Bill Self backs new McLendon Initiative: ‘I’m all in.’ And a walk-on is transferring
Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self is offering his support for the newly formed McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative, designed to help minority members gain jobs as college head basketball coaches and university athletic administrators.
“I’m all in. Proud to help launch the McLendon Foundation Minority Leadership Initiative and help provide access and opportunity to deserving minority candidates as #FutureLeaders. Learn more at http://MinorityLeaders.org. #MLI,” Self wrote on Twitter.
The Initiative is a partnership between the McLendon Foundation and college coaches. It was introduced Monday.
According to a McLendon Foundation news release, the Initiative has been set up “to provide minorities a jump-start to their careers through practical experiences, opportunities to build their network, and instilling the values of John McLendon: Integrity, Education, Leadership, and Mentorship. Participants in the initiative will be known as MLI Future Leaders.”
A major goal would be for coaches such as Self to help the “future leaders” in the program become head college hoops coaches and athletic directors.
Kentucky coach John Calipari, who formed the Initiative with Harvard coach Tommy Amaker, said Monday: “The MLI is about access and opportunity: real-world experience and networking platforms designed to elevate talented young women and men of color who have previously been ignored by a system that lacks diversity and inclusion. For this work, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate vehicle than the McLendon Foundation. I’m excited about where we’re headed and feel this is a great first step toward affecting measurable change in our corner of the world.”
The initiative is named after KU graduate John McLendon, who has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a contributor (1979) and as a coach (2016). A native of Hiawatha, Kansas, McLendon was KU’s first Black graduate in the physical education department and went on to become head basketball coach at North Carolina Central, Hampton, Tennessee State, Cleveland State and in the ABL and ABA. He died in 1999 at the age of 84.
Minority candidates can apply for the leadership initiative beginning Aug. 1 at the website minorityleaders.org. Applicants will be vetted by members of the McLendon Leadership Initiative and names then will be sent to athletic department officials, who will review the names for potential hires.
“It is a true honor to serve as an ambassador for the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative under the umbrella of the John McLendon Foundation,” said Harvard’s Amaker. “Coach McLendon’s name is synonymous with education, teaching, service, excellence, and leadership. I am incredibly proud to be associated with his name through this initiative. I cannot think of a better way to honor coach McLendon’s legacy than by providing young minority women and men with a pathway into athletics administration. Through this program, we will make significant progress in increasing diversity in athletics departments throughout the country and will support many more people of color in pursuing their passion.”
Walk-on won’t return
Kansas redshirt sophomore walk-on guard Elijah Elliott has decided to transfer to a yet-to-be determined school, coach Bill Self confirmed. Self said Elliott had not yet selected a transfer destination.
Elliott, a 6-foot-3 native of Southlake, Texas, who red-shirted his first season at KU in 2018-19, played a total of 21 minutes in nine games as a red-shirt freshman in 2019-20. He scored seven points total with three assists and two turnovers. He hit 3 of 4 shots including his only three-point attempt as a Jayhawk.
Elliott revealed on social media on June 26 that he’d entered his name in the transfer portal. Self confirmed that fact at that time but left open the possibility Elliott could return to the KU squad.
In entering the portal, Elliott wrote recently on Instagram: “The past two years have been a dream come true for me. I want to thank my family, coaches, teammates, entire support staff and most importantly Jayhawk Nation. Since the first day I stepped on campus, y’all took a kid in who nobody knew and treated him like your own and I’ll always be grateful for that. I have decided to put my name in the transfer portal and explore my options. Kansas will always hold a special place in my heart. All praise to the Most High.”
Elliott averaged 7.4 points a game his junior year at Advanced Preparatory International High School in Dallas. He spent his senior year working out at IMG Academy in Florida before returning to Carroll High in Southlake, Texas to finish his studies.
Frankie Collins considers KU, seven others
Kansas is one of eight schools in the running for Frankie Collins, a 6-1 senior point guard from Coronado High School in Las Vegas. Collins, the No. 68-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com, reported on Twitter he’s narrowed his list of schools to KU, Auburn, USC, Michigan, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Arizona State and New Mexico State.
He averaged 13.9 points and 6.2 assists per game last season at Compass Prep in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to that as a sophomore he attended Clark High School in Las Vegas.
“He’s a capable scorer at all levels, can defend at a high level, and can help out on the boards. While he’s not someone that projects as a future early NBA Draft pick, Collins can be a three-to-four year contributor and starter or whichever program he ultimately lands at,” wrote Tristan Freeman of bustingbrackets.com.
“Expect a ton of assists to come from Collins to (Jaden) Hardy during the 2020-21 season, potentially propelling him (Collins) as a top-50 recruit,” Freeman added.
Hardy, a 6-4 senior shooting guard who attends Coronado High, also has KU on his list of schools but is said to be favoring Kentucky. He’s ranked No. 6 in the Class of 2021 by Rivals.com.
“A driver who sets up teammates, defends well and plays above the rim, Collins is a high octane guy who has been a steady performer. He took an official visit to Georgetown back in March but at this point I feel like his recruitment is a little too early to read and it would be tough to declare one program or another as the favorite,” said Eric Bossi of Rivals.com.
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 9:55 AM with the headline "Bill Self backs new McLendon Initiative: ‘I’m all in.’ And a walk-on is transferring."
