It’s Senior Day for six Kansas Jayhawks basketball players. A look at their careers
.JPG "Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji pulls up for a jumper in Tuesday night’s game against TCU in Fort Worth, Texas (March 1, 2022).")
Six Kansas men’s basketball seniors and their parents will be recognized before Saturday’s Big 12 regular-season finale against Texas, set for a 3 p.m. start at Allen Fieldhouse.
Then after the contest, the six Jayhawks will take turns with the microphone and speak to the fans.
In advance of the occasion, here are sketches of the Jayhawks seniors, providing a look at how they’ve performed not only during the 2021-22 season, but their entire college careers.
This year’s senior class consists of Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack, Mitch Lightfoot, Chris Teahan, Jalen Coleman-Lands and Remy Martin.
Ochai Agbaji, 6-5, 215, senior, guard, Kansas City
Agbaji, a preseason all-Big 12 selection, is the leading contender for Big 12 player of the year and a candidate for national player of the year.
The Oak Park High School graduate leads the Big 12 in scoring at 20.2 points per game. Agbaji has scored 20 or more points in 17 games this season. He scored a career-high 37 points in a 94-91 double-overtime win over Texas Tech on Jan. 24 at Allen Fieldhouse.
His career high in rebounds is 12 set against Colorado during his sophomore campaign.
Agbaji under the bright lights of New York City scored 29 points in KU’s 87-74 season-opening Champions Classic victory over Michigan State. He scored 29 points in a 78-75 victory against Kansas State on Jan. 22 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan. That performance helped offset the 35 points put up by K-State’s Nijel Pack. He also had 27 points in an 80-70 loss to Baylor on Feb. 26 in Waco, Texas.
Agbaji has been named Big 12 player of the week four times this season. His four Big 12 player of the week honors tie for the most for a KU player in a season, along with Thomas Robinson in 2011-12 and Drew Gooden in 2001-02. The Big 12 season record is six player of the week mentions by Blake Griffin of Oklahoma in 2008-09.
Agbaji made 97 consecutive starts before missing the Feb. 1 game at Iowa State because of COVID-19. He has started 106 games of his 112 games played at KU.
Personal facts: Agbaji’s parents, Olofu and Erica, played college basketball at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His sister, Orie, played volleyball at Texas.
Bill Self said it: “We’ve got the best player in America right here on our team. He works harder in every drill than everybody else. He works harder in every shot prep(aration). We’ve got a team full of hard workers, but he is at a different level. I think his presence gives everybody else confidence and allows them to have better games.”
Christian Braun said it: “This man is a bad man — national player of the year, first team All-American. Every time it leaves his hand I know it’s going in.”
Agbaji said it: “I like to get my team rolling by making shots and getting stops. That’s just how this team is. We see someone else getting hot, doing all the little things, it lifts everyone else up.”
David McCormack, 6-10, 250, senior, power forward, Norfolk, Virginia
McCormack, a nominee for Academic All-America three times (2020, 2021, 2022), earned his undergrad degree in communication studies from KU in May 2021. He’s studying journalism for his Master’s degree.
McCormack averages 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds a game. He’s grabbed 213 rebounds; Jalen Wilson is second on the team with 192 boards..
McCormack grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds three times this season — in an 102-83 win over Kansas State on Jan. 22 in Allen Fieldhouse; in an 85-59 win over West Virginia on Jan. 15 at Allen Fieldhouse and in a 74-63 win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 4 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
He recently topped the 1,000 point mark in scoring in four seasons.
Personal facts: McCormack is one of 25 KU students to be selected by Chancellor Doug Girod to participate on the 2020 university task force on community responsive public safety. … McCormack also played football (defensive tackle and offensive guard) and competed in track at Norfolk Academy. He finished his basketball hoops career at powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said it: “The guy is a first-round pick the way he rebounds and the way he runs. He’s really worked on his jump shot and finishing around the rim. Of course, it’s easier to finish around the rim when you’re bigger than everybody else, too.”
Self said it: “I think Dave’s effort is always good. There are some kids who may give effort in certain games. I think his effort has been something you can always count on. He’s a great kid, an intelligent kid who has a great future ahead of him.
McCormack said it: “This (end of KU career) is definitely a bittersweet feeling. To get to this point you say, ‘Where has all the time gone?’ I wouldn’t have gone to any other place. This place is really special.”
Mitch Lightfoot, 6-8, 225, senior, power forward, Gilbert, Arizona
Lightfoot, who was a member of KU’s 2018 Final Four team, has played in 158 games all-time at Kansas more than any Jayhawk in history. He’s started 10 games. Danny Manning, who played in 147 games, is second on the list in games played at KU.
Lightfoot, a sixth-year Jayhawk who gained an extra year because of COVID-19 pandemic, has been a productive member of the rotation this season, averaging 4.6 points and 2.9 boards in 30 games (two starts).
Lightfoot tied his career high of 14 points in a win over George Mason on New Year’s Day. He had four rebounds in that game. Lightfoot also had 14 points versus Omaha back in the 2020-21 season.
Lightfoot had 13 points and three boards with a block in a win over Kansas State on Feb. 22. He had 10 points and six boards against Iona on Nov. 28, giving him three double-digit scoring outings this season.
He had a career best six blocks against TCU in 2017-18 and career-best 11 boards vs. Penn in 2017-18.
