Jammin’ with the Jayhawks

By Catherine Odson, catherineodson@miconews.com

Louisburg’s Jackson Kush, 2, gets some help to shoot a basket from Darnell Jackson as Louisburg All-Star George Bazin looks on during Friday’s Kansas Barnstorming game at Louisburg High School. (Photo by Andy Brown)

With about five minutes left in the first half, the Kansas Barnstormers’ No. 3 got a lot shorter.

Jayhawk senior Russell Robinson peeled off his practice jersey, handed it to 10-year-old Marshall Rooney and took a seat on the bleachers in the Louisburg High School gym.

Marshall donned the 6-foot-1-inch Robinson’s jersey and ran out to join his taller teammates on the court against a team of Louisburg seniors. He went 1-for-2 on free throws before returning to the sideline a few minutes later.

“It was pretty awesome,” he said.

Marshall was the first of a long roster of area youth who joined the college basketball ranks Friday night in front of a crowd of 2,500 during the Barnstormers game.

Two-year-old Jackson Kush made his mark in the game with a little help from Darnell Jackson.

“It was fun,” the shorter Jackson said with some prompting from his mother, Jennifer. “I made two.”

Fans began lining up at 2 p.m. for seats and autographs from the Kansas players.

Laura and Dennis Scott were the first to plant lawn chairs near the doors in the autograph line. Their daughters, Lilly and Jaden, joined them after school.

“I think it’s just exciting that there are national champions coming to Louisburg,” Laura said.

Right behind them was Matt Meier, a Kansas graduate, who made the trip from his home in Columbia, Mo., for his first barnstorming game since 1988, the last time Kansas won the national title.

Across the way on the seating side, LHS students Adrianna York and Jessica Owen were taking their turns waiting in line, where they had been off-and-on since school got out. The blankets surrounding them were essential, they said, to stay warm in the shade and save seats inside for the game later that night.

“I can’t wait to see our seniors play against them,” Jessica said.

The earlier arrivals brought chairs, blankets and entertainment to pass the time until the doors opened.

“This is just like tailgating,” one person said.

Once inside, fans took a winding path to the tables where the six players sat anticipating the posters, newspapers and other memorabilia awaiting their autographs.

Amanda Hessler, a Kansas sophomore from Louisburg, was at Allen Fieldhouse during the Jayhawks’ championship victory. She brought her copy of The University Daily Kansan, the student newspaper, where she sells ads, to be signed by the players.

“I’m still star-struck every time I see them, even though I got to see them play all season,” she said.