Matt Kleinmann turned down several NCAA Division I men’s basketball scholarship offers to walk-on at the University of Kansas.

The Blue Valley West High School graduate is still riding high after his Jayhawks captured the NCAA national championship April 7 by beating Memphis 75-68 in overtime in San Antonio.

Kleinmann is a red-shirt junior and expects to graduate with a degree in architecture in May 2009.

The former Jaguar got to play in four of the six NCAA Tournament games.

The Sun caught up with the 6-10, 247-pound Overland Park resident recently for a short Q&A session.

Q. How has winning the title affected your life?

A. I’m just starting to see how it’s changing. Leading up to the national championship, and pretty much all season, Coach (Bill) Self would ask (assistant) Coach Danny Manning in front of us how often he thought of the day he won the national championship. Coach Manning said every day. So far it’s only been about two weeks, but I can attest to that. Every day has been a reminder, and I don’t doubt that it will last for the rest of my life.

Q. What was it like to play in the national semifinal game against North Carolina?

A. My experience of playing was much like it was when I get in any big game: don’t foul, don’t trip, and don’t shoot an air ball. But seriously, it was surreal. (Leawood freshman) Conner Teahan and I play a little game about halfway through each game where we measure our chances as a percentage. Conner said 10 percent, I said 20 percent. But when Coach Self came down the line, I started to get chills. I just remember running right past (North Carolina junior Tyler) Hansbrough checking out as I checked in. In that moment I thought, “Hey, this is pretty cool…”

Q. What was the attitude on the bench down nine with a little over two minutes to play?

A. If you watch our reaction on the bench, when Mario (Chalmers) shoots two free throws right after (Joey, Memphis senior) Dorsey fouls out, it pretty much sums up our thoughts. If we thought we were really in it, we would have been excited, if not going nuts. Instead I think I clapped the obligatory two times, and the rest of the bench just kind of sat there. We knew we weren’t out of it, we kept saying, “Believe, Believe, this is our year!”, but I tell you what, down nine with two minutes…. Even we were doubting.

Q. What was the bench like during the overtime?

A. It was all kind of a blur. One thing I take pride in is our (the bench’s) energy in games. I think (official) Ed Hightower told us to sit down a dozen times, but in overtime he just gave up. We knew when Mario hit his shot, that in five minutes we would win. I don’t think anyone in America could have stopped us after that.

Q. Did you think you might get in the game at the end of overtime?

It stayed close. I am realistic enough to know that I foul as much as anyone and I am not exactly a top five free-throw shooter on our team. That being said, I think it would have been cool, but just being in the Final Four and being a national champion is enough for me. How could it not be?

Q. What was the experience like after the game?

Elation. Joy. Vindication. So many words can’t describe how it felt. More than anything I felt for the seniors. I came to Kansas with these guys. They never gave up in four years. They wanted to at times. They were hurt, emotionally and physically, more than anyone knows in their careers. And what they overcame, and to accomplish what they did. I couldn’t be more proud of them. The worst part, when losing became a possibility, was thinking I may have to tell my friends sorry that they were so close, but lost. After we won, I just soaked it all in, and seeing them go out like that was perfect. That and seeing my family. My mom and dad have made it to nearly every game for four years, even the ones I knew I wouldn’t play much. That they were a part of it is special in my heart.

Q. What can you tell us about the experience of a Final Four?

A. Everyone in Kansas seems to be scrambling for shirts and posters and whatever they can find. I don’t need any of that. I have my experience of being a part of it all. The Final Four is really just another two games. That’s what we told each other before each game to try and ease the pressure. But looking back I know it wasn’t. It was the greatest stage, in the greatest sport, for the greatest game, with the greatest team, at the greatest school. I’m just happy to be a part of it all.