No Surprise, Selby Picks Kansas

Carolina Kat Sun Apr 18, 2010 3:02 am

Updated: April 17, 2010, 10:32 PM ET

Point guard Selby picks Kansas

By Brendan Murphy
ESPN.com

NEW YORK CITY -- Point guard Josh Selby, the nation's top unsigned prospect, announced he will attend Kansas during the first half of the Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Selby, who played at Lake Clifton High School in Baltimore, picked the Jayhawks over a list of suitors that included Kentucky, UConn, Arizona and Tennessee.

"I think that's the best place for me to mature and get to the next level," Selby said.

"[Coach Bill Self] kind of reminds me of myself. He's very outgoing, a good coach and he's going to get the job done."

Shooting guard Doron Lamb, one of the top 30 prospects in the nation, announced his decision to attend Kentucky. Lamb picked UK over a list of schools that included Arizona, West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma and UConn.

"I love the coaching staff," Lamb said. "I think next year we're going to be a team to beat."

The deciding factor for the Jayhawks, in Selby's eyes, was Self's ability to get him pro-ready.

"They run an NBA-type offense with pick and roll and pick and pop," Selby said.

"When I get to the next level I don't want to be looking around [thinking] this [system] is different. I'll already know it."

Exactly how long will he be in Lawrence?

"God willing one year," Selby said. "But I have to get where I need to be."

Selby, the No. 5 player in the ESPNU 100, will join a Jayhawks team that has many holes to fill with the early departures of Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry, in addition to the graduation of senior point guard Sherron Collins, whom Selby will likely be counted on to replace.

"Sherron did a lot there," he said. "Going in there for them to put the ball in my hands is big." Selby is the Jayhawks' second commitment in the 2010 class, joining shooting guard Royce Woolridge.

Brendan Murphy is a recruiting editor for ESPN.com.