[Lotto StudParticipant]

Kansas’ Josh Selby going pro

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Freshman guard Josh Selby is declaring for the NBA draft, leaving Kansas with only two players who had a significant role in last season’s 35-3 record.

Earlier, twin forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris, last season’s top scorers and rebounders, hired an agent and announced they would skip their senior seasons.

The 6-foot-3 Selby was rated the overall No. 1 prospect in the nation when Kansas coach Bill Self signed him last year, but was suspended the first nine games by the NCAA for amateurism violations. He also missed several more with a foot injury and wound up averaging 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26 games.

Selby had spent more than a week working out in Las Vegas testing NBA interest. He said Thursday on Twitter that he will miss Allen Fieldhouse, but was looking forward to "a new journey."

He added: "I will not return to Kansas next year. Making my dream a reality."

In a statement, Self said he supports Selby’s decision.

"When the season was over, Josh, his family and I spoke quite candidly about what he wanted to do," Self said. "He made it very clear that he wanted to go to Las Vegas and work out to see if he could get more information of his NBA draft status. He did exactly what we agreed for him to do and handled it well and has come to the conclusion that it’s best for him to go ahead and enter into the 2011 NBA draft. We, as a staff, totally support Josh’s decision and we also hope our fans support it as well."

Selby’s most memorable game as a Jayhawk was his first. With just seconds to go, he made a 3-pointer from the right wing to lift Kansas to a 70-68 victory over USC in Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 18. His 21 points that day turned out to be his career high. He averaged 12 points and 3.2 assists his first 13 games but injured his foot on Feb. 1. He missed the next three games and was hampered the rest of the season.

"I never coached a kid that went through as much stuff his freshman year as Josh has," Self said. "He fought through it and certainly played through injury and did everything within his power to give our team the best chance to succeed.

"Josh made above a 3.0 [grade point average] his first semester and worked with his professors to complete his work second semester. I feel good about Josh leaving here knowing he took care of his business the way that he should have taken care of it."

The Jayhawks will need to be almost completely retooled next season. Seniors Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar are graduating and the Morris twins and Selby are leaving early for the NBA. Point guard Tyshawn Taylor and forward Thomas Robinson will be the only returning players who had significant roles in Kansas’ seventh straight Big 12 regular-season championship.

Associated Press

[JimmeredYaWabafetParticipant]

http://www.honda-tech.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=43810&stc=1&d=1243914682 effin still dont get how to emble or whatever it called

[GlenTaylorSucksParticipant]

I think we’re seeing another Daniel Orton kind of situation where he’s entering the draft because he was a highly rated HS prospect. I really can’t see him as ready for the NBA right now, he needs another year to show he can do more at the college level first. He’s not a good enough decision maker to be a PG, and he’s not big enough to be a SG. He showed flashes of being very good, but for every brilliant play, he’d make two or three stupid ones- like taking a dumb shot, or turning the ball over carelessly, or holding onto the ball too long. Has he hired an agent? Or did he leave the door open to come back? 

[PaulsJayhawksParticipant]

I really think even if he did come back to KU he would have been a major ball hog jacking up shots from everywhere. I constantly found myself just willing for this kid to suceed. In the end it was all about him, skipping the final TEAM dinner. KU is okay at guard next year not a killer loss.

To me this is what is wrong with college hoops, this is clearly a kid who could care less about school. He got a scolarship that some kids would die getting.

Hes clearly not ready, Willie Warren 2.0.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

ss

[mamadouParticipant]

Don’t know about his D, but that’s an undersized SG, TO prone, who can’t shoot the ball.

Great prospect fo’sho….

Poor decision maker till the end.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

His D is great when he is not worrying too much about his offensive game. He plays the passing lanes very very well, one game he had 2-3 steals this year from playing the passing lanes.

[scoutguruParticipant]

At least Willie produced his freshman year at a high level on a good team. Coulda been a lotto pick that year. But the following year it was like he was tryna play to be the #1 pick, and the injuries didn’t help either, as well as the lack of team chemisty with the freshman and coaches.

