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Julian Wright

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Though Julian Wright played power forward for the Jayhawks, most scouts see him as a small forward at the next level, even though Wright doesn’t have much experience at the position. After stating repeatedly that he wanted to get his degree before turning pro, he declared himself eligible (after his sophomore season) for the 2007 draft. He is projected to be a top ten pick.

Wright played his high school ball at Homewood-Flossmoor HS, becoming a McDonald’s All-American. There, he became friends with then-Illinois coach Bill Self. Once Self took the Kansas job, Wright became immediately interested in playing for the Jayhawks. But Wright’s recruitment fell through the cracks when Self’s assistant coach left the program and Self had stomach surgery. Wright was hurt by the apparent snub and didn’t want to speak to Self for some time. But in a last ditch pitch at Wright’s home, Self apologized and sold the young star on playing at Kansas.

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Profiles

NBADraft.net
The premier NBA Draft site breaks down Wright’s strengths and weaknesses.

Draft Express
DraftExpress.com provides an extensive scouting report of Wright as well as regular updates of his progress.

Scout.com
A short scouting report along with links to Scout.com content concerning Wright.

Wikipedia
Currently quite brief, this site should develop into a great source for all things Julian Wright.

ESPN Player Card
Keep track of Wright’s game-by-game statistics at ESPN.

ESPN Draft Card
ESPN lays out Wright’s strengths and weaknesses along with a summary of his stats at Kansas. (Insider subscription required.)

Kansas Athletics
The KU athletic department put together a comprehensive profile for Julian Wright.


Commentary

The Wright Direction
An excellent profile by the Kansas City Star’s Jason King, who discusses how Wright almost didn’t go to Kansas.

Wright’s vow to get degree is the real deal
After speaking with Wright, Gary Parrish is convinced that he’ll return for his junior season. (Oops!)

Julian Wright Interview
Sports Illustrated’s Luke Winn interviews the young star.


Quotes about Julian Wright

“Wright has such a unique game that scouts believe he can be, like Durant, a unique type of player in the league. He's long, athletic, is a brilliant passer … he just needs to shoot. Yes, the jump shot is shaky, but he's got the talent to score in just about every other way. Games like the Mizzou outburst remind scouts of just how special he is. A few more like that, and his place in the top five of the NBA draft should be secured.” -

Chad Ford, ESPN

“Julian has always remained his age. When I had him, he was a 16-year-old who enjoyed being a 16-year-old. Now he’s a 19-year-old who loves being a 19-year old. He lives in the moment. He doesn’t want to grow up too soon.” – Roy Condotti, Julian’s high school coach

“Coach [Bill Self] gets mad at me sometimes because he says I think too much looking for the extra pass, rather than just going ahead and scoring. I guess I have a willingness to give. I'd rather see someone else get the basket. It comes from back home [near Chicago], when as a kid I'd play about two grades higher than mine, with guys who were stronger and faster. I've never been a ball hog, and usually that's the only way they'd let me play - if I promised them I'd pass the ball around. The concept of creating your own shot was pretty much foreign to me until I got to college. And I still don't feel like I need to score a lot of impact the game. I'd rather pass it.” – Julian Wright, on his passing skills