KU

Kansas recruit Perry Ellis was named a McDonald’s All-American and will be one of 24 high school seniors playing in the annual all-star basketball game March 28 at Chicago’s United Center.

The 6-8 Ellis averages 26.1 points and 9.7 rebounds for Wichita Heights. He's had one of the most successful careers in Kansas high school history as a three-time state Gatorade player of the year. Ellis has led his team to a 6A championship in each season.

Bill Self offered his most vigorous defense of guard Tyshawn Taylor, and addressed the future of the Border War after the Jayhawks’ 74-71 loss at Missouri on Saturday.

On Taylor:
“He’s damn good. He is damn good. He played so well the first half, and kept us in the game. In the second half, he didn’t make good decisions down the stretch. (But) I’ll put the ball in his hands every day.”

On the Border War and its future:

As of noon, Kansas had a 20-member signing class.

The school announced it had received the paperwork from recruits including Schyler Miles, a linebacker from Tampa, Fla. According to KU, Miles also considered West Virginia and Florida.

Nas Moore, a cornerback from East Los Angeles, also signed with the Jayhawks today. He selected Kansas over San Diego State and Brigham Young.

Earlier Wednesday, Kansas officially announced the signings of a couple of Johnson County players: Bishop Miege defensive back Tre Parmalee and Blue Valley West offensive lineman Brian Beckman.

The transfer quarterbacks keep coming to Kansas.

Turner Baty, who passed for 2,800 yards and 30 touchdowns for City College of San Francisco last season, tweeted on Monday that he had committed to Kansas after visiting Lawrence over the weekend.

“I’m proud to say I’m officially a Kansas Jayhawk!” Baty announced on his Twitter account, @tbaty7.

City College of San Francisco went 12-0 and was ranked first by JCFootball.com after the season. In the final game, a 52-42 victory over Mt. San Antonio College, Baty passed for 348 yards and five touchdowns.

Kansas has picked up a pair of football commitments according to Rivals.com.

Greg Allen, a defensive back from Alief Taylor in Houston who originally committed to Utah, said he will sign with the Jayhawks. Allen, 5-11, 190, was named the 18-5A defensive player of the year.

Defensive lineman Chaquil Reed, who played at Butler County Community College, said he was joining Kansas. Reed played at Wichita East.

Brock Berglund says he just wants to get his college football career started, and isn’t sure why Kansas won’t grant him permission to speak to other schools, which starts the transfer process.

“There’s no grudge, I just want to move on,” Berglund said. “I want to go my own way and pursue my career elsewhere.”

New Kansas coach Charlie Weis said Monday that Berglund, a quarterback who didn’t suit up for Kansas as a freshman last year, was one of six players dismissed from the team.

DeMontie Cross is now on the other side of the Border War.

Cross, a former Missouri safety, will join Kansas' football staff as a linebackers coach, the school announced on Thursday.

Cross spent last season as special teams coordinator and safties coach at Wisconsin.

He had served as a defensive and special teams assistant for the Buffalo Bills from 2006-2010, outside linebackers and special teams coach at Iowa State from 2001-2005 and defensive backs coach at Sam Houston State in 2000.

Just released by KU athletics:

A limited amount of general admission tickets are available for $50 each for Monday's KU-Baylor game, which tips off at 8:30 p.m., and the Jan. 23 KU-Texas A&M game, which starts at 8 p.m.

Kansas athletics is also offering a Big Monday Pack, which includes a general admission ticket to both the Baylor and Texas A&M games for just $70. Tickets are available at 800-34-HAWKS or www.kuathletics.com.

Afterthoughts of Kansas’ 81-46 triumph at Texas Tech on Wednesday…

Odd game. Texas Tech jumped ahead 8-2 and was playing the type of game it needed to have chance. The Red Raiders milked the shot clock and got decent looks in the final seconds. But Billy Gillispie’s squad was unable to sustain the momentum for several reasons.

Clint Bowen is back on the Kansas football staff.

Bowen, the former Jayhawks defensive back and assistant coach, was one of two staff additions announced by Coach Charlie Weis on Wednesday.

Jeff Blasko had been Florida’s quality control coach for offense, working with Weis at Florida last season. When Weis got the Kansas job, Blasko was elevated to quarterbacks coach for the Gators’ Gator Bowl victory over Ohio State.