Kansas players reveal how basketball impacted their lives ahead of Final Four game

Kansas has weathered the storm of the NCAA Tournament, and now the Jayhawks are preparing for the Final Four. The only thing standing in their way of the championship game is the Villanova Wildcats, but Kansas hasn’t backed down from a challenge all season long.

At the end of the day, Jayhawks players are looking at the Final Four at it’s barebones — it’s just a basketball game. Take away all the pomp and circumstance, it’s the same sport everyone grew up playing at the local court in their neighborhood. Prior to the showdown with the Wildcats, Kansas players revealed how the game of basketball has impacted their lives.

“Basketball, I mean, especially here at Kansas, my time here, I’ve met a lot of people, new faces and a lot of new networking and just a lot of new connections,” stated Ochai Abgaji, who currently averages 18.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Next, forward Jalen Wilson — who averages 11.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game — stated basketball has brought him his best friends.

“I’d say basketball has brought me to my closest friends,” answered Wilson. “People who I call brothers now. Memories that I’ll never forget, especially in college. I mean just definitely brought me to a whole other world. Basketball is my entire life. I don’t know what I would do without it.”

Continuing, Jayhawks guard Christian Braun — averaging 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game — echoed Wilson’s sentiment.

“I would say the relationships I built with basketball and just traveling, like what Jalen said, my brothers, has been fun throughout these years,” revealed Braun. “And I got a lot of little brothers now.”

Finally, Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. put things in perspective as to how basketball has changed his life.

“Basketball is everything,” stated Harris, who averages 5.3 points and 4.2 assists per game. “If I didn’t have basketball I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t have basketball I’d probably be doing something I ain’t supposed to be doing. I’m just grateful that I get to play this sport that I’m playing now.”

Basketball hasn’t just been the sport that’s brought Kansas to the forefront of college basketball, but it’s been the escape Jayhawks players have needed throughout their life. It was the pathway to learning some of life’s biggest lessons, and meeting some of their best friends. What the game has given them is astronomical, as is the blood, sweat and tears each player has given the game.

Kansas is gearing up for the Final Four, and the game of basketball can give these Jayhawks stars some more historic memories in New Orleans.