Personal facts: Lightfoot graduated from KU with an economics degree in December 2020 and is pursuing a Master’s in sport management. He’s known as a hard-nosed player not afraid to take charges, evidenced by his leading the team in that stat for three seasons. He has two younger brothers, Miles and Max, and a younger sister, Rhyann.
Self said it: “Mitch is so loyal. He’s been great since he’s been here. He is the best. He loves this place. He bleeds red and blue combined. He’s improved as a player and been very important to the success of the program. I love for him having the opportunity to go out in style, his way.”
Lightfoot said it: “The way I see it is college basketball … you can’t just come in and say, ‘Hey, now I am an All-American.’ You’ve got to come in, pay your dues, play your best basketball while listening to the coaches and getting better at basketball.”
Remy Martin, 6-0, 180, senior, point guard, Chatsworth, California
The Super Senior transfer from Arizona State has had an injury plagued season. His most notable injury was a bone bruise in his right knee that kept him sidelined for seven contests.
He averages 7.4 points with 50 assists to 30 turnovers in 20 games (12 starts).
Martin, voted Big 12 preseason player of the year by the league coaches, opened his one season at Kansas with a big game against Michigan State in New York. He had 15 points, six rebounds and two assists. He followed that with 14 points against Tarleton State and scored in double figures in eight of KU’s first 10 games. Martin had a season-high 17 points against Dayton in KU’s 74-73 loss in the semifinals of the ESPN Events Invitational Thanksgiving week in Orlando, Florida.
He’s been a single-digit scorer in his last 10 games.
Personal facts: Martin scored 30 or more points in four games his senior season at ASU. In 2020-21 he led the Pac-12 in scoring (19.1 ppg). ... Martin was a three-time all-Pac-12 selection, earning first-team honors his junior and senior seasons. Martin is the 10th Jayhawk to be named the Big 12 preseason player of the year and the eighth under Self.
Self said it: “I think he’s a one of a kind dude. Somebody described him as an interesting cat which may be pretty accurate. Obviously he has his own personality like a cat would, too. He’s a showman. He likes the bright lights. Remy is an actor in a lot of ways but it’s not fake. It’s who he is. I really like him.”
Martin said it: “Thanks to everybody who has supported me. I’ve had a tough year with injuries with my ankle, back and knee recently. To feel welcomed and have the whole community behind me is nice. I appreciate that and will always hold that in my heart.
“I came here to win. That’s the ultimate goal. I came here to have fun. I’m having a great time. Being injured I still felt invested in the program. I’m happy to contribute as much as I can.”
Chris Teahan, 6-4, 195, senior, guard, Leawood, Kansas
Teahan, an invited walk-on out of Rockhurst High School, played on KU’s 2018 Final Four team. Teahan has scored eight points his final season at KU in 10 games.
He started KU’s exhibition game against Emporia State back on Nov. 3. Teahan, a fan favorite, is 2-of-8 from three this season and 12-of-34 for his career.
Teahan’s three put KU over the 100-point mark in a 102-65 victory over Missouri on Dec. 11 at Allen Fieldhouse.
Personal facts: Teahan’s brother, Conner, played on two Final Four teams at KU (2008 national title; 2012). … Chris has graduated with a sport management degree and is working on his Master’s this school year. … Conner Teahan and Chris both played basketball and football in high school. … Chris’ mother (Donna), father (Mark), uncle Mike and grandfather Richard all played basketball at Rockhurst College in Kansas City.
Self said it: “I think he’s maximized his role on this team as much as anybody. He is a folk hero on campus. He’s up there as far as one of the most popular guys on our team. I think he’s found a way to put his handprint on what we do in a way that doesn’t translate to playing minutes or making shots.
“I think he’s had a great career. Chris has gone against his ceiling as high as anybody has. He’s improved as a player. He is great at practice. His teammates love him. If you were going to grade him, I’d give him 10 (out of 10).”
Teahan said it: “I’m a veteran guy. I’ve been around Kansas basketball a long time. I know the system very well. I’m a ‘make sure we go out and get ready kind of guy.’ (I) do whatever I can do to help us win.”
“This is the greatest environment a player could possibly play in. It’s so loud in there (Allen Fieldhouse). It gives you goosebumps first time you hear the crowd. It’s really an honor to play here before these fans.”
Jalen Coleman-Lands, 6-4, 190, senior, guard, Indianapolis
Coleman-Lands, who played at Iowa State in 2020-21 and at DePaul and Illinois before that, has cashed 24 of 55 threes (43.6%) in his one Super Senior season at KU.
Coleman-Lands has scored in double figures twice as a Jayhawk. He hit five threes and scored 20 points in a 76-67 win over George Mason on New Year’s Day at Allen. He scored 10 points in a win over Tarleton State in November.
Coleman-Lands hit three threes and scored nine points in KU’s home win over K-State on Feb. 22.
In 2020-21, Coleman-Lands earned honorable mention all-league honors at Iowa State after averaging 14.3 points a game.
Personal facts: Coleman-Lands founded a nonprofit organization (FigurePrint) that helps young people overcome communication barriers in their homes. … He earned a marketing degree from DePaul and is finishing a graduate degree in management information systems.
Self said it: “He can really shoot. He can make tough shots, fadeaways, with hands in his face. He can shoot off the dribble. He just can really shoot.”
Coleman-Lands said it: “This has been great. These guys (teammates) have really enlightened me on the court and off the court.”
