KU gets good news on Rush and a commitment from power forward

LAWRENCE | The Kansas men’s basketball program received a double dose of good news to begin the week — one spoonful for now and another for later.

Impacting this season, junior guard Brandon Rush was cleared by doctors to practice full speed without contact, a necessary step in his recovery from a torn right ACL. Impacting the future, New Jersey power forward Quintrell Thomas gave an oral commitment to the Jayhawks, becoming the third member of KU coach Bill Self’s 2008 recruiting class.

Thomas, who is rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, picked KU over Rutgers and University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

The native of Elizabeth, N.J., attended the Rutgers football team’s upset victory over South Florida last Thursday night. Despite the football euphoria that ensued, Thomas went with the proven product on the hardwood.

“It was really hard,” Thomas said. “Rutgers, I know all the players there. I played against a lot of them growing up. I’m comfortable around them. But I like Kansas. I like the players, the coaches, and there’s a big opportunity to play when I first come in.”

Indeed, Thomas — not a highly coveted prospect — would appear to be right in the mix for playing time in 2008-09. Assuming sophomore Darrell Arthur elects to go pro after this season, Cole Aldrich and Thomas would be the only scholarship big men left. Of course, KU is hoping to receive commitments from five-star Dallas center J’Mison Morgan and twin four-star Philadelphia power forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris.

Thomas joins Bishop Miege shooting guard Travis Releford and Chipola (Fla.) Junior College small forward Mario Little in the class.

“He’s a very good rebounder, an athletic finisher,” said Derrick Bobbitt, Thomas’ AAU coach. “There are a lot of big things ahead of him. He has a tremendous amount of potential; he’s only been playing basketball for approximately five years.”

As for Brandon Rush, if all goes well, he won’t be around to see Thomas play next year. Self said he didn’t expect Brandon Rush, a Kansas City native, to be cleared for full-speed workouts this quickly, but it doesn’t change anything about the expected return date of Dec. 1.

Brandon Rush can’t scrimmage with his teammates, but he can do everything else. Self said just being able to do shooting drills and run the offense will help Brandon Rush’s morale.

“Brandon Rush has done absolutely great with his rehab,” Self said, “but I do think the last week or two he’s become quite bored or anxious.”