Kansas Basketball

Former players eligible for World University Games?

During today’s press conference, it was stated that former players who were United States citizens and born between January 1st, 1990 and December 31st, 1997 would be eligible to play in the World University Games in 2015.

This is important because Kansas will need to bring 12 players with them to South Korea next summer and if Cliff Alexander, Kelly Oubre, Wayne Selden, etc. leave early for the NBA (or if more transfers happen), Kansas will have a short roster. Also, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk wouldn’t be eligible because he isn’t a U.S. citizen.

So this brings up an interesting discussion… who will Self choose to represent Kansas and the United States if he needs to fill the roster? We’re not sure if current pros can participate at this time. However, Ben McLemore, for example, is taking summer sources at Kansas and he might be able to qualify because of that.

 

Obviously, any incoming recruits Bill Self brings in will be eligible, too. But we do not know who these players are at this time.

We’ll list current student-athletes that are eligible to go and then we’ll list “recent graduates” who we’re not sure if they’re eligible, but would be awesome to see participate. (Edit: recent graduates is stated as one year of the games. I’ll strike-through players I originally listed that can’t go).

Here are “recent graduates” who fit under this category:

  • Thomas Robinson
  • Ben McLemore
  • Elijah Johnson
  • Tyshawn Taylor
  • Tarik Black
  • Jeff Withey
  • Travis Releford
  • Xavier Henry
  • Kevin Young
  • Justin Wesley
  • Niko Roberts
  • Christian Garrett (Graduates in May 2015)
  • Jordan Juenemann
  • Naadir Tharpe
  • Andrew White

Now current players on the roster that would be able to go:

  • Frank Mason
  • Evan Manning
  • Tyler Self
  • Brannen Greene
  • Hunter Mickelson
  • Conner Frankamp
  • Jamari Traylor
  • Landen Lucas
  • Perry Ellis
  • Devonte Graham
  • Wayne Selden*
  • Kelly Oubre*
  • Cliff Alexander*

This list is technically 13 players long… But… Selden, Oubre and Alexander might leave early for the NBA and that makes it 10 players long.

Incoming recruits would also get top priority over “recent graduates.”

This is all speculation at this point but say KU is one player short of their 12-man roster, who would you like to see of “recent graduates” go and represent Kansas?

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