Kansas Jayhawks celebrate KU commencement with new grads Wayne Selden and Ochai Agbaji
Former University of Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr., who made it as far as the Elite Eight during his three-year college basketball career, was not surprised the Jayhawks claimed the NCAA title this past season.
“I knew at the beginning of the year it was a special team,” said Selden, speaking while wearing a cap and gown instead of a basketball jersey Sunday afternoon in front of Strong Hall on KU’s campus.
He was in Lawrence to take part in graduation ceremonies. Selden has attained his undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences six years after leaving KU after the 2015-16 school year.
“I know how hard it is,” the 27-year-old Selden said of winning it all. The Jayhawks fell to Villanova one step away from the Final Four in his third and final season at KU.
“This team … the ball moves, there’s a lot of lateral quickness, everybody can play their position 1 through 5. Everybody did a great job,” added Selden, who played for both the NBA’s New York Knicks and a team in Israel in 2021-22.
Selden made a triumphant return of his own to Lawrence on Sunday.
He was joined by his mom, Lavette, and brother, Anthony, as well as several KU coaches and staff members who were on hand to congratulate Selden and KU senior Ochai Agbaji.
Agbaji, KU’s four-year player out of Oak Park High School also graduated Sunday and took part in graduation ceremonies with family members on hand.
Former KU forward Thomas Robinson, 31, also graduated Sunday, 10 years after playing his last game at KU, but was unable to make it to the ceremony in person.
“I plugged away — a small piece at a time,” Selden said of earning his diploma. “Class after class … I took my time and did it. I told my mother I was going to do it initially when I went to school,” added Selden, a native of Roxbury, Massachusetts. “To be able graduate from Kansas is a tremendous accomplishment. I’m really excited to be back here in Lawrence and graduate with all these young guys.”
KU coach Bill Self said he was thrilled for the graduates.
“This is great for Wayne. Thomas graduating too … it takes something to come back after you leave a year or two early. It’s quite an accomplishment they and their families should be proud of,” Self said.
Self added that, “It takes great discipline to come back after working a full-time job, traveling, trying to make a team better in Europe and the NBA. To make up 20 or 30 hours and get your degree when you’ve got so many things going on in your life says something for them. Our academic people do a great job with our players, helping them as they continue toward their degrees, as well.”
Selden plans to continue playing basketball for some time to come.
“Another 8, 9 years, have a successful career,” said Selden, who has played in the NBA and the NBA G League as well as Turkey and Israel. He was MVP of the FIBA Europe Cup Final Four in 2021. “Right now I just feel blessed and thankful for the position I’m in.”
Following graduation day, KU coach Self on Monday was to head to the NBA G League Elite Camp followed by the NBA Combine in Chicago. KU’s Jalen Wilson and David McCormack were to attend Elite Camp and Christian Braun and Agbaji the Combine.
