Bright planning to join KU in January

[DblT81]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/4399876.htm

[FeFiFoFum]

Ahh..so it wasn't just a rumor then. Here's hoping she's spending her time preparing for the tests.

[TXSNOS]

The article linked above reports that Sharita Smith, a 5'8" guard from Dallas Lincoln, has given an oral commitment to play for Kansas. I'm surprised. I thought they'd be out of scholarships by now.

TXs N Os

[FeFiFoFum]

There had been some talk a few weeks ago, based on some comments Coach Washington made to the media, that perhaps some of the scholarships that are currently spoken for would soon become available. It was all very cryptic about hard decisions etc..I wasn't sure what to make of it at the time myself. We did lose one player to recurring injuries (as in, she decided not to play anymore) so that might account for an available scholarship. There might be another one that becomes available due to scholastic reasons perhaps? I can't really say for sure as I don't have inside info other than what I read here and there.

[carolann]

I can't believe the recruiting classes Kansas has put together for 2002 and 2003. What is Kansas telling these girls?

[fan26]

My question is when did Kansas start talking to Janice? We have been hearing these rumors since this summer. The rumors about Janice going to Kansas turned up to be true. It is also interesting how Coach Washington was able to still a recruit away from Tennessee (Ervin). Could Gatewood-Wiley be changing her mind soon. She was Janice's teammate in high school and AAU. She is also Ervin's AAU teammate. Looks like Coach Washington is back in business. Five to ten more years???

[FeFiFoFum]

From reading that article in the KC Star, it seems that because Bright didn't enroll at Nebraska for this semester, her scholarship was void and thus, open to recruiting. Don't forget, Kansas originally recruited her along with Neb last year and she chose Neb first. So it seems reasonable that she would be familiar with KU. Perhaps she also talked with her friend Ervin during the summer/fall about her plans and that helped convince her.

As for Coach W, I personally can't think of anyone else I'd rather play for (but I'm biased) and the chance to be on a team to build it up would be incentive. Presumably, Deb Patterson told her players (Oldhe, et al) the same thing when she recruited at KSU, they had a chance to build the team into the power it is today. That would be very tempting and given the good infrastructure here (i.e., KU's program has a tradition of being good..it's not a team that's always in the cellar), it's do-able...especially because we've cleared house quite bit.

Coach's career? I'd love for more years out of her, but I suspect there's pressure..actually, I don't suspect, I know. Our new AD makes no bones about where he stands on the win/loss issue. She'll build this up this year (and maybe next if she does well) and then let Lynette Woodard (I hope) take over.

[swok34]

Our new AD makes no bones about where he stands on the win/loss issue. She'll build this up this year (and maybe next if she does well) and then let Lynette Woodard (I hope) take over

wow, I listened to her being interviewed this morning on the radio, and this is a TALL, TALL order with such a young team, I didn't realize they have only 1 senior.

[FeFiFoFum]

Actually, there aren't any seniors at all on the team. Only 2 juniors and a couple of sophs. The rest are Fr. Scary, yes?