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LAWRENCE — Pleasure abounded in Brian Hanni’s voice Tuesday as he mentioned the upcoming Rock Chalk Roundball Traditional.
Hanni, who organizes the charity occasion, was nearly every week away from the basketball recreation that may lead off the three days of festivities which might be forward. The image was changing into even clearer, when it got here to simply which names can be part of the 2022 version — the 14th ever, relationship again to 2009 — that those that comply with Kansas basketball know so properly. And contemplating what the week will appear like this yr, after how the pandemic restricted what it could possibly be the previous couple of years, Hanni might sense that fervor within the better neighborhood as properly.
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“The fellows are excited to come back again and to collect collectively for a full weekend,” stated Hanni, who famous how the occasion was digital in 2020 and restricted in 2021. “The followers are excited to get that in particular person interplay that COVID robbed us of. Final yr we couldn’t have any post-game autographs. This yr we’re going to supply that for the gamers that wish to take part. And that’s been the great thing about this occasion, is that for 14 years we’ve supplied Kansas followers probably the most interactive expertise they may probably have in getting to satisfy, greet, take photos with and get signatures from their favourite Jayhawks stars.”
The festivities, which the charity makes use of to assist households coping with pediatric most cancers or different difficult diseases, start with that basketball recreation Thursday that options former Kansas athletes — together with a fair proportion with Closing 4 expertise — and extra at Lawrence Free State Excessive Faculty. The festivities, which have raised greater than $770,000 through the years, proceed June 10 with a VIP dinner at Burge Union that’ll characteristic notable company and numerous actions. And people lead into the Rock Chalk Roundbowl bowling expertise June 11 at Royal Crest Lanes.
Former Kansas basketball gamers Wayne Simien and Brett Ballard will every be a head coach for the 2 groups on the upcoming recreation, and each Udoka Azubuike and Perry Ellis will likely be in attendance as assistant coaches. Amongst these slated to play are Tyshawn Taylor, part of the 2012 nationwide runner-up squad, and Devonte’ Graham, part of the 2018 Closing 4 group, and extra. Anybody inquisitive about getting concerned within the week’s festivities as a complete, whether or not it’s shopping for tickets or just donating, can discover that data on-line at RockChalkRoundballClassic.com.
“I at all times get so excited when we now have our first-timers that make it again to Lawrence to play within the basic for the primary time ever,” Hanni stated. “And so, to get guys like Malik Newman and Dedric Lawson and Devon Dotson and Greg Ostertag, that had by no means earlier than been part of the occasion, and this yr they’re coming again, that’s what excites me probably the most. There’ll be names which might be greater or extra achieved of their careers that come again as properly, however I at all times get excited as a result of we preserve a operating tab on the totally different people which have performed on this occasion through the years. And I believe we’ll be as much as 114 totally different Jayhawks in our 14 years of doing this occasion.”
The “beginning 5” for 2022, which means the 5 younger children dealing with well being battles whose households will obtain monetary help from the cash raised this yr, are DK Clark, Jake Jones, Fatima Gomez, John Foster and George Langston. The occasion’s web site says Clark is from Topeka, Jones is from Roeland Park, Gomez is from Olathe, Foster is from Edgerton and Langston is from Olathe. Extra about their tales could be discovered at RockChalkRoundballClassic.com and will likely be shared in particular person throughout the festivities.
Hanni stated a typical thread with every baby is how robust they’re, how courageous they’re and simply how optimistic their outlooks are. He can’t wait to see their smiles in the course of the occasion. He understands that whereas the cash that’ll be raised when all’s stated and accomplished will likely be important for them, the emotional increase they’re set to obtain is as properly after they’re round everybody.
“So excited with the 5 that we now have this yr, and may’t wait for his or her large second after we flip off the lights and Eric Danielson belts out the beginning lineups, calling all of them out by title, age, peak and hometown,” Hanni stated. “And as a Topeka native myself, I can’t wait to satisfy DK and see him get a standing ovation realizing all that he’s been by way of.”
Jordan Guskey covers College of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
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