Kansas beat Memphis in the national championship game last April.
And now the Jayhawks have beaten the Tigers out for the services of Thomas Robinson.
Robinson, a 6-8 power forward from Brewster (N.H.) Academy, verbally committed to Kansas head coach Bill Self Thursday night.
“Yes,” Robinson said in a text message Friday morning. “Me and my family decided last night.”
Robinson, the No. 7 power forward in the Class of 2009, had previously visited Kansas Sept. 19-20 and then visited Memphis last weekend, along with Xavier Henry and Darnell Dodson. Dodson committed to Memphis this past week, while Henry has yet to announce between Kansas and Memphis. Robinson also considered visiting USC, but opted not to after the Memphis visit.
Both Kansas coach Bill Self and Memphis coach John Calipari made home visits last week with Robinson’s mother, Lisa, in Washington, D.C. Clearly Self didn’t hurt his cause during the visit.
Now that the decision has been made, what can Robinson bring to his future school?
“I will help them win any way I can,” Robinson said. “I’m going to rebound, I’m going to play hard.”
Kansas is still in the mix for a slew of talented players in the Class of 2009, many of whom will visit Oct. 17 for “Late Night in the Phog.”
Lance Stephenson of Brooklyn Lincoln and Dominic Cheek of St. Anthony of Jersey City are expected to make officials that weekend. The list of expected recruits also includes Harrison Barnes, Elijah Johnson, Perry Ellis, Michael Snaer, Daniel Orton, Bradley Beal and Ray McCallum.
Cheek will visit Memphis Oct. 31, and Derrick Favors may also visit at some point but may opt to shut it down after visiting N.C. State Oct. 17.
