2007-08 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster

Cole Aldrich
- Position:
- Center
- Height:
- 6-11
- Weight:
- 245
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Bloomington, Minn.
- High School:
- Jefferson HS
Overview: One of the most improved players in the nation as a sophomore who is on many preseason All-American teams… An efficient rebounder, scorer and shot blocker… Wingspan of 7-4… Was a role player in KU’s national championship season who averaged a double-double as a sophomore… A hard worker off the court as he was named the National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year in March 2009. Sophomore Season (2008-09): All-Big 12 First Team selection who averaged a double-double (14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg) with 21 DDs on the season (nine in Big 12 play)… Only other Big 12 player to average a DD was OU’s Blake Griffin… Was named the college basketball most improved player by Athlons and NBCSports.com… Dished out a career-high four assists against Michigan State (3/27)… Recorded the first official triple-double in KU history against Dayton (3/22) with 13 points, 20 rebounds (tied a career high) and a career-best 10 blocked shots… Led the Big 12 in blocked shots with 2.7 per game (12th nationally)… His 94 blocked shots rank second on the KU single-season list… Ranked second in the Big 12 in rebounding (11.1 rpg) which was 10th nationally… Ranked second in the league in field goal percentage at .598 (15th nationally) and 10th in free throw percentage at .792… Also had 20 rebounds with 15 points at Oklahoma (2/23)… Scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds vs. Nebraska (2/21)… Recorded 18 rebounds vs. Oklahoma State (2/7)… Scored a career-high 24 points against Siena (1/6)… Had six blocked shots against Tennessee (1/3)… Posted 23 points against Coppin State (11/28) and grabbed 11 rebounds… Pulled down 16 rebounds with 15 points in the championship game of the CBE Classic against Syracuse (11/25)… Scored 16 points with six blocked shots against Washington (11/24). Canada Exhibition (Fall 2008): Started all three games and led the team in rebounding with 11 boards per game in KU’s 3-0 trip to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada… Led team in blocks with three blocks per game… Tied for the team high with five steals… Went 12-for-13 from the free throw line… Had a double-double with 10 points and 18 rebounds against McGill… Also had six blocked shots and four steals against the Redmen… Logged 33 minutes against Carleton to go along with 16 points. Freshman Season (2007-08): Played in all 40 games and averaged 8.3 minutes and 2.8 points in KU’s national championship season… Was third on the team with 34 blocked shots… Led Kansas in blocked shots in eight games and in rebounds three times… Had 10 games with multiple blocks… Pulled down five or more rebounds eight times… Tied a career-high with 17 minutes in the national semifinal against North Carolina where he recorded eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots… Had the quietest double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds against Texas Tech (3/3) on Senior Night… The DD was the first of his career… Led team with nine rebounds in 12 minutes against Missouri (2/4)… Led the team with seven rebounds in 12 minutes of action versus Yale (12/29)… Had three blocks versus Eastern Washington (12/5)… Against Florida Atlantic (11/28), he set a new personal best with three steals… Tied for a team high with six rebounds and scored six points in his debut against ULM (11/9) in only 10 minutes. High School: McDonald’s All-American who averaged 22.9 points, 17.6 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots for state quarterfinalist Jefferson High School in 2006-07… Finished the McDonald’s All-American game with six points, eight rebounds and four blocks for the West in its 114-112 victory… Named state player of the year by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minneapolis Star-Tribune following his senior campaign… Associated Press named Aldrich the Minnesota Defensive Player of the Year his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, the first to receive the honor three straight years… Holds Jefferson single-season and career records in scoring, blocks and rebounding… Numerous awards include three-time all-state, three-time all-metro, and four-time all-conference… Named Minnesota’s Player of the Year his senior season… Four-year letterwinner… Presented with the Jefferson High Jaguar Pride Award as a senior… Named ABCD camp All-Star in 2006 and 2007… Averaged 16.5 points and 13 rebounds his junior season… HoopScoop ranked Aldrich the 10th-best player in the 2007 recruiting class. Off The Court: Full name is Cole David Aldrich… Born in Burnsville, Minn… Major is communication studies… Parents are Walter and Kathleen Aldrich… Has one brother, Grant… Given an Honors Award for Physical Education at Jefferson High. Career Honors: 2008-09: Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention… All-Big 12 First Team… Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year… Big 12 All-Defensive Team… NABC District 8 First Team… Academic All-Big 12 Second Team… CBS Chevrolet Player of the Game vs. Dayton (March 22)… Athlonsports.com and NBCSports.com national most improved player… National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year… Athletic Director’s and Big 12 Commissioner’s honor rolls (fall 2008, spring 2009).