LAWRENCE, Kan. – After working out for his third NBA team Wednesday, University of Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk announced he has withdrawn his name from the 2017 NBA Draft and will return for his senior season at KU.

Mykailiuk sprained his ankle during the NBA combine. After rehabbing he worked out for three teams (New Orleans, Boston and New York) to gage the interest in staying in the upcoming draft.

“I had a lot feedback and I decided to come back,” Mykhailiuk said. “I saw what I need to improve on next year and be a better player. I look forward to being with my teammates and help my team win.”

A 6-foot-8 guard from Cherkasy, Ukraine, Mykhailiuk started 25 games for KU last season and averaged 9.8 points per contest. A two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection who is on course to graduate from KU in May 2018, Mykhailiuk ranked eighth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 38.9 percent and eighth in 3-point field goals made at 1.9. Mykhailiuk made three or more from beyond the arc in 11 games with four or more treys in four outings. He pulled down 3.0 rebounds per game and also averaged 1.9 steals per contest in 2016-17.

“Svi utilized the process exactly the way it is meant to be,” KU head coach Bill Self said. “Unfortunately for him, he sprained his ankle at the (NBA) combine and was not able to work out for teams as much as he wanted. We know he knows what he needs to do this upcoming season to get to the next level. We’re excited and anxious for Svi to come back and help us play at a high level.”

For his career, Mykhailiuk has played in 97 games for Kansas with 31 starts and a 6.3 scoring average. His 122 3-pointers made rank 20th on the KU career chart, including a career-high six treys against Chaminade (11/23/15) during his freshman season at the Maui Invitational. Mykhailiuk scored career-high 23 points against Austin Peay in the 2016 NCAA Tournament opening round.

— KU Athletics —

OKLAHOMA CITY – Backed by a four-run dagger of an eighth inning, the Kansas baseball team defeated No. 6-nationally ranked and No. 2 seeded TCU, 7-3, Wednesday evening at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark to open the 2017 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship.

“This was a great win for our program against one of the best teams in America,” head coach Ritch Price said. “I am very proud of the way we competed and how we grinded out the victory.”

The Jayhawks (30-26) broke a tie in the top of the eighth, just half a frame after a Horned Frog (39-15) rally knotted the game up, 3-3. Sophomore left fielder Devin Foyle drove in the go-ahead RBI that sparked the four-run rally off TCU relief ace Sean Wymer (4-4), who picked up his fourth loss of the season.

Freshman second baseman James Cosentino led off the eighth with a four-pitch walk, before junior shortstop Matt McLaughlin and Foyle hit back-to-back singles to regain the lead. Freshman designated hitter Jaxx Groshans followed with his own single to load the bases and sophomore third baseman David Kyriacou added another run with a sacrifice fly.

However, it would be the two-run base knock by freshman right fielder Brett Vosik the put the game away, 7-3.

The victory came on the heels of an outstanding pitching performance from junior lefty Taylor Turski, who kept the TCU bats at bay for six and 1/3 innings. He struck out eight Horned Frogs without surrendering a walk. His 108-pitch performance allowed Price to go to his team’s strength – the bullpen – with the lead in the seventh.

“I felt great,” Turski said. “I wanted to go in there and throw strikes and attack the hitters, which is what I did. I felt great.”

The task at hand fell to junior Blake Weiman (5-1). The southpaw faced seven batters, and struck out two. His blemish came by way of a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning. A failed pickoff attempt and a single later, and TCU tied the game up, 3-3.

Kansas rallied in the eighth and Weiman pitched a perfect bottom half of the inning, before turning the ball over to closer Stephen Villines for the ninth. The senior gave off a leadoff single, but induced the double play, only to follow up with a strikeout to end the game and preserve the Kansas victory, 7-3.

