USATSI
Kansas forward Jalen Wilson has been suspended for the team’s exhibition game Wednesday and its first three regular-season games following an arrest on suspicion of DUI early Sunday morning, coach Bill Self announced Tuesday. Wilson, a redshirt sophomore, led the team in rebounds and was the third-leading scorer last season in 29 appearances for the Jayhawks.
The suspension will keep him out for the Champions Classic matchup against Michigan State on Nov. 9 and for home games against Tarleton State and Stony Brook. He will return Nov. 25 against North Texas.
“We’re going to suspend him for tomorrow’s exhibition and the first three games of the regular season,” Self said. “He will also serve community hours during his suspension.”
Wilson on Tuesday issued an apology on social media and admitted he made a “mistake” this last weekend.
“To my family, friends, coaches, teammates and Jayhawk Nation — first and foremost, I want to apologize to all of you for my mistake this past weekend,” said Wilson. “I accept full responsibility for my actions and am extremely remorseful in my lack of judgement. . . I know it wouldn’t be fair for me to ask for forgiveness right now, so instead I plan to show the true man I am and my true character through my actions and behavior moving forward.”
Wilson averaged a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game last season and added 11.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game after redshirting upon arrival in 2019-20.
Wilson entered the NBA Draft this summer but ultimately decided to return to KU for the 2021-22 season. KU gets back its three leading scorers from its 21-win team a season ago and added, among others, grad transfer guard Remy Martin to the core of a team ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25.
