Cleveland’s Jordan Ignores Sanctions, Commits to Kansas

Adonis Jordan of Cleveland High has verbally committed to Kansas despite NCAA sanctions against the Jayhawks’ national championship basketball program.

Jordan, a 6-foot guard, announced Wednesday that he will sign a national letter of intent when the early signing period for high school seniors begins Nov. 9.

Jordan had decided on Kansas after his campus visit 2 weeks ago but waited to make a commitment until the NCAA released its sanctions. Kansas was placed on probation for 3 years, is barred from the postseason NCAA Tournament and lost a scholarship for the 1989-90 academic year because of recruiting violations, the NCAA announced Tuesday.

“The penalties don’t affect me,” Jordan said. “After I get there the program will just be watched closely for 2 years.”

Jordan visited the Lawrence campus during the weekend of “Midnight Madness,” when the basketball team conducts its first practice of the season Oct. 15 at one minute after midnight.

“They had about 13,000 people just for practice,” Jordan said. “Everywhere you go everybody knows the coaches and players. It’s like one big happy family.”

Jordan was recruited by Roy Williams, a former assistant at North Carolina under Dean Smith. Williams replaced Larry Brown, who left the program to coach the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.

Jordan transferred to Cleveland from New York before his junior year and earned Times’ All-Valley honors last season. He averaged 13.8 points a game.