Lawrence Kahn:I never would say that the Kansas players do not stick together. Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry, who has helped lead to the Jayhawks 33-3 record and sixth straight Big 12 championship last season, went to number 11 and number 12 on Thursday night in the NBA draft.
6-foot-11 Aldrich, one of the best shot-blockers in the history of Jayhawk, was adopted in New Orleans, and then included in the trade that sent him to Oklahoma City Thunder.
Less than 5 minutes after Aldrich was compiled, Memphis chose Henry, marking the fifth time that several Jayhawks were taken in the first round.
Undrafted, but their leader and floor general, and winningest a player in the history of Kansas. Point guard Sherron Collins has been ignored as the tour, groups may inhibit their desire to put an extra weight to his 5-11 frame.
"It's disappointing," said Kansas coach Bill Self. "I can not believe that he is not one of the top 60 prospects out of this project. But, of course, not all is lost. He put himself in position where he will work harder and be more disciplined than he ever when something to show they were wrong.
Aldrich, tall player Kirk Hinrich of Kansas developed a number 7 in 2005, guaranteed $ 1,772,000, and the rookie salary scale as the total number of 11. Henry guaranteed $ 1683000 for this number 12.
Before concluding his college career as a junior, Aldrich blocked 253 shots, only five fewer than the record, Greg Ostertag. He is the ninth Kansas rebounds list with 860 and tied for fifth with 37 double-double. He came in 1038 points and joins a group of talented young players who seem to up and coming franchises in Oklahoma City.
"I think it will be a game-changer for us. I am very glad to have him in our team," said Thunder star Kevin Durant.
As sophomore, Aldrich was one of three players in Grand average of 12 double-double with 14.9 points and 11.1 rebounds. In the first round NCAA tournament game against Dayton, he had 13 points, 20 rebounds school record 10 blocks and recorded the first official Kansas "triple-double: 1.
He readily admits that defense is his forte.
"The most that my game unlock, protect and restore," he said. "I'm kind of a unique big guy who likes to walk around the explosion at the other big guys and do the dirty work. I think he can really do that well, and I will continue to work on that."
Henry, one of the first and the player to Kansas, a familiar name in Memphis. Email this son of the former Kansas star Charles Henry first determined to play their college ball there, along with his elder brother. But the brothers moved to Kansas for coach John Calipari left for Kentucky.
Smooth and rapid improvement in left hands, Henry averaged 13.4 points and 4.4 assists in his one year in college.
I am in Memphis on Monday to talk with Grizzly about it.
"I'm not the only coach in the country that did it," he said. "They asked us to come there, and I thought it would be nice for us, especially if it can help our children.
"They have a good starting 5. But they need that someone can score off the bench and make shots. X is the best player in the last two months. I think he will go there and have the opportunity to play many minutes, and legitimate double-figure scoring threat for them as a rookie. "
With 2 Jayhawks developed compensatory made the whole experience even more interesting, Aldrich said.
"Xavier, and I am very good friends. We always text each other a lot and just hang out together. We have a great friendship. He really looks at me, and I hope so, too, so it is really special offer.
