Mitch Lightfoot shops with KU teammates for needy families, discusses redshirt season
Armed with a Christmas wish list for a mother and her young kids, Kansas basketball players Mitch Lightfoot and Chris Teahan paraded through the aisles of Lawrence’s Iowa Street Walmart from 9 to 10 Tuesday night.
They placed a plethora of items in a shopping cart — gifts that ultimately will be wrapped and stowed under a family’s tree thanks to the KU hoops team’s 23rd-annual holiday shopping excursion for some lucky area residents.
“I’m going a little off my scouting report here,” Lightfoot, KU’s fourth-year junior forward from Gilbert, Arizona said, revealing a sheet of paper with about $100 worth of goods to be found and bought.
“Teahan still hasn’t picked it up after two years so I’m going to show him how to do this,” Lightfoot added with a smile. “We’ll get Mom some cleaning supplies, pots and pans, maybe get her some clothes, too, to spice it up a little bit. We’re going to find her some stuff.
“For the kids we’ll find all kinds of stuff. We’ll start with cars, trains and baby doll stuff and go from there. Think back to when you were a kid. I kind of like being a kid.”
KU’s hoops players joined coaches, coaches’ wives, managers and staff members Tuesday at Walmart buying gifts with funds raised by donations from KU Roundball Club events in Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City.
The players’ purchases go to area families in conjunction with the Salvation Army.
“I’m going to show the guys the ropes. We’re going to have the guys locked in and doing their best shopping,” Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot’s role in shopping is somewhat similar to his role on the team this year. As a redshirt, he can practice but not play in games. Thus, he’s sort of like a player/coach providing pointers when he can.
“It’s been good,” Lightfoot said of his redshirt season. “I’ve been grinding, getting better, playing my best ball right now. I’m excited for the rest of this year and excited to see how the guys perform. I’m excited to be part of this team.”
The No. 1-ranked Jayhawks will take a 9-1 record into Saturday’s 11 a.m. game at No. 17 Villanova (8-2).
“Honestly it’s how I thought it would be,” Lightfoot said of redshirting. “It’s nice to be able to not stress about the game, step back, go over scouting report (with teammates). I go over scouting report more now than I felt I did when I was playing just because I want to show them how to guard them (opponent).
Of game day, Lightfoot said: “That sucks. Going out there (for warmups), you are ready to play then you go change into street clothes in the locker room. At the same time it’s going to be worth it (as a senior player next year).
“Guys are doing a great job now. I’m proud of them. I’ve got a little experience. I give them tips and pointers here and there. They are all doing a great job. I’m really proud to be part of this team.”
KU sophomore Ochai Agbaji teamed with junior Marcus Garrett in the shopping spree Tuesday night.
“This means a lot,” Agbaji said. “Coming in here shopping for families shows a lot about us as a program and what we do for our community. I try to go above and beyond what is on the (shopping) list. If they want socks, I’ll try to find some cool socks. Something different. This is fun. Doing this with my teammates, coaches, coaches’ wives, everybody is nice.”
Asked his favorite part, Agbaji said: “I think it’s shopping in general. Really everything about this is rewarding.”
Coaches on the road
KU coach Bill Self traveled to Dallas Tuesday to attend the practice of Harrison Ingram, a 6-7 junior forward from St. Mark’s High. Ingram is rated the No. 14-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com.
Jayhawkslant.com reports that KU assistant coach Jerrance Howard on Tuesday visited a practice of Alex Fudge, a 6-7 junior small forward from Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida.
Fudge, the No. 107-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2021, has received offers from Oklahoma State, Iowa State, USC, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.
Self was able to get back from Dallas in time to watch his players shop at Walmart.
“This is always a fun deal,” Self said of the event organized by former KU player Roger Morningstar and wife Linda. “I think the (Jayhawks) do enjoy this and they enjoy some other community service-type activities. They enjoy the Special Olympics clinic we put on and some other things we do.”
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 11:08 PM.
