Self singles out Simien, Robertson at Parent/Child Camp

photo by: Mike Yoder

Former NBA player and KU basketball star Wayne Simien leads participants in his Called to Greatness girls basketball camp Thursday, July 3, 2014, at Lawrence High. Simien will hold a boys camp July 8-10.

Bill Self was mighty happy to see one of his former Kansas University basketball players, Wayne Simien, and one of Roy Williams’ KU players, Ryan Robertson, bring their children to his Parent/Child camp Friday in Allen Fieldhouse and Horejsi Center.

“Why do we call him ‘Big Dub?'” Self asked during his introductory camp speech to several hundred campers.

“Double doubles,” Simien, KU’s campus director, team chaplain and head of the Called to Greatness Ministry in Lawrence, responded with a smile.

“That’s turnovers and shots attempted,” Self joked, adding, “Wayne is the best collegiate player — not prospect, but collegiate player — I’ve coached. I’ve never had anybody average 22 and 11 (like Simien’s 20.3 ppg and 11.0 rpg his senior campaign).”

Of Robertson, divisional sales manager at Goldman Sachs in St. Charles, Mo., Self said: “First-team Academic All-American to go along with a stellar career here. He showed a lot of guts coming to KU from St. Louis when the (KU-Missouri) rivalry was at its peak.”

Indeed, Robertson was booed every time he touched the ball in four KU-MU games played in Columbia, Mo.

Self also singled out two other parent/child combos attending camp.

Kevin Rabbitt, a former SM South and Rice University point guard who is CEO of NEP Group in Pittsburgh, is in town as is Mistye Ruffin, wife of one of Self’s Tulsa players, Michael Ruffin. Michael is assistant strength-and-conditioning coach and player-development coach with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.

T-Rob to be free agent: Former KU forward Thomas Robinson of the Brooklyn Nets will decline the player option in his contract worth $1.05 million and become a free agent, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders reports. Four-year NBA veteran Robinson, 25, blossomed as a starter in seven games near the end of the season, averaging 14.6 points, 12.3 rebounds in those contests. For the year, he averaged 4.3 points and 5.1 boards. Robinson has played for Sacramento, Houston, Portland, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

Adams to EKU: Former KU guard Rio Adams has signed to play basketball one season at Eastern Kentucky University, coach Dan McHale announced Thursday. Adams, who played in 24 games in 2012-13 at KU, transferred to Ohio University, which he left before playing in a game. He transferred to Odessa College in Texas for the 2013-14 season and averaged 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in his one season. It’s believed the Seattle native did not play the past two seasons. He has one season of eligibility remaining at EKU.

“Rio is a huge pick-up and a welcome addition to the Colonel family,” McHale said. “To get a kid of his caliber and experience will bolster our young backcourt. Rio has tremendous quickness, strength and versatility. The playmaking wing has the ability to make everybody better with his passing and vision. His length and ability to defend multiple positions will enhance our defense. We are thrilled that he will finish his career as a Colonel.”