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Kansas Basketball: Top 10 four-year players under Bill Self

By Chris Taylor

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - APRIL 02: A detailed view of the 2017 Citizen Naismith Trophy during the 2017 Naismith Awards Brunch at the Grayhawk Golf Club on April 2, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - APRIL 02: A detailed view of the 2017 Citizen Naismith Trophy during the 2017 Naismith Awards Brunch at the Grayhawk Golf Club on April 2, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
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Kansas’ Sasha Kaun celebrates the Jayhawks’ 59-57 win over the Davidson Wildcats in the NCAA Midwest Regional men’s basketball final at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, on Sunday, March 30, 2008. (Photo by Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/MCT via Getty Images)
Kansas’ Sasha Kaun celebrates the Jayhawks’ 59-57 win over the Davidson Wildcats in the NCAA Midwest Regional men’s basketball final at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, on Sunday, March 30, 2008. (Photo by Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/MCT via Getty Images) /

Russian to championships

No. 9 Sasha Kaun

Sasha Kaun was a unique player for Bill Self. He was voted most improved by his teammates as a freshman. His sophomore and junior years he started almost every game until the frontcourt got crowded in 2008.

Kaun remained a big part of the team’s plans, however, as he consistently rebounded and became a formidable shot blocker.

His final numbers at Kansas were 830 points scored, 526 rebounds, and 150 blocked shots. Kaun was also part of Kansas’ last championship in 2008. After his senior season and impressive March, Kaun was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics with the 56th pick.

Kaun only scored four points and had two rebounds in 21 total minutes against Memphis in the title game, but early in the tournament against Davidson, he had possibly the best game of his career. In that game, he scored 13 points on 6-6 shooting and totaled seven rebounds.

Kaun played seven seasons for a Russian professional team before returning to the NBA and playing his one and only season. That season he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and helped behind the scenes as Lebron James helped the Cavs bring home a title.

Sasha Kaun was the ultimate backup, he came in and gave valuable minutes his senior year, enough to get drafted. He is only the second Russian to win an NBA Title and the only Russian to win a title in both college and the NBA.

Sasha was two-time Academic All-American while at Kansas.

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