After playing in the 2004 RCS alongside Dwight Howard. Brandon went on to lead Kansas to a title in 2008.
Overview A 2007 Wooden Award All-American who has led KU in scoring each of the last two seasons... A two time All-Big 12 First Team selection who can take over a game... Was one of the most decorated freshmen in KU history following 2005-06... Was the first freshman in Kansas history to lead his team in scoring and rebounding... Was the first freshman in Big 12 history to be named All-Big 12 First Team... A versatile perimeter player who has excellent ball handling skills... Declared for the 2007 NBA Draft yet pulled out following a torn ACL in his right knee... Had surgery on the ACL in June and is expected to play around Dec. 1... Comes from an outstanding basketball family that has experienced success at the NCAA Division I and NBA levels.
Sophomore Season (2006-07)Started all 38 games for Kansas and led the team in scoring with a 13.8 ppg, 16th in the Big 12... Was 18th in the conference with a 5.6 rebound average... Also ranked among the Big 12 leaders in three-point field goals made (11th at 1.97) and minutes played (12th at 32.47)... An Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention selection who averaged 14.1 points and six rebounds in Big 12 play... Had 12 games of 18 or more points, including three of KU's final five games - 19 vs. Texas in the Big 12 Championship, 19 vs. Kentucky in the NCAA second round and 18 vs. UCLA in the Elite Eight... Led Kansas in scoring 13 times and in rebounding 12 times... Had four 20-point efforts -- 21 vs. Northern Arizona (Nov. 11), 21 vs. Colorado (Jan. 17), 20 at Nebraska (Jan. 29) and 21 at Missouri (Feb. 10)... Had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Tennessee State (Nov. 21)... Had a career-high four blocked shots against Toledo (Dec. 9)... Named to the all-tournament team at the Big 12 Championship where he averaged 14.3 points and six reobunds in KU's title run... Earned NCAA West Regional All-Tournament accolades as he averaged 14.5 points and shot 63.9 percent from the field in four NCAA contests... Was named the Chevrolet Player of the Game for KU in NCAA Tournament contests against Kentucky, Southrn Illinois and UCLA.
Freshman Season (2005-06)Big 12 Freshman of the Year who led KU and the league's freshman class with a 13.5 scoring average... Became the first freshman in the 10-year history of the Big 12 to be named All-Big 12 First Team... Was selected to The Sporting News All-Freshman Team... USBWA District VI Player of the Year who earned Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors three times... Twice was named national freshman of the week by CBS Sportsline and Rivals.com... Earned two team accolades - the Bill Bridges Rebounding Award and the Phog Allen Most Valuable Player Award... Ended the season ranked on 11 Kansas freshman records lists, including second in points scored (444) and minutes played (1,047)... Scored nine points and pulled down seven rebounds against Bradley in the NCAA Tournament... Averaged 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds during the Big 12 Championship, including 12 points and five boards against Texas in the finals... Matched a career-high 24 points to go with six boards at Kansas State (March 4)... Had a career-high four steals to compliment his 11 points and five rebounds against Baylor (Feb. 21)... Had his second-straight double-double against Texas Tech (24 points, 11 rebounds) on Jan. 30... Also had career highs in field goals (10), field goal attempts (19) and three-pointers (four) against the Red Raiders... Registered his second double-double of the season (20 points, 10 boards) at Iowa State (Jan. 28)... Set or tied new career highs in points (24), rebounds (12) and assists (four) against Kentucky (Jan. 7)... Led Kansas in scoring at the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational with 16 points per game, including 20 against Arkansas (Nov. 21)... Started for Kansas in his career debut against Idaho State (Nov. 18) and responded with 12 points and seven rebounds.
High SchoolPrior to 2004-05 was named to USA Today's 2004-05 Preseason Super 25 while at Mount Zion (N.C.) Academy... Averaged 21 points, six rebounds and five assists per game at Mt. Zion... Was named to the 2005 adidas Derby Festival Basketball Classic... Two-time all-state selection while in high school.
Off The CourtFull name is Brandon Leray Rush... Born July 7, 1985... Undecided major... Brother, Kareem, was a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection at Missouri in 2001 and 2002 and has played four seasons in the NBA... Brother, JaRon, played collegiately at UCLA... Was ranked No. 13 overall and No. 2 small forward, behind fomrer KU teammate Julian Wright, by Rivals.com... Pulled out of the NBA draft in summer of 2005 and joined the KU team that August... Twice named an all-star at the Reebok ABCD Camp and was the 2004 ABCD Camp most valuable player while playing for AAU KS Rocktown... Was a late addition to the USA Men's Junior National select team at the ninth annual Hoop Summit in Memphis, Tenn., following the 2004-05 season.
Career honors: 2006-07: Wooden Award All-American... NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team... Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American... Chevrolet Player of the Game vs. Kentucky, Southern Illinois and UCLA in NCAA Tournament... Big 12 All-Tournament Team... All-Big 12 First Team by Big 12 Conference... AP All-Big 12 Second Team... USBWA District VI... NABC District 12 First Team... Naismith Trophy finalist... Midseason Wooden All-American... Co-Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year with teammate Julian Wright... Tabbed Preseason AP All-American...Named to Preseason All-Big 12 team...Preseason candidate for the John R. Wooden Award... Preseason Top 50 for Naismith Award. 2005-06: Sporting News All-Freshman Team... Big 12 Freshman of the Year... All-Big 12 First Team... AP All-Big 12 Second Team... Big 12 All-Rookie Team... USBWA District VI Player of the Year... USBWA First Team All-Region... Named a top-10 impact freshman by Rivals.com... Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Jan. 9, Feb. 6 and March 6)... CBS Sportsline Freshman of the Week (Jan. 9)... Rivals.com Freshman of the Week (Feb. 6)... Athletic Director's and Big 12 Commissioner's honor rolls (fall 2005)... Bill Bridges Rebounding Award... Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen Most Valuable Player Award.
Brandon Rush was born on July 7, 1985. Brandon Rush was an American basketball player. Brandon Rush was drafted in 2008 by the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, only to be traded minutes later to the Indiana Pacers. Brandon Rush played for the University of Kansas in college for three seasons, including the 2007-2008 national championship team. Brandon Rush was selected as a Wooden Award All-American in 2007 and again in 2008 while a player at the Kansas Jayhawks. Brandon Rush is brothers with former UCLA guard JaRon Rush and former Missouri and NBA guard Kareem Rush.
