Wichita State-Drake charity scrimmage to support Cheese Johnson’s nonprofit
An old Missouri Valley rival is coming back to Koch Arena next month, but the real winner of Wichita State’s scrimmage against Drake won’t be decided on the scoreboard.
Instead, proceeds from the Oct. 11 charity matchup will funnel back into the Wichita community, with a special boost for one of the program’s most beloved basketball legends.
All ticket sales — set at $20 with general admission seating and free parking — will be split between the Wichita Children’s Home and UJUMP, a mentoring program founded by Lynbert “Cheese” Johnson, the former star who dazzled Shocker fans from 1975-79.
UJUMP focuses on guiding Wichita youth with mentorship, leadership training and community support. For decades, Johnson has remained in Wichita and used his platform to give back to the city that embraced him as a teenager from New York City.
“Cheese is a Shocker legend as a player, however, his contributions to assist Wichita youth through UJUMP have been transformative,” WSU head coach Paul Mills said in a statement. “Supporting the Shockers will directly correspond to you helping Wichita children through these two tremendous organizations.”
The scrimmage itself won’t follow a traditional format. Fans will instead see an extended scrimmage at 1 p.m. featuring live play, in-game scenarios and situational drills — the kind of behind-the-scenes basketball work that’s rarely put on display. Gates open at noon.
Until recently, fans never would have had a chance to watch this kind of matchup. For years, NCAA rules allowed only “secret” scrimmages, where programs tested themselves behind closed doors with no public access or media coverage.
A recent rule change has opened the door for schools to host these exhibitions in front of fans and WSU is seizing the opportunity, not only to give supporters a sneak peek at the Shockers, but to funnel ticket money toward local charities.
The scrimmage will come one week after Shocker Madness, set for Oct. 4, which traditionally features a running-clock intra-squad scrimmage that amounts to little more than players going through the motions. But with this scrimmage, fans will actually see the Shockers go head-to-head with outside competition, measuring themselves in real drills and situations that should reveal far more about the team’s makeup.
Drake’s presence adds an extra layer of nostalgia. The Bulldogs haven’t visited the Roundhouse since 2017 and WSU shares its deepest Valley history with Drake, holding a 104-48 edge in 152 meetings.
While Drake is coming off a 31-win season and its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1971, the Bulldogs enter a transition year under new head coach Eric Henderson, who previously matched up against Mills when both coached in the Summit League (Mills at Oral Roberts and Henderson at South Dakota State).
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