Kansas Jayhawks
Naadir Tharpe - Men's Basketball - Kansas Jayhawks
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Naadir Tharpe

Position Guard
Height 5'11''
Weight 170 lbs.
Class Junior
Hometown Worcester, Mass.
High School Saint Peter-Marian HS

Overview: A smart, unselfish point guard who Bill Self likes to compare to KU[apos]s all-time assists leader Aaron Miles… Described as a true point guard who makes plays for himself and others, has a tight handle, excellent court vision and pinpoint passing ability… Played at Brewster Academy where he was teammates with former Jayhawk Thomas Robinson for one season… Will have an increased role in the backcourt for KU in 2012-13.

Europe 2012: Averaged 6.3 points on KU[apos]s Europe trip to Switzerland and Paris in August 2012… Logged 25.8 minutes per contest with two starts, both against AMW France… Led Kansas with 17 assists in the four games and had three steals… Scored eight points with nine assists and two steals in KU[apos]s 74-73 loss to AMW France… Scored seven points and had four rebounds in the final game of the trip against the French pros.

Freshman Season (2011-12): Played in 32 of 39 games… Averaged 5.5 minutes, 0.9 points, 0.7 assists and 0.3 rebounds per game for the Jayhawks… Appeared in 16 conference games, where he averaged 1.0 points… Made 4-of-6 from three-point range in league play… Also had three steals against Big 12 foes… Scored a career-high nine points at Texas Tech (1/11), hitting 3-of-3 from three-point range… Recorded three or more assists in two games… Played a career-high 19 minutes in his collegiate debut versus Towson (11/11)… Dished out a season-high five assists against Howard (12/29)… Played in both KU games in the Big 12 Championship against Texas A&M (3/8) and Baylor (3/9)… Appeared in Kansas[apos] first two NCAA Tournament victories versus Detroit (3/16) and Purdue (3/18)… His 13 minutes against Detroit ranked as his third-most minutes during 2011-12… Made a three-pointer and pulled down a rebound versus Purdue.

High School: Averaged 13 points and six assists a game last season for Brewster Academy, leading his team to a 35-5 finish and a prep school national championship… A standout at St. Peter-Marian High School before heading to Brewster two years ago.

Off the Court: Full name is Naadir (NAH-deer) Cohen Tharpe… Parents are Ronald and Lori Tharpe… Major is undecided… Has four siblings… Brother, Tishaun Jenkins, played basketball for four years at Salem State and was inducted into the school[apos]s athletics Hall of Fame… Loves to dance and dip his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in milk.

Nickname: Sharpe Tharpe

The best thing about KU: Fans in the Fieldhouse

My favorite place to eat in Lawrence: Noodles & Co.

My favorite app: Instagram

My favorite store to shop: Urban Outfitters

My most prized possession: My daughter, Amara Grace Tharpe

My favorite person to follow on twitter: Jamari Traylor

Funniest teammate: Big Lodge a.k.a. Elijah Johnson

Best dressed teammate: Me

My best friends who play at another school: Eli Carter

My favorite quote: [quote]Champions take chances[quote]

My role models: My brother

Favorite place you visited on Europe 2012 trip: Paris

Favorite food you ate on Europe 2012 trip: Crepes