Malik Newman, KU hoops teammates shop for needy families Tuesday night

Malik Newman glanced at a jacket on a coat rack and decided to try it on for an adult on his Christmas gift list Tuesday night at Walmart.

“Is this coat warm enough for the winter? Got to check it out and see,” Newman, Kansas’ sophomore guard from Jackson, Miss., said Tuesday night.

With the coat deemed suitable for purchase, he dropped it in his shopping cart and proceeded on during a 9-10 p.m. walk through the aisles of the Iowa Street store. Newman and his teammates were taking part in KU basketball’s 21st annual holiday shopping event designed to provide Christmas gifts for adults and kids alike this time of year.

“The whole thing is a highlight, giving to families in need. I really enjoy this,” Newman said.

Money for the gifts is accumulated through donations from KU Roundball Events throughout the state. Former KU player Roger Morningstar and his wife, Linda, have been in charge of the proceedings for many, many years.

“It’s a great event, the guys shopping after finals are over,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Players enjoy getting a Christmas list, budgeting and trying to fill some family needs.”

Asked which of his past players enjoyed the annual shopping the most, Self said: “It seems to me Sasha (Kaun) did a lot. I think Frank (Mason) liked it a lot,” Self added of Mason who wore a Santa’s cap to the proceedings a year ago.

Players hit the aisles of Walmart to purchase not only clothes but also toys.

“We’re killing it,” KU sophomore Sam Cunliffe said as he and a KU manager uncovered a blanket.

“You know me. I’ve got to get the hoverboards,” senior Devonté Graham stated.

Sophomore Udoka Azubuike had silverware in his cart as he also inspected some winter coats for purchase.

Football/basketball player James Sosinski had mostly children’s toys in his cart. “This is the most expensive toy,” he said of Kid Connection.

Senior Svi Mykhailiuk selected a green bike.

“My favorite one is the bike ’cause when I was a kid I always wanted to drive a bike around. I’m just giving it to one of the kids,” Mykhailiuk said. “It’s great.”

“We were debating on this one,” he added of the specific bike. “We didn’t know what color we were going to pick because we didn’t know how big the kid is. So we picked out this one.”

One of the Jayhawks in a good mood Tuesday night was freshman Billy Preston, who has yet to play in a game this season as KU looks into the car Preston has been driving on campus this school year. Preston will make the trip with the Jayhawks to Sacramento, Calif., for Thursday night’s game against Stanford.

It wouldn’t be a KU hoops event without Self being asked about the status of Preston’s eligibility situation.

“He was really active and good at practice today,” said Self, who is of the opinion a decision on whether Preston can play this season will be rendered soon. “I don’t anticipate him playing (against Stanford). I do anticipate us getting very close to knowing if and when he will be able to play. I’m pretty optimistic. Our people are optimistic. It’s at the point now it will be out of our hands and somebody else will make the decision (the NCAA).”

Asked how much Preston could play in the Big 12 opener against Texas and/or ensuing league games if he’s deemed eligible to play soon, Self said: “I don’t think he’s done enough for 20, 25 minutes (in a game) but I think in a couple of weeks (he could do that) certainly.”

Self said if IMG Academy senior for Silvio De Sousa is declared eligible soon, “I think he could play some. I think that it would be more of a plugged-in situation until he gets comfortable.”

De Sousa took his final final exam at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., on Tuesday, and the school will submit his grades to the NCAA clearinghouse, where officials will decide if De Sousa can play at KU in the second semester. Self said De Sousa had for sure decided to play for KU and not stay at IMG if he’s eligible for competition.

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Malik Newman, KU hoops teammates shop for needy families Tuesday night."