Tharpe talks KU

On Wednesday morning, Naadir Tharpe became the first player from the 2011 class to commit to Kansas. The 6-foot-0, 170-pound point guard from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., had originally planned to officially visit Oklahoma (10/15) and Kansas (10/22) before putting an end to his recruitment, but those plans changed shortly after Bill Self extended a scholarship offer to the four-star point guard.

"I'm doing real well," Tharpe told Jayhawk Slant on Wednesday afternoon. "I just got done working out, so I've finally got some time to sit-down and relax for a little bit. It's been a wild couple of days, but I've done my best to just take everything in and enjoy the moment.

"Its exciting more than anything, so I've enjoyed it," he added. "Coach Self came to Brewster Academy on Monday and watched me workout for a little bit. When Coach Self and I talked on the phone later that night, he told me he loved me, said he had to have me and offered me a scholarship."

Tharpe, the No. 91 ranked player in the 2011 class, didn't anticipate putting an end to his recruitment this quickly. Having officially visited Rutgers and Minnesota, the four-star floor general was scheduled to visit Oklahoma this weekend and Kansas the following weekend.

However, those plans quickly changed once Self extended a scholarship offer to Tharpe. If he was going to make a decision, he knew it needed to be made quickly.

"I kind of thought it over, because I had a visit to Oklahoma scheduled for this weekend," said Tharpe. "After me wanting to go to Kansas and wanting to play at the highest level, I just felt that Kansas was the best place for me, which is why I made my decision today.

"When Coach Self said he needed and wanted me at Kansas, that was a huge compliment," he added. "I also know that it's not over for me. There is more that I have to do to improve my game and there is more that I want to do to improve my game. Hearing Coach Self say he needs and wants me was great, but it's only going to push me to work harder."

Tharpe, having received an offer from Self on Monday night, was ready to put an end to his recruitment on Wednesday.

"I had a first period class this morning, and once that was over, I went in and talked to Coach Smith," said Tharpe. "I just let him know that I was about to commit to Kansas. I had talked to my mother about it earlier and also talked to my brothers, so I was ready to make it happen. I called Coach Self and told him I was ready to commit.

"Coach Self asked if I would listen to him for a few minutes, and said he was going to play the role of parent, instead of coach," he added. "Coach Self said he really wanted me at Kansas, but also wanted to make sure I was ready to commit before taking my visit. I told Coach Self that I'd been to Kansas before and I had no problem with it (committing before taking official visit). He was so happy that I was ready to commit."