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Still Jayhawks? Some Kansas recruits rethinking futurePosted: Monday April 14, 2003 9:56 PMUpdated: Monday April 14, 2003 11:10 PM LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- From Nevada to Oklahoma, and even outside Allen Fieldhouse, resentment over Roy Williams departure to North Carolina was quick to surface Monday night. Before deciding to leave Kansas after 15 successful and popular years, Williams apparently did not immediately call any of the four topflight high school recruits he'd signed for next season. "The main reason we were interested in seeing our son go to Kansas was to play for Roy, because we felt like what he said you could count on," said Pete Padgett, father of 7-foot David Padgett of Reno, Nev. "We're almost stunned. We had never seen that side of coach Williams before." The recruits, who comprise one of the best classes Williams has ever attracted to Kansas, will all have the option of asking to be released from their commitment. If Kansas does grant that release, they would be free to sign with another school. Speaking late Monday night in Chapel Hill, N.C., Williams spoke of his Jayhawk recruits with the same compassion as he did for his current players. He said he had tried to call them and would not go to bed before reaching all four. "Folks, it's hard to turn my back on those kids," Williams said. Seeing a picture of one Friday morning, he said, left him with his hand on the phone, ready to call North Carolina and turn town the Tar Heels. "A lot of people say Roy is too emotional, but folks, I care about those kids," Williams said. Williams turned down North Carolina three years ago, saying he just couldn't bear to tell his players "that I'd found a team I'd rather coach than them." Having reached a different decision this time around, he apparently encountered some anger when he gave the Jayhawks the news Monday -- just one week after they lost to Syracuse by three points in the NCAA championship game. Whether any will transfer -- and by rule sit out a year -- remains to be seen. Sophomore center Wayne Simien, who was sidelined most of this season with an injured right shoulder, said before the meeting he would not want to go anywhere else. But Simien emerged from the meeting very upset, saying as he stomped to his car, "I gave my right arm for that man, literally. I gave that man my right arm." Another key returning player, sophomore Keith Langford, had already raised the prospect of transferring should Williams leave, saying last week, "I can't see myself playing for anybody else at this school." Recruit Jeremy Case, a 6-1 guard Williams called the best shooter he ever signed, admitted he was bothered by the lack of a phone call from Williams -- but said he's not interested in going anywhere else. "I love KU," said Case, who averaged more than 25 points a game during his senior year. "I love they way they are." Diana Giddens, mother of recruit J.R. Giddens, said she was "shocked" to hear the news. "We weren't expecting this," she said from her home in Oklahoma City. "J.R. is away at a high school all-star game. I'm pretty sure he'll still want to go to Kansas. But I haven't talked to him about it." Pete Padgett said Williams' decision will prompt his family to reconsider his son's future. "Coach Williams told us he would coach David for four years. Now we need to take a step back and see what happens. People are astounded he hasn't contracted the incoming players for next year." Everyone's decision may hinge a great deal on who follows Williams. Most frequently mentioned is Bill Self of Illinois. But other names coming immediately into play included Mark Few of Gonzaga, Tom Crean of Marquette and Mike Bray at Notre Dame. Williams offered his own candidate for the job: Joe Holladay, one of his assistants at Kansas. "If that doesn't work out, he'll be here with me," Williams said. The Jayhawks are also handicapped because they are also without a permanent athletic director. Al Bohl, who had clashed repeatedly with Williams, was fired last Wednesday. So now the Jayhawks -- eight days removed from playing for the
national championship -- are without a permanent athletic director
or a basketball coach. And the bulk of the great freshman class
they were counting on for next year -- all immediately uncontacted
by Williams on his way out -- may also be at risk.
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