LAWRENCE, Kan. – A top-rated shooting guard from Phoenix, Ariz. is headed to play basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks.
Royce Woolridge signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday to play at KU next season. The 6-foot-3, 175 pound Woolridge is a senior at Sunnyslope High School.
He averaged 28.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a junior. Woolridge made 50 percent of his field goals, shot 34 percent from behind the arc and 82 percent from the free-throw line. He also had 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the Vikings last season.
“We are very happy to add Royce to our basketball program,” Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self said. “He’s a terrific young man, great student and is going to be a heck of a basketball player. Right now he is a combo guard that is really good off the bounce and has become an excellent shooter. Royce and his mother, Victoria, have been very loyal to us considering they committed approximately two years ago.”
Woolridge verbally committed to Kansas in 2008. He is the son of former NBA star Orlando Woolridge. Royce helped Sunnyslope go 24-5 and win a state championship last season. He averaged 32 points in the four state tourney games.
“Royce has been well drilled by coach Dan Mannix at Sunnyslope High School,” Self said. “Last year they surprised everybody as they won state. Royce’s preparation to be a college player can be attributed to his high school coach.”
Woolridge went on his official visit to KU at Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 16. He is ranked as the 26th best shooting guard by ESPNU 100 and the No. 94 overall. He is the No. 31 shooting guard and overall No. 117 by Rivals.com.
Kansas Men’s Basketball 2009 Fall Signees
Royce Woolridge (G, 6-3, 175, Phoenix, Ariz. - Sunnyslope HS)
