our team by conference play.”
• B.J. Rains of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat contributed to this story.
Top ads RSS
- Leaders Apply Seeking all levels of Successful Restaurant Leaders to ...
- SEEKING FULL TIME TELLER • Requires good customer service skills. ...
- MARKETING & PROMOTIONAL WRITER The World Company, a local news ...
- Douglas County Senior Services, Inc. Part Time Receptionist Needed For ...
- PSYCHOTHERAPIST Community Mental Health Center Outpatient Serve adults, children and ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- ‘Tea party’ is Palin’s people February 7, 2010 · 235 comments
- Proposed constitutional amendment to block federal health care reform considered February 9, 2010 · 50 comments
- Rep. John Murtha, Iraq war critic, dies at 77 February 9, 2010 · 89 comments
- Blog: Marion - Disappeareded 1-23-2010 January 23, 2010 · 806 comments
- Bill would allow big-cat hunting February 9, 2010 · 73 comments
- The only choice February 9, 2010 · 55 comments
- Poll: Paper, plastic or, no thanks, I brought my own tote bag? February 8, 2010 · 49 comments
- Kansas Legislature considers poverty waivers for those looking to get married, but unable to pay fees February 9, 2010 · 35 comments
- Tehran moves closer to warhead capacity February 9, 2010 · 42 comments
- Kansans rally for statewide smoking ban, point to health benefits February 9, 2010 · 22 comments
- KU employee suspected of charging personal items on university credit card February 9, 2010
- Open house to discuss Highway 56 moved to Baldwin City school February 9, 2010
- HealthGrades releases list of hospitals with lower mortality, complication rates February 9, 2010
- Kansas Legislature considers poverty waivers for those looking to get married, but unable to pay fees February 9, 2010
- Tour of Lawrence offers events for all ages, interests February 9, 2010
- KDHE orders salvage yard to change practices February 9, 2010
- House gives preliminary OK for Kansas universities to bypass purchasing requirements February 9, 2010
- Love bonds February 8, 2010
- KU communication studies professor is a finalist for MU post February 9, 2010
- Bill would allow big-cat hunting February 9, 2010
30 November 2009
at 10:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
LeBo (Anonymous) says…
He should have though about the long commute home. Lawrence is a comfortable driving distance from the Lou. Plus, you get to play MU 2-3 times per year. {Nothing like the Border War} Also, Kansas is the Mecca of college hoops!
30 November 2009
at 10:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Ignorant_Yokel (Anonymous) says…
Best of luck to Bradley Beal!
KU is just fine without him.
30 November 2009
at 10:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
ChiHawkInKS (Anonymous) says…
Billy Donovan probably has a connect with Chaminade High School. David Lee (New York Knicks) also went to Florida out of Chaminade.
30 November 2009
at 11:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
KU will still be loaded at the guard positions next year. I expect he'll see more playing time at Florida than he would here.
30 November 2009
at 11:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jonas_opines (Anonymous) says…
Whatever the program prestige (and Florida does not score too badly), there's no comparison between the schools when it comes to weather and climate.
30 November 2009
at 11:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
ChiHawkInKS (Anonymous) says…
He is a Junior bozo
30 November 2009
at 12:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
My bad. But I expect that KU will still be loaded in two years.
30 November 2009
at 12:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
KEITHMILES05 (Anonymous) says…
He speaks with David Lee but not Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Paul Pierce, Nick Collison, Kirk Hinrich, Drew Gooden, ????
LOL
He needed validation and that is the only reason to speak with Lee.
30 November 2009
at 1:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
onetime97 (Anonymous) says…
Most top 10 recruits have aspirations beyond college basketball…you gotta go play where that can develop and grow…not on a team with fellow talent…
30 November 2009
at 1:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
puddleglum (Anonymous) says…
well, at least at florida he can go swimming alot.
30 November 2009
at 2:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
newmedia (Anonymous) says…
“Probably next it would most definitely be Kansas,”
Last time I checked there was no “probably next”. You are either in or you are out. Many more fish in the sea and the Jayhawks will continue to get their share…
30 November 2009
at 3:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
pigballin (Anonymous) says…
When a recruit in basketball tells the press that he is going to have a presser at school…You can count KU out.It happens all the time.
Self should have visited on Sunday instead of Sat. for last time impressions.
30 November 2009
at 5:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jkilgore (Anonymous) says…
Recruiting is almost as fun when you don't get the guy. I can't imagine that if we get a top 30 kid or so that it will matter much. Look at the Morris twins. If they had been Top 10 kinds of kids, they and NBA scouts might have coaxed them out based on “up side.” Right. Now, since that isn't a possibility yet, look at the frames these two have carved out for themselves!! I don't know many 18 year old kids who would want any part of that pair, so missing out on Top 10 kids might be a blessing in disguise. And it's true: we're loaded.
1 December 2009
at 7:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
nbnozzy (Anonymous) says…
KU is over loaded with talent. How many transferred in the last few years because they knew their playing time would be limited? The #1 recruit has Kansas on his list, let's hope we land him.
oh, and you bums go out and support the womens team. They have dollar specials. Take the family. Heck, treat the family next door to you. I enjoy the lady Jayhawks b-ball games.