Former Kansas basketball stars Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur have apologized for the actions that led to Wednesday’s expulsion from the NBA’s rookie transition program.Arthur and Chalmers — of the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat, respectively — were sent home for having women in their room at a Rye Brook, N.Y., hotel, a violation of the program’s rules. There reportedly was also evidence of marijuana use in the room. Chalmers and Arthur both denied using marijuana.“About the marijuana,” Arthur told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis on Thursday, “I didn’t have any. I didn’t have anything to do with marijuana or anything like that. I’d like to clear that up.”Chalmers said in a release obtained by The Associated Press on Friday: “Everyone who knows me knows I am a good person and I pride myself on doing the right thing. I am embarrassed this happened. I broke the rules, but I did not smoke marijuana.”The Memphis newspaper reported that Arthur “flatly denied he’s ever used marijuana.”“I used bad judgment by bringing the girls in and violating the rules,” Arthur said. “It was a bad mistake. I’m not a bad kid or anything. I just put myself in a bad situation. I want to apologize to the GM, the owner and all the fans. You won’t hear my name in anything like this from here on out. I’ll be straight and narrow from here.”Chalmers made a similar guarantee to the Heat organization, the NBA and the Kansas basketball family.“This was a one-time occurrence,” he said, “and it won’t happen again.”Center sets visit to KUFive-star center Daniel Orton of Oklahoma City will officially visit KU on Oct. 17 for Late Night at the Phog, according to Rivals.com. KU coach Bill Self will visit Orton, the No. 3-ranked center in the class of 2009, on Sept. 10 for an in-home visit.•Rivals.com also reported that Xavier Henry, the No. 3 overall prospect in the class, will conduct in-home visits with Memphis and Kansas on Sept. 9. Henry is expected to choose between the Tigers and Jayhawks.

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Posted on Fri, Sep. 05, 2008 10:15 PM

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Former KU players Arthur and Chalmers apologize for actions at NBA rookie gathering

By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH

The Kansas City Star

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Former Kansas basketball stars Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur have apologized for the actions that led to Wednesday’s expulsion from the NBA’s rookie transition program.

Arthur and Chalmers — of the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat, respectively — were sent home for having women in their room at a Rye Brook, N.Y., hotel, a violation of the program’s rules. There reportedly was also evidence of marijuana use in the room. Chalmers and Arthur both denied using marijuana.

“About the marijuana,” Arthur told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis on Thursday, “I didn’t have any. I didn’t have anything to do with marijuana or anything like that. I’d like to clear that up.”

Chalmers said in a release obtained by The Associated Press on Friday: “Everyone who knows me knows I am a good person and I pride myself on doing the right thing. I am embarrassed this happened. I broke the rules, but I did not smoke marijuana.”

The Memphis newspaper reported that Arthur “flatly denied he’s ever used marijuana.”

“I used bad judgment by bringing the girls in and violating the rules,” Arthur said. “It was a bad mistake. I’m not a bad kid or anything. I just put myself in a bad situation. I want to apologize to the GM, the owner and all the fans. You won’t hear my name in anything like this from here on out. I’ll be straight and narrow from here.”

Chalmers made a similar guarantee to the Heat organization, the NBA and the Kansas basketball family.

“This was a one-time occurrence,” he said, “and it won’t happen again.”

Center sets visit to KU

Five-star center Daniel Orton of Oklahoma City will officially visit KU on Oct. 17 for Late Night at the Phog, according to Rivals.com. KU coach Bill Self will visit Orton, the No. 3-ranked center in the class of 2009, on Sept. 10 for an in-home visit.

•Rivals.com also reported that Xavier Henry, the No. 3 overall prospect in the class, will conduct in-home visits with Memphis and Kansas on Sept. 9. Henry is expected to choose between the Tigers and Jayhawks.

To reach J. Brady McCollough, call 816-234-4363 or send e-mail to jmccollough@kcstar.com.

Posted on Fri, Sep. 05, 2008 10:15 PM

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