Kansas Inks Royce Woolridge to National Letter of Intent for Men's Basketball

Nov. 11, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. – University of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self announced Wednesday that Royce Woolridge has signed a national letter of intent to play at KU next season.

A shooting guard from Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix, Ariz., Woolridge is 6-3, 175-pounds. As a junior at Sunnyslope, Woolridge averaged 28.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He made 50 percent of his field goals, shot 34 percent from behind the arc and 82 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, Woolridge averaged 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals for the Vikings in 2008-09.

“We are very happy to add Royce to our basketball program,” Self said. “He’s a terrific young man, great student and is going to be a heck of a basketball player. Right now he is a combo guard that is really good off the bounce and has become an excellent shooter.

“Royce and his mother, Victoria, have been very loyal to us considering they committed approximately two years ago,” Self added.

Sunnyslope went 24-5 and 8-2 in league play last season in winning the state championship. Woolridge, the son of former NBA star Orlando Woolridge, averaged 32 points in the four state tourney games and was tabbed as The Arizona Republic’s Big School (Class 4A-5A) Player of the Year following the 2008-09 season.

“Royce has been well drilled by coach Dan Mannix at Sunnyslope High School,” Self said. “Last year they surprised everybody as they won state. Royce’s preparation to be a college player can be attributed to his high school coach.”

Woolridge verbally committed to Kansas in 2008 and went on his official visit to campus at Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 16. He is ranked as the 26th best shooting guard by ESPNU 100 and the No. 94 overall. He is the No. 31 shooting guard and overall No. 117 by Rivals.com.

Kansas Men’s Basketball 2009 Fall Signees

Royce Woolridge (G, 6-3, 175, Phoenix, Ariz. – Sunnyslope HS)