COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — It almost seems like Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self just won the amateur basketball lottery. Self will try to lead the USA Men's U18 National Team to its 5th title.
He will do it with a roster stocked with talent, including incoming KU freshman Quentin Grimes as well as Bishop Miege standout Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
Both are getting the chance of a lifetime learning from Self and his staff which includes former Jayhawk great Danny Manning.
"It's been surreal having some of the best coaches and players out there." Said Robinson-Earl. "Learning from the best, we're just becoming better players overall and better people so we can learn to be the best we can on the court."
For Self, he'd like to treat this like a KU practice and gets as close as he can.
"I don't think we're coaching like we did our individual team because there is not enough time to get everything in," said Self. "We're trying to get them to play the way we want them to play share the ball, ball and body movement."
For Grimes, every moment he gets to spend on the court with Self is a learning experience that he's using to make his transition to KU a little bit easier.
"I feel like I can get a head start," said Grimes. "All the freshmen are already there just working out. I'm already getting to know coach Self, learning his plays, knowing what he wants spacing wise. It helps to get a head start and a little bit of an edge, for when I get to Kansas."
Grimes is listed as a 6-5 combo guard. He picked KU over the likes of Arizona, Baylor and Kentucky.
There is strong speculation that Robinson-Earl could be joining him later down the road. But for now, they're both in the hunt for the gold medal representing team USA on the national stage.
