A familiar face showed up to KU basketball practice Friday | The Kansas City Star

It’s All-Star weekend for the NBA, which means Saturday will bring back a large number of former Kansas basketball players who typically aren’t able to come back in season.

One pro who fits that description, in fact, appears to have returned to Lawrence already.

Frank Mason, who was last year’s national player of the year, showed up to KU’s practice Friday at Allen Fieldhouse, according to social media photos.

Mason, who is averaging 7.6 points and 2.9 assists in 29 games for the Sacramento Kings this year, has been out since the beginning of January because of a foot injury.

KU has plenty going on during Saturday’s 5 p.m. game against West Virginia. The Jayhawks will honor the 10-year anniversary of the 2008 national championship team and also will retire Cole Aldrich’s No. 45 jersey at halftime. ESPN’s “College GameDay” is in town for the game as well. That broadcast starts at 10 a.m. on ESPN.