Kansas’ basketball players officially welcomed freshman Silvio De Sousa to the squad at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
That’s when KU coach Bill Self informed the recent IMG Academy graduate — in front of his Jayhawk teammates — he’d been cleared by the NCAA for participation in games. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward had been practicing with the Jayhawks since Dec. 27 while awaiting final word on his amateur certification, which Self received from the NCAA Saturday morning.
“It was great. The whole locker room was excited. All of us gave him (De Sousa) a big hug and told him, ‘Congratulations,’’’ KU sophomore guard Malik Newman said.