Former KU big man McCormack shows 3-point shooting touch in Roundball Classic
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- David McCormack hit two 3-pointers while scoring 12 points in alumni matchup
- Udoka Azubuike led Red squad with 29 points in Roundball Classic victory
- McCormack cited 3-point drills and German BBL play as keys to development
As a powerful 6-foot-10, 265-pound big man, former Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball player David McCormack hit just one 3-point shot in five tries during his four-year college career.
The 2022 national champion swished two from behind the arc Thursday night, however, en route to 12 points as his KU alumni Blue team lost 92-78 to the Udoka Azubuike/Devonté Graham-led Red squad in the 17th annual Rock Chalk Roundball Classic at Free State High School.
“Continue to build, continue to expand my game. I’ve been having fun with it definitely,” said McCormack, 26, who played for ALBA Berlin in the German BBL League during the 2024-25 season. “I’ve been doing many drills shooting 3s. It’s something I’ve added to my game.”
The Norfolk, Virginia native also flushed three rim-rattling dunks during the alumni game benefiting area families battling cancer.
“Lot of missed dunks, a lot of highlights fell short,” said McCormack, who at one point Thursday missed a dunk try that was so forceful the ball shot straight up, remarkably close to the ceiling. “It was fun to put on a show for the fans, be with former teammates and alumni. It was an amazing experience.
“There were a lot of fans for a great cause. Nothing but love and support for the fans. I appreciate them. Every time I come back to Lawrence it feels a little bit different, but it still feels like home.”
Azubuike, who played in Montenegro last season, scored a game-high 29 points off a wide variety of dunks for the victorious Red Team. Graham, who played in the NBA G-League last season, hit five 3s and finished with 16 points.
Mitch Lightfoot had 14 points, Michael Lee 11 and Svi Mykhailiuk of the Utah Jazz 10 for the winners.
Chris Teahan heated up in the second half to hit four 3s and score 14 points for the Blue squad. McCormack had 12 points and Ron Kellogg 10. Kevin Young, who like McCormack will be playing for KU’s team in the upcoming TBT, had eight points.
The game included a humorous Harlem Globetrotters-esque skit. Former KU and NBA big man Greg Ostertag picked up two technical fouls and was ejected in the first half.
Ostertag returned in the second half wearing officials’ attire. And the 7-footer did indeed serve as a ref the final half. Former KU guard and Stanford head coach Jerod Haase took over coaching duties from Ostertag.
McCormack averaged 8.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season in the German BBL League. During his senior year at KU he averaged 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Many felt McCormack should have been the 2022 Final Four MVP after scoring 15 points and hitting two key buckets in the final 1 minute, 22 seconds as Kansas beat North Carolina 72-69in the NCAA title game. Instead it was Ochai Agbaji, who also was sensational, who earned MVP honors.
“It’s the name of the game. We still won. We’re still national champions,” McCormack said.
There’s been talk McCormack may see his jersey hung in the Allen Fieldhouse rafters one day, considering his stellar play in that Final Four.
“I would hope so. I don’t know anything for certain,” he said. “If there’s something in the works, I’d appreciate that, as well.”
