KU coach Bill Self needs to write Hall of Fame speech soon

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self now knows how his seniors feel during the final weeks, days and hours leading up to Senior Night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Just like the many players he’s coached in his 15 years at KU, Self has to concoct a speech — in his case not for his final game as a Jayhawk, but his Sept. 8 induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

“Not yet,” Self said Saturday night, asked if he’d written his speech that will follow an introduction by Hall of Famer/former KU coach Larry Brown.

“I’ve outlined (it). I have to write it in the next week. I have to send it in,” he added of of submitting the speech to the Hall.

Self will receive support during his induction from many of his former players at KU, Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois who will attend the event.

“We’re going to have a good portion of our ex-players show up. At least that’s the plans of now,” Self said.

Former Kansas guard Mario Chalmers, a key player on KU’s 2008 NCAA title team, will attend the ceremony at Springfield Symphony Hall.

“Coach Self, man, he deserves the Hall of Fame,” Chalmers said. “It’s going to be good to be there. We’re going to have so many players in the crowd to support him.”

’Doke due back Tuesday

Self said Sunday night that everybody on the team has returned for the start of school on Monday with the exception of Udoka Azubuike, who will arrive early Tuesday. He’s been in Jacksonville, Fla., the last couple of weeks.

The 7-foot sophomore center attended Potter’s House Christian in Jacksonville, Fla., during high school.

Robinson could sit out season

Former Western Kentucky signee Mitchell Robinson, who recently visited Kansas, New Orleans and LSU, actually may not attend any college during the 2017-18 school year, according to published reports.

The 7-foot 220-pound McDonald’s All-American out of Chalmette (La.) High School, is considering working out on his own during the school year in preparation for the 2018 NBA Draft, Jon Rothstein of Fanragsports.com reported Sunday night.

A source told Rothstein “that Robinson’s camp believes with a year of sitting out he can wind up in a comparable position in next year’s draft to what Thon Maker was in 2016, when he was selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks after doing a postgraduate year.”

Sources say Robinson has had no contact with KU coaches in the last few days.

Because Robinson participated in two weeks of practices in July with Western Kentucky’s team, which was preparing for a summer trip to Costa Rica, he would have to receive a waiver from the NCAA in order to play for another Division I school without having to sit out a season.

It is believed it may be difficult for Robinson to claim that waiver because he did practice with the Hilltoppers and also started summer classes at Western Kentucky. If Robinson does not receive the NCAA waiver, he would be allowed to practice but not play in games until 2018-19. He’s expected to be a lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Robinson averaged 20.9 points, 13.6 rebounds and 8.1 blocks per game during his senior season at Chalmette High. He scored 14 points, grabbed three rebounds and had two blocked shots in the 2017 McDonald’s game in Chicago.

Robinson has been quiet on Twitter over the weekend, having posted nothing regarding his situation as of 9:15 p.m. Sunday.　　

Rush hasn’t found team, yet

The NBA’s Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat are “showing some interest” in free agent wing Brandon Rush, KSTP (Minnesota) sports reporter Darren Wolfson wrote recently on Twitter.

Rush, 32, averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 47 games with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.

According to Wolfson, Minnesota “has four open roster spots and could potentially offer Rush another contract if he remains unsigned close to the opening of training camp on Sept. 26.”

Reid down to UA, LSU

Naz Reid, a 6-10 senior forward from Roselle Catholic High School in Asbury Park, N.J., who is ranked No. 13 in the class of 2018 by Rivals.com, has narrowed his choices to LSU and Arizona, he reported on Twitter.

Reid once had Kansas on his list of schools.

This story was originally published August 20, 2017 at 9:44 PM with the headline "KU coach Bill Self needs to write Hall of Fame speech soon."