What now using a football player says about Kansas basketball

Kansas basketball is off to a 6-0 start to the new season. Why is Coach Bill Self now using a member of the KU football team to help out?

Kansas basketball fans were stunned on November 14, when news broke that star freshman Billy Preston was not going to play in the Champions Classic game against Kentucky. As a matter of fact, Bill Self and the Jayhawks did the best they could and held off the ‘Cats for an exciting 65-61 victory.  At the time, we all expected the investigation into Preston’s car incident would end quickly and he’d be in the lineup long before Thanksgiving.

We’ve heard little about Preston from anyone since. Coach Self did not have to mention Preston following Tuesday’s win over Toledo. When he said the team used a member of the football team in practice, it spoke volumes. On social media, Gary Bedore reported  coach David Beaty’s tight end James Soninski is practicing with the Kansas basketball team.

Soninski is a sophomore from Arizona. The bio on the Jayhawk web site says nothing about him except he is a graduate from Hamilton High School, is 6-foot-7 and weighs 260 pounds. The Jayhawks have a history of football players on the basketball team. Older Jayhawk fans remember Clint Normore’s contribution on the way to the 1988 National Title.

Maybe coach Beaty can recruit basketball players too? Nobody expects Soninski to see any playing time. However, Self knows he needs bodies to help with practice and can’t wait any longer for Preston. The fact Self mentioned it Tuesday indicates to me the NCAA or KU officials are stuck on the Preston problem. I hope I’m wrong.

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There are a million questions to ask on this issue. Coach Self can’t discuss Preston. We saw how long it took for someone to finally approve Chieck Diallo for play. I certainly hope we don’t see the same for Preston. I know all Jayhawk fans hope we eventually see Preston in action this season.