The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ALMOST two weeks after he announced his decision to transfer, Dwight Coleby has revealed where he could continue his NCAA basketball career in the Fall 2016 season.

According to kuathletics.com, Coleby signed a “grant-in-aid agreement” to join the Kansas Jayhawks programme after sitting out the 2015-16 season due to transfer rules.

He will officially join Kansas after he fulfils his national team commitment for his second consecutive stint as a member of the Bahamas’ Caribbean Basketball Confederation Champions team.

Coleby was a member of the Bahamas’ team that won gold last year at the CBCs in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Jayhawks head coach Bill Self said he looks forward to the impact Coleby can have on the programme once he becomes eligible again. Following this season, the Jayhawks will lose senior forwards Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor and Hunter Mickelson.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on transfers the entire Spring due to the fact we lose so many big guys next year,” Self said. “It would be nice to have a big guy in your programme that knew the system, and we can rely on to be a foundation.“When Dwight became available, we researched it and watched tape. He’s a exactly what I think we need. He’s a big guy that can play either bigs position. He’s active. He reminds me of a lot of a bigger Jamari or Thomas Robinson-type body. He’s got a great motor.

“I feel like he can play on the block. He can play facing. He can do a lot of different things. He’s raw offensively, but he’s a premiere athlete and should be a solid rebounder and defender right off the bat.”

The 6ft 9in 240lb sophomore post player averaged 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the University of Mississippi and was also named an SEC First-Year Academic Honour Roll.

It was a progressive season for him as he scored in double figures six games this season where he earned three starts but appeared in 34 games.

In the first instance, Coleby tied his then career high in scoring when the Rebels went on the road to top the Oregon Ducks, 79-73.

In just eight minutes, Coleby scored 10 points on 3-4 shooting. He also added three rebounds and one blocked shot. It was his first time scoring double figures since the season finale in his freshman year, when he scored 10 against Georgia.

He went on to set a new career high on two occasions when he scored 12 points and added seven rebounds in a 92-63 win over Austin Peay.

He recorded his first collegiate double double when he finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a 96-82 win over No.19 Arkansas in January.

It was also a landmark season for Coleby, whose team made the NCAA Tournament and had one of the most thrilling comebacks of the opening rounds.

“Dwight was obviously a contributor and role player for an NCAA Tournament team,” Self said. “He didn’t play a ton last year, but Ole Miss had good players. He’s hasn’t been playing ball forever, but there is definitely a foundation there, physically.

“Also, foundation from an intellect standpoint that is going to allow him to become a much better player fast. Without question, we think his best ball is well down the road. I see him being a Darnell Jackson. I see him being a bigger Jamari, a guy that can have a big impact on our programme and hopefully mature and develop into a starter for us.”

In his freshman season with the Rebels, Coleby played in 28 games with four starts and averaged 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 10.4 minutes. He shot 47 per cent from the floor, and finished with 18 blocked shots, fifth on the team.