That late rally by the Kansas bats mimicked a third-inning performance that seemed to ignite the Jayhawk dugout. TCU took the lead in the bottom of the second off a two-run triple by designated hitter Zach Humphreys. KU saw that two-run triple and raised a RBI-single by Groshans in the next frame.
38296 McLaughlin hit his second-career three-bagger with one out in the third inning to score sophomore center fielder Rudy Karre (double) and Cosentino (walk), and breath some life back in the Kansas dugout. Groshans followed with a RBI knock up the middle and the Jayhawks found themselves with the lead for the next four innings.

“I think the biggest thing right now is just understanding our window,” McLaughlin said. “We believe if we go out and win two or three games, we will put ourselves in a position to make a regional.”

The victory for Kansas is the first in the Big 12 Championship since 2013 and the second over TCU in tournament play. With the win, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in Texas Tech and TCU, respectively, both lost in the first round to unranked teams.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Turski out of trouble: After giving up a leadoff double in the bottom of the third inning, junior lefty Taylor Turski settled in and retired the next nine Horned Frogs in order. Then back-to-back singles in the bottom of the sixth looked to end Turski’s day, but the southpaw recorded back-to-back strikeouts before a fly out to get out of the jam unscathed.

I see your triple: Just half an inning after TCU broke open the scoring with a two-run triple, junior shortstop Matt McLaughlin matched that effort with his second-career triple – a two-run poke – to knot the game up, 2-2. That set the table for the then-go-ahead RBI by freshman designated hitter Jaxx Groshans for KU’s first lead.

UP NEXT: Kansas is set to play the winner of Oklahoma and Texas on Thursday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Upon graduating from the University of Kansas on Sunday with a communications degree, forward Dwight Coleby has announced he will transfer from the Kansas men’s basketball team, KU head coach Bill Self and Coleby announced on Monday. Having earned his degree, Coleby will be a graduate transfer and eligible to compete during the 2017-18 season.

“Dwight and I have visited about this multiple times since the end of our season and he has worked so hard academically to put himself in a position to make this decision,” Self said. “We wish Dwight nothing but the very best moving forward. He felt the opportunity to go to a place and have the option to play quite a bit more and have more of a significant role would enhance his chances to play professionally in the future.”

Coleby (6-foot-9, 240 pounds) joined the Kansas team in 2015-16 after playing two seasons at Ole Miss. Due to transfer rules, the Nassau, Bahamas, native sat out the 2015-16 season. As a redshirt junior Coleby played in 24 games for KU averaging 5.6 minutes, 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds. He tied his career high with 12 points at Texas on Feb. 25 and pulled down a season-high six rebounds against Baylor on Feb. 1.

“In talking with Coach (Self) about my future, I feel that this is what is best for my potential opportunities,” Coleby said. “I would like to thank the coaching staff for allowing me to come here. I’d like to thank my teammates for their support the past two years. I’d like to thank the fans for cheering me on and believing in me. KU is a part of my heart. It’s my alma mater and I am proud to have earned my degree from KU. I will always be a Jayhawk.”

This past season, Coleby had five games in which he played 10-plus minutes, including a season-high 20 against Georgia (Nov. 22) in the title game of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic where he tied a career high with four blocked shots. Coleby also played key minutes in two of Kansas’ NCAA Tournament victories against Michigan State (March 19) and Purdue (March 23).

“We have truly enjoyed Dwight the past two years,” Self said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. It was unfortunate he tore his ACL his first year but he played a key role, especially late in the season, to the success we had this year. We not only support him but also agree that this could potentially help his post-college professional options. Dwight will always be looked upon by our program as a Jayhawk. We respect everything that he’s done in the time he has been here.”

For his career, Coleby has played in 86 games with seven starts averaging 11.5 minutes, 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds. In his final season at Ole Miss, he averaged 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 2014-15.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Brothers Dedric and K.J. Lawson from Memphis and Charlie Moore from California have signed grant-in-aid agreements to play men’s basketball at Kansas, head coach Bill Self announced Tuesday.

The Lawson brothers, who are listed as guards/forwards, are transferring to KU from Memphis where Dedric was a sophomore last season and K.J. a redshirt freshman. Moore is a guard coming to KU after one season at California. All three will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

“We’re excited about all three of these prospects,” Self said. “They’ve all had successful starts to their college careers at different institutions. Certainly, the transfers became so attractive to us, in large part because we will have guys in our program who will be ready to contribute in a year. We could lose multiple guys next year, so I think this is a great fit for the University of Kansas. Not only will we get better down the road but this will certainly make us better in practice next year.”

K.J. was named the 2017 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Rookie of the Year, an honor Dedric earned in 2016. Additionally, Dedric was a 2017 all-conference first team selection, while K.J. was a member of the AAC All-Rookie Team.

In 2016-17, Dedric (6-foot-9, 236 pounds) led the AAC and was 19th nationally in rebound average at 9.9 boards per game. His 19.2 scoring average was second in the conference and he was fifth in the league with a 46.1 field goal percentage. Dedric recorded 19 double-doubles on the season which was 11th nationally and tops in the AAC. Dedric scored a career-high 35 points against Iowa on Nov. 26, 2016.

“Averaging almost 20 points and 10 rebounds last year, Dedric is one of the best big-man prospects in the country,” Self said. “He was a double-double machine last year.”

As a freshman in 2015-16, Dedric averaged 15.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and led Memphis with 17 double-doubles. His 9.3 rebounds per game were first in the AAC, while his points were fourth. Following his freshman campaign, Dedric entered the NBA Draft without an agent and returned to Memphis for his sophomore year.

K.J., (6-foot-7, 210 pounds), averaged 12.3 points and was third in the AAC with an 8.1 rebound average in 2016-17. He recorded nine double-doubles on the season. He scored a career-high 28 points against Houston on Jan. 19, 2017, and pulled down a career-best 19 rebounds against East Carolina on Jan. 28, 2017.

“K.J. averaged over 12 points and eight rebounds while playing the small forward position,” Self said. “He’s a very competitive athlete who we feel will add to our culture here.”

K.J. played in 10 games with two starts in 2015-16 and received a medical redshirt after a season-ending Achilles injury. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in his brief stint in 2015-16.

Charlie Moore, winner of the 2016 Illinois Mr. Basketball award, started all 34 games for Cal last season with 12.0 ppg and 3.5 apg.

In his second-ever college game, Moore (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) scored a career-high 38 points against UC Irvine on Nov. 16, 2016. The Chicago native, who played at Morgan Park High School, averaged 28.8 minutes, 12.2 points and 3.5 assists in his lone season at California while starting all 34 games. His 3.5 assists per game ranked 11th in the Pac-12 Conference. Moore had four games of 20 more points and made 45 3-pointers for the season. California went 21-13 overall, tied for fifth in the Pac-12 with a 10-8 record and advanced to the postseason NIT.

“Charlie started at Cal this past year and averaged just over 12 points a game as a true freshman,” Self said. “We think after a year sitting out that he’ll be much like (KU sophomore transfer) Malik Newman will be for us this year, ready to make a serious contribution to our program.”

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas freshman guard Josh Jackson has declared for the 2017 NBA Draft, he announced through his agent, B.J. Armstrong of the Wasserman Media Group Monday.

“After thoroughly consulting with my family, I have decided to enter the 2017 NBA Draft and pursue my dream of playing professional basketball,” Jackson said. “I am very thankful for all of the support I have received from my coaches and teammates at Kansas.”

“This obviously does not come as a surprise,” KU head coach Bill Self said. “When we recruited Josh we were so fortunate but also knew this would probably be a one-year stay. He has not only surpassed our expectations as a player but also as a leader and a teammate. We are all very happy for Josh and his family and are very proud of having coached one of the most talented kids that has ever come through here. We’ve had a lot really good ones here but Josh is as prepared for the next level as anyone that we have ever had.”

A 2017 Wooden All-America selection and the 2017 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Jackson joined KU teammate Frank Mason III on the All-Big 12 First Team. The seven-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honoree finished second on the KU team in scoring at 16.3 points per game. A two-time Big 12 Player of the Week, Jackson broke or tied four Kansas freshman records including double-doubles (12), rebounds (tied Danny Manning’s 258 set in 1985), field goals made (220) and field goals attempted (429).

Jackson’s 16.3 scoring average was sixth in the Big 12 and his 7.4 rebounds per game were fifth. The Detroit native led Kansas with 59 steals and 37 blocked shots his freshman campaign.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas junior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk is entering his name into the NBA Draft without hiring an agent, KU head coach Bill Self said Wednesday.

Mykhailiuk will have until May 24 to decide whether to remain in the draft or return to KU for his senior season.

“We support Svi 100 percent with his decision to test,” Self said. “I know he’ll prepare very hard for it and after the combine, he’ll get accurate feedback and make an informed decision which is what the rules are designed to do. In no way, shape or form is this a surprise. We expected this.”

A 6-foot-8 guard from Cherkasy, Ukraine, Mykhailiuk started 25 games for KU last season and averaged 9.8 points per contest. The two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection ranked eighth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 38.9 percent and eighth in 3-point field goals made at 1.9. Mykhailiuk made three or more from beyond the arc in 11 games with four or more treys in four outings. He pulled down 3.0 rebounds per game and also averaged 1.9 steals per contest in 2016-17.

“Kansas has prepared me for this opportunity and after talking with Coach Self, my family and teammates, it is my plan to work hard and take my game to the next level,” Mykhailiuk said. “I have matured a lot in my three seasons at KU as a player and a person, playing for great coaches and with great teammates, many who are in the NBA. I have got a lot stronger under coach (Andrea) Hudy and have improved my overall game every year. It’s everyone’s dream to play in the NBA and not going with an agent allows me to see where I stand after the combine and workouts.”

For his career, Mykhailiuk has played in 97 games for Kansas with 31 starts and a 6.3 scoring average. His 122 3-pointers made rank 20th on the KU career chart, including a career-high six treys against Chaminade (11/23/15) during his freshman season at the Maui Invitational. Mykhailiuk scored career-high 23 points against Austin Peay in the 2016 NCAA Tournament opening round.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — High-scoring swingman Dedric Lawson and his brother K.J. Lawson announced Monday they are heading to Kansas, giving coach Bill Self a pair of high-profile transfers beginning with the 2018-19 season.

The former Memphis standouts will sit out next season under NCAA transfer rules.

Dedric Lawson was one of the nation’s top transfers available after averaging 19.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a sophomore this past season. The former McDonald’s All-American will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Jayhawks.

K.J. Lawson only played in 10 games as a freshman because of an Achilles injury, and averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds last season. He’ll have three seasons with the Jayhawks if the NCAA grants him a sixth year because of the injury.

— Associated Press —

LAWRENCE – Kansas sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr. will transfer from KU, Jayhawks men’s basketball coach Bill Self said Thursday.

“We appreciate Carlton’s efforts the last two years at Kansas,” Self said. “We certainly respect his decision to pursue other opportunities. We wish him nothing but the very best and hope he is able to reach his dreams and goals.”

“I really enjoyed my time here at Kansas,” Bragg said. “Kansas has the best fans and I do love the program. This past year didn’t go as well as I thought it would and it’s in my best interest to get a fresh start. I want to thank my teammates, coaches and the fans for all their support these past two years. I will always cheer for the Jayhawks.”

Bragg averaged 5.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in for Kansas in 2016-17. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Cleveland native started the first five games of the season and had five games of 10 or more points his sophomore campaign. He scored a career-high 15 points twice against Siena (Nov. 18) and against TCU (Feb. 22). He posted his lone double-double of his career with 11 rebounds in the Siena contest.

As a freshman in 2015-16, Bragg averaged 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds for KU. He had two games of 10-plus points and six contests with five more rebounds his rookie year.

— KU Athletics —

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Kansas basketball senior Frank Mason III has been named winner of the 2017 Citizen James A. Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club today announced Sunday in Arizona. The prestigious trophy is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding men’s college basketball player, marking Mason’s eighth National Player of the Year honor this season.

The 5-foot-11 guard was honored earlier today at the Naismith Awards Brunch delivered by UPS. He joins Danny Manning (1988) as the only two Naismith Trophy recipients from the University of Kansas, and becomes the sixth Big 12 recipient, following Buddy Hield (OU, 2016), Blake Griffin (OU, 2009) Kevin Durant (UT, 2007) and T.J. Ford (UT, 2003).

Mason was chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, who based their selections on outstanding on-court performances during the 2016-17 college basketball season, and by fans. The vote was tabulated and certified by Aprio, formerly Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, the largest full-service, independent CPA-led business advisory firm, based in Atlanta.

Mason edged out fellow finalists Lonzo Ball (UCLA), Josh Hart (Villanova) and Caleb Swanigan (Purdue) to claim the Naismith Trophy.

The 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team (both unanimous selections), Mason averaged 20.9 points per game and was the first Kansas player to lead the Big 12 in scoring since 2004-05. The Petersburg, Virginia, native also led the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.490), while ranking fourth in assists (5.2 apg). Mason, who will graduate from Kansas with a liberal arts and science degree in May 2017, became the first player in Big 12 and Kansas history to average 20.0 points and 5.0 assists per game for a season. Mason concluded his career sixth on the KU career-scoring list at 1,885 and sixth in career assists at 576. He is only player in Kansas history to rank that high in both career points and assists.

“This is one of those seasons for the ages where all the hard work, drive and dedication led to superb individual and team success for Frank, and our voters recognized that by selecting him as the 2017 Citizen Naismith Trophy winner,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

“Dr. Naismith invented the game of basketball and we walk by his original rules every day in Allen Fieldhouse. He was Kansas’ first coach so winning this award with his name on it and playing at Kansas brings this full circle,” Mason said. “There is no way I could have won the Naismith Trophy without great coaches, like coach (Bill) Self, the rest of the staff and great teammates. We accomplished a lot this season and this would not have been won without my teammates and coaches.”

“Frank has had a terrific four years at Kansas, one in which he has become better and matured each year, culminating with the best season of any player have that I’ve coached and he’s deserving of the Naismith Trophy,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “He was the leader, the personality and the most consistent performer on a very good team, averaging close to 21 points and more than five assists per game. More importantly, Frank basically led us through every tough moment, which is what separates him from so many.”

“Citizen, a brand that is proud to support academic youths through their scholarly endeavors, is thrilled to partner with the Atlanta Tipoff Club to announce Frank Mason III as the winner of the 2017 Citizen Naismith Trophy,” said Eric Horowitz, U.S. Managing Director of Citizen Watch. “Mason represents the excitement of academic passion and drive as well as the strength and dedication that Citizen believes are necessary qualities for success.”

The Citizen Naismith Trophy was first presented in 1969 to UCLA’s Lew Alcindor. Other notable winners have included Larry Bird (1979, Indiana State University), Michael Jordan (1984, University of North Carolina), David Robinson (1987, United States Naval Academy) and Tim Duncan (1997, Wake Forest University).

— KU Athletics —

MIAMI – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday the matchups for the third annual Hoophall Miami Invitational, a premier college basketball showcase held in conjunction with American Airlines Arena on Dec. 2.

The one-day event will feature a matchup of perennial powerhouses Kansas and Syracuse.

“We are looking forward to playing in the Hoophall Invitational and taking our team to Miami next season,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “Year-in and year-out, Syracuse has been one of the best programs in the nation. Playing Syracuse in an NBA arena will be great exposure for our program.”

ESPN has partnered to televise the event, with game times and tune-in information to be released at later date.

The game between Syracuse and Kansas will be the culmination of a multi-team event in which both teams will each host Oakland, Toledo and Texas Southern on their campuses. The Jayhawks host Texas Southern on Nov. 21, Oakland on Nov. 24 and Toledo on Nov. 28 inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Tickets are now available for the 2017 Hoophall Miami Invitational via Ticketmaster.com or by contacting the American Airlines Arena box office.

The event also features a matchup between Miami and Princeton.

— KU Athletics —