Two "firsts" happened for me today: One; I stepped foot inside the "Home of Basketball," Allen Fieldhouse. Two; I met Jordan Juenemann in the arena. Both thoroughly impressed me.
For those of you that don't know, Jordan was a stand out player for Hays High School last year. He was given plenty of offers from junior colleges and from some smaller Division I schools. But none of the schools wanted Jordan on scholarship. They all wanted him to walk on. Including the Jayhawks.
Jordan had spoke to the Jayhawk Coaching staff about trying out with the team and said he had a shoot around with the team during the summer, getting to know the players and the coaching staff as well. The best part about that pickup game was the location, Allen Fieldhouse.
The first thing that struck me was the sheer size of the place. Make no mistake - it's large. Not only is it tall, but also wide, and the blue and red bleachers seem like they reach to the ceiling. And then the "Phog Banner." It's old, creepy and awesome that it still hangs in the rafters of the arena after all these years. One can only think of the walkons that banner has witnessed.
Jordan is not Joe Street Hoops. He's a baller. Played on AAU squads, and trained with the best he could find to get himself ready for the tryout. After two weeks of giving everything he had, Jordan got the phone call he was looking forward to his whole life. Assistant Coach Joe Dooley told Jordan that Bill Self, 2008 NCAA National Championship Winning Head Coach Bill Self, would like to see him in his office.
Self told Jordan that they liked his hard work and skill on the court, and would like him to join the team. Jordan emphatically agreed, but couldn't really celebrate too much - practice started in 45 minutes.
A few weeks later, the Jayhawks have their first home game as the defending national champions, and Jordan realizes his life long dream of putting on a KU uniform and running out of the tunnel into the Allen Fieldhouse.
It's loud at tip off. Like, Metallica loud, so I'm told. And as sturdy as the foundation is, it feels like this thing is rocking back and forth, to the swaying and jumping of the student section. Considering it's over 50 years old, this is some pretty darn good construction.
KU blows out Washburn 98-79, but Jordan does not get any real playing time. That would come next week against Emporia. He said he played for over four minutes, and took three shots. Two jump shots were no good, but with just over thirty seconds left, Jordan got the ball again, drove to the hoop and layed one up for an official basket. He was so excited that he pulled a Tiger Woods Fistpump on the floor, which led to a lot of ribbing from the coaching staff afterward.
So not only did he make the team, but he scored two points in Allen Fieldhouse, during an official game - it counts. Dream come true. Jordan said that moment pretty much topped everything that had ever happened to him. Best feeling in the world, he said. If he never scored another point again for the Jayhawks, he'll be dissapointed for sure, but how many people can say their name was said over the loudspeaker and fans cheering his name, in Allen Fieldhouse? Not many.
Impressive.
For those of you that don't know, Jordan was a stand out player for Hays High School last year. He was given plenty of offers from junior colleges and from some smaller Division I schools. But none of the schools wanted Jordan on scholarship. They all wanted him to walk on. Including the Jayhawks.
Jordan had spoke to the Jayhawk Coaching staff about trying out with the team and said he had a shoot around with the team during the summer, getting to know the players and the coaching staff as well. The best part about that pickup game was the location, Allen Fieldhouse.
The first thing that struck me was the sheer size of the place. Make no mistake - it's large. Not only is it tall, but also wide, and the blue and red bleachers seem like they reach to the ceiling. And then the "Phog Banner." It's old, creepy and awesome that it still hangs in the rafters of the arena after all these years. One can only think of the walkons that banner has witnessed.
Jordan is not Joe Street Hoops. He's a baller. Played on AAU squads, and trained with the best he could find to get himself ready for the tryout. After two weeks of giving everything he had, Jordan got the phone call he was looking forward to his whole life. Assistant Coach Joe Dooley told Jordan that Bill Self, 2008 NCAA National Championship Winning Head Coach Bill Self, would like to see him in his office.
Self told Jordan that they liked his hard work and skill on the court, and would like him to join the team. Jordan emphatically agreed, but couldn't really celebrate too much - practice started in 45 minutes.
A few weeks later, the Jayhawks have their first home game as the defending national champions, and Jordan realizes his life long dream of putting on a KU uniform and running out of the tunnel into the Allen Fieldhouse.
It's loud at tip off. Like, Metallica loud, so I'm told. And as sturdy as the foundation is, it feels like this thing is rocking back and forth, to the swaying and jumping of the student section. Considering it's over 50 years old, this is some pretty darn good construction.
KU blows out Washburn 98-79, but Jordan does not get any real playing time. That would come next week against Emporia. He said he played for over four minutes, and took three shots. Two jump shots were no good, but with just over thirty seconds left, Jordan got the ball again, drove to the hoop and layed one up for an official basket. He was so excited that he pulled a Tiger Woods Fistpump on the floor, which led to a lot of ribbing from the coaching staff afterward.
So not only did he make the team, but he scored two points in Allen Fieldhouse, during an official game - it counts. Dream come true. Jordan said that moment pretty much topped everything that had ever happened to him. Best feeling in the world, he said. If he never scored another point again for the Jayhawks, he'll be dissapointed for sure, but how many people can say their name was said over the loudspeaker and fans cheering his name, in Allen Fieldhouse? Not many.
Impressive.
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