Shawnee ? Urban DFW Elite graduate Darrell Arthur has gotten to know some of the current players on coach Jazzy Hartwell’s Dallas/Fort Worth-based AAU basketball team.

“He is a great player and a great guy,” Urban Elite power forward Karviar Shepherd said of the Memphis Grizzlies’ power forward, who helped Kansas University win a national championship in 2008.

It’s way too early in the recruiting process to know whether Shepherd, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound junior-to-be from DeSoto (Texas) High, and 6-7, 200-pound DeSoto/DFW Elite teammate Jordan Mickey will follow in Arthur’s footsteps at KU.

What is known is the two have already received scholarship offers from KU coach Bill Self.

The two, who are playing at this week’s KC Prep Invitational at Mid-America Sports Complex West, visited KU’s campus unofficially in June.

“It was a good experience,” Shepherd said of KU. “We got to play against their players. They kept the intensity up against us. They didn’t let us go easy,” added Shepherd, who has a current list of KU, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Florida State and others.

Mickey, who is currently being pursued by those exact same schools, plus Providence and others, said of his KU visit: “We thought it was a great program … great coaches, great facility, just a great place to be. I am still open minded (about adding schools to list).”

Mickey, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds in DFW Elite’s first-round victory over MBA Elite, is known as a great shot blocker.

“I need to work more on guard skills and shooting. I probably won’t be a post in college,” he said.

Shepherd, who said he projects as a power forward or center in college, said he’s ready for the long recruiting process to pick up steam.

“It’s going to be fun. This is all fun,” he said of his summertime experiences. He had five points and several rebounds in the first-round victory. “We have great chemistry on our team. Nobody is selfish. We play well together.”

Mickey is ranked No. 75 and Shepherd No. 79 in Rivals.com’s Class of 2013.

This, that: Future KU player Conner Frankamp scored 19 points in Kansas City Pump N Run’s 61-54 win over St. Louis Gateway on Friday. The 6-foot-1 guard from Wichita North hit 10 free throws. KU coach Bill Self attended the game. … Mitch McGary, a 6-10 center from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., scored 19 points in SYF’s 72-53 win over Wedman Pumas. Self attended as did Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski.