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National title is Rush’s reward
By HOWARD RICHMANThe Kansas City Star
SAN ANTONIO | Brandon Rush comes from what could be considered the first family of basketball in Kansas City, for more than a decade of dominance we may never witness again.
Even when JaRon was shattering backboards for Pembroke Hill in the 1990s and Kareem was leading Missouri to the Elite Eight in the early 2000s, there were whispers that little brother Brandon might just turn out to be the best of the trio.
If winning a national championship really means something, Brandon Rush proved he’s No. 1.
Kansas sure did.
Rush’s 12 points and second-half smother job on Chris Douglas-Roberts in the dramatic 75-68 overtime defeat of Memphis on Monday night could serve as Rush’s final game at KU. If so, in a way it will cement his family’s legacy on a scale that will be hard to match.
“I’m not worried about that right now,” an ecstatic Rush said about his future following the conclusion of the Jayhawks’ excellent adventure. “This feels good, coming back from what I had, to come back and get a championship.”
The Rush family has notched its share of championships through the years. JaRon and Kareem won a few at Pembroke Hill, although the school had to forfeit three of them because JaRon and Kareem received improper benefits.
All three brothers, however, have left their imprint on the hardwood and grabbed a city’s attention for years.
“It’s been more good than bad,” said Jeanette Jacobs, grandmother to all three young men, perched in her front row chair inside the Alamodome. “A lot has happened, though.”
If a knee injury last year had not sidetracked Brandon Rush, he might have been on an NBA roster Monday, like big brother Kareem. Instead, he came back to KU. Talk about fate.
This was the reward.
“I told him to go for it,” Jacobs said about Brandon’s initial plan to go pro at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season. “This worked out better.”
No fooling.
On Monday, on the ultimate stage, Rush hit five of nine shots and did a defensive number on Douglas-Roberts after the intermission. Douglas-Roberts scored 22 points, but made only two of eight field goals in the second half and overtime.
“I think I did a pretty good job on him,” Rush said.
Whether KC sees another family like this again, well, who knows. The Rushes for sure will be hard to top.
“I’m glad it’s over,” Jacobs said.