"He’s Playin’ Where?" The Kansas Jayhawks Edition

by Mikko Simon December 12, 2014

One of the best college hoops programs is also one of the best schools for producing pro talent for Europe. Kansas has been an absolute factory for producing high-end talent to play on the Old Continent. You could make a solid European team off of former Jayhawks.

Keith Langford, UNICS Kazan (Russia and Euroleague)

Langford is one of the best players and potentially the best scorer in all of Europe. He has played on the prestigious Maccabi Tel Aviv squad and last season had his best year ever on EA7 Armani Milano when he led Milano to their first Italian title in 18 years, the Euroleague Playoffs, and was honored as one of the five best players in the Euroleague with an All-Euroleague First Team spot.

Aaron Miles, Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia and EuroCup)

Mr. Dependable has had a long and consistent Euro career. This season he’s on a star-studded roster in Russia with Malcolm Delaney, Anthony Randolph, Derrick Brown, and Richard Hendrix to make one of the best teams outside the Euroleague. Kuban has been crushing and their Youtube channel is great. Checkout their 114 point recent slaughtering.  (Miles is #11)

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Sasha Kaun, CSKA Moscow (Russia and Euroleague)

KAAAUUUUNNNNNNNN! While Langford has been the best Jayhawk in Europe, from a team perspective Kaun has been the most successful. He’s turned into a finishing and shot-blocking machine for routinely one of the best teams in Europe. In his six seasons in Europe, all playing for CSKA, he’s been to five Euroleague Final Fours. DUNK ME VERY MUCH!

Julian Wright, Panathinaikos (Greece and Euroleague)

The uniquely talented Wright has had an up and down pro career but has reached his highest peak in a while playing with the legendary club Panathinaikos. Wright has been out the last year with injury and has just recently come back. 

Elijah Johnson, Panelefsiniakos (Greece)

The young, powerful guard is still early on his career. But he’s shown a great ability to play in Poland and now Greece. And he’s also still showing off those HOPS that earned him “Best Dunk Ever Done In High School Game” acclaim.

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Travis Releford, Mississauga Power (Canada)

Releford had a solid year in Belgium last year so it’s a little bit puzzling why he ended up in Canada this year. But the pro journey for many is a grind, so keep on grinding Travis!

Josh Selby, Bnei Herzelia (Israel)

Who? What? Josh Selby? The enigma that is Josh Selby has landed in Israel and has looked pretty good so far. Israel is known to be a friendly league to Americans with the nice weather, friendly life style, most people speak English, and the game on the court is fast paced. It seemed Selby might hang up his high-tops and try something else, but he’s been an explosive scorer so far in Israel and even made shots while sitting on the floor. 

Jayhawk vs Jayhawk Matchups

1/3: Panelefsiniakos (Johnson) vs. Panathinaikos (Wright)

2/1: Lokomotiv Kuban (Miles) vs. CSKA Moscow (Kaun)

2/7: Lokomotiv Kuban (Miles) vs. UNICS Kazan (Langford) 

Panathinaikos, CSKA Moscow, and UNICS Kazan are all also in the Euroleague and could play each other in the next rounds (Top 16 or Playoffs).

Check out earlier entries in this series:

He's Playin' Where? The UCONN Huskies Edition

He's Playin' Where? The 'Cuse Edition