But for Selby, clearly he’s just going in off a hs hype. If you never knew about HS rankings and stuff, which is the case with a friend of mine, he only casually watches college, you’d never think this kid was even draftable. Hope it works out for him, cause he’s gonna be in for a long ride..

[HuRRiCaNeS324Participant]

 I have high hopes for Selby and i hope the Heat draft him.

I just think Selby went to the wrong school, he has to be the one making the decisions. In Kansas Tyshawn was and it forced Selby to play off guard and at 6’2 180lbs, thats not easy. All he did was spot up shoot, swing the ball, or feed the post. Rarely did he ever drive it in and create opportunities for himself. 

In the NBA they will adequately use him to his his maximum capability and make him a solid player.

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

His defense and jumpshot is actually ok, his problem was he didn’t attack the basket like did in high school, and was often relying on his jumpshot. With his speed/quickness, athleticism, he should Have been a better penetrator for Kansas, but he wasn’t.

[D-Rose1Participant]

I think Kansas was just a bad playing style for him. With Bill Self it seems their guards are players who spot up and shoot or feed the post. Selby is better at creating and slashing to the basket to showcase his strength and athleticism as a guard. I think he could be a solid player for a pretty good team late first round. He clearly needs to improve his decision making and point guard skills but the man is a playmaker and its not like he just lost all the talent that made him such a highly rated prospect out of high school. 

Is it a dumb decision to enter the NBA? I think the answer is yes and no. Clearly he has things he needs to work on and doesnt seem ready. However, he wouldnt be showing scouts much more by just shooting and feeding the post with another year at Kansas. His playing style is better suited for the NBA than Kansas IMO. We’ll see though.

[TeamShowtimeLakersParticipant]

i agree 100percent.

[the I in winParticipant]

Miami makes sense, he wouldn’t have to be an actual point guard next to lebron and wade.  He could focus on scoring more.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

"Miami makes sense, he wouldn’t have to be an actual point guard next to lebron and wade. He could focus on scoring more."

If Miami was to draft him, he would spend as much time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce as Dexter Pittman did. He was lousy against decent teams at Kansas, there is no way he plays for an NBA title contender.

[omphalosParticipant]

@BTPH: So he should be fine playing for Miami then? Couldn’t resist haha.

Seriously though, I like Selby in a situation like Marcus Thornton in Sacramento; playing next to an oversized PG allows him to play a scoring role and not be a defensive liability. That said, Thornton was a polished rookie, and Selby is somewhat raw, to say the least.

[the I in winParticipant]

Taken things personal?  I didn’t say he would play next year, Chalmers is still way better than him.  But in a few years if Selby developed next to the great heat players he could be a very good piece.  You act like Miami’s point guard situation is the best in the league, they played Carlos Arroyo for 40 some games.  Are you going to say Arroyo is way better than Selby?

[LeWoshParticipant]

"Don’t know about his D, but that’s an undersized SG, TO prone, who can’t shoot the ball."

Reminds me of Dwyane Wade when he first entered the league, look where he is now… Anyways id love to see Selby on Miami, him and Chalmers sharing the PG position looks pretty nice. Much better then Bibby, imagine Selby Wade and LeBron running the floor together. Selby has amazingly high potential he could be a superstar, or could be a bust but still manges to be a rotation player. Kinda like Shannon Brown

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

"Reminds me of Dwyane Wade when he first entered the league, look where he is now"

Yes the Dwyane Wade who in his first year at Marquette was first team All-CUSA (back when CUSA had Marquette, Louisville, Cini, and Memphis) averaged 18 PPG on 49 percent shooting, 35 percent from 3, 3.4 assists per game and better than 1.1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. This wasn’t even the second year where he was an All-American and carried Marquette to the Final Four. It is completely fair to compare someone who shot 37 percent and was outperformed by the likes of Morningstar and Reed to that guy. Mirror images. And, of course, if there is one thing Miami can use is someone who shot below 31 percent from three in Big Twelve games.

 

[iguapops420Participant]

 Reminds me more of Monta Ellis coming out of high school more than anyone.

[Author]

Posts