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My summary on him from the Top100 Tigers (which is now
Posted on: July 23, 2025 at 06:15:42 CT
FIJItiger MU
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Over a decade old so apologies for some of the facts being outdated)
# 19 - Kareem Rush
Letterman - 2000, 2001, 2002
One of the smoothest and most explosive offensive players in MU history, the 6'6 swingman from Kansas City possessed a picture perfect left handed jump shot and an effortless style. His turnaround baseline jumper was literally unguardable at the college level.
Rush came to MU in the initial season of the Quin Snyder era and after 8 games the NCAA intervened and suspended him 9 games for impermissible benefits received from his AAU coach prior to coming to MU. He would return to lead the Tigers in points in his first 3 games back and pace MU to a 7-1 conference leading record at the midway point. He would score in double figures an MU freshman record 18 times despite the missed games, including a 31 point game against Texas Tech which is the second highest scoring game for a freshman in program history. He would lead the Big 12 in 3 point shooting and his conference scoring avg of 18.2 ppg was the third in the league. His 14.7 ppg season avg is the highest mark in MU history for a freshman and he is one of only two Tigers to win the conference Freshman of the Year award, also earning Honorable Mention All Conference.
MU would return to the NCAA tournament but lose to a vastly bigger UNC team. Rush would be named to the preseason All Big 12 team as a sophomore, and he would not disappoint. In the non-con he would lead the Big 12 in scoring including 31 against Depaul. He would score 27 points and add 11 rebounds as MU beat #3 ku 75-66. In the season's next game while scoring 21 with 7 boards Rush would break his thumb and just like that the league's leading scorer was declared done for the season. However, Rush would return with a specially made cast at seasons end and in the conference tournament against #16 OU he would score 31 points to signify his return. The Tigers would earn a 9 seed and after beating Georgia for their first tourney win in 6 years would find themselves matched up with #1 seed Duke. Rush sank 3 pointers, drove the lane, and made unstoppable turnarounds…all with his hand in a cast…on his way to 29 points. MU would fall 94-81, but Coach K would say after the game “that was the hardest anyone has played us all year”. For the year Rush would avg 21.1 ppg (the first player since Peeler to top the 20 point mark for a season) and only the injury kept him from being named Conference Player of the Year. He would still be named 2nd Team All American and First Team All Big 12 (the leading vote getter in the media).
MU would begin his junior season ranked preseason #8 on the expectations carried over from the Duke loss while Rush was a 1st team Preseason All American. MU would storm out of the gates to a Guardian's Classic Title (although Rush was knocked senseless and suffered a broken nose with an elbow to the head against Alabama). MU would move to 9-0 and #2 in the polls, but from there it was an up and down season that saw MU finish 6th in conference and be one of the last at large bids with a 12 seed after losing in the conference tourney to Texas despite 33 from Kareem. MU would catch fire and ignore the coaching principals instilled in them, and using a balanced attack made a run to the elite eight thanks to a team leading 20 points from Rush in the Sweet Sixteen victory over UCLA.
Rush would finish second in conference with a 19.8 ppg avg and again make 1st Team All Conference. The 712 points he scored is the 3rd highest scoring season in MU history, and the 111 three pointers made is the second best all time. Rush would declare for the draft after the season and was selected in the 1st round with the 20th pick.
Rush is the all time leader at MU in career 3 point % with 44% as well as holding the record by make a 3 pointer in 40 consecutive games. Despite playing only parts of 3 seasons his 8 thirty point games in his career have only been bested by 4 other Tigers. Regardless of his shortened time as a Tiger he still ranks 11th all time in points scored at 1,584 and his career scoring avg of 19.4 ppg is the 4th highest in MU history. He is currently playing for the 76ers.
# 19 - Kareem Rush
Letterman - 2000, 2001, 2002
One of the smoothest and most explosive offensive players in MU history, the 6'6 swingman from Kansas City possessed a picture perfect left handed jump shot and an effortless style. His turnaround baseline jumper was literally unguardable at the college level.
Rush came to MU in the initial season of the Quin Snyder era and after 8 games the NCAA intervened and suspended him 9 games for impermissible benefits received from his AAU coach prior to coming to MU. He would return to lead the Tigers in points in his first 3 games back and pace MU to a 7-1 conference leading record at the midway point. He would score in double figures an MU freshman record 18 times despite the missed games, including a 31 point game against Texas Tech which is the second highest scoring game for a freshman in program history. He would lead the Big 12 in 3 point shooting and his conference scoring avg of 18.2 ppg was the third in the league. His 14.7 ppg season avg is the highest mark in MU history for a freshman and he is one of only two Tigers to win the conference Freshman of the Year award, also earning Honorable Mention All Conference.
MU would return to the NCAA tournament but lose to a vastly bigger UNC team. Rush would be named to the preseason All Big 12 team as a sophomore, and he would not disappoint. In the non-con he would lead the Big 12 in scoring including 31 against Depaul. He would score 27 points and add 11 rebounds as MU beat #3 ku 75-66. In the season's next game while scoring 21 with 7 boards Rush would break his thumb and just like that the league's leading scorer was declared done for the season. However, Rush would return with a specially made cast at seasons end and in the conference tournament against #16 OU he would score 31 points to signify his return. The Tigers would earn a 9 seed and after beating Georgia for their first tourney win in 6 years would find themselves matched up with #1 seed Duke. Rush sank 3 pointers, drove the lane, and made unstoppable turnarounds…all with his hand in a cast…on his way to 29 points. MU would fall 94-81, but Coach K would say after the game “that was the hardest anyone has played us all year”. For the year Rush would avg 21.1 ppg (the first player since Peeler to top the 20 point mark for a season) and only the injury kept him from being named Conference Player of the Year. He would still be named 2nd Team All American and First Team All Big 12 (the leading vote getter in the media).
MU would begin his junior season ranked preseason #8 on the expectations carried over from the Duke loss while Rush was a 1st team Preseason All American. MU would storm out of the gates to a Guardian's Classic Title (although Rush was knocked senseless and suffered a broken nose with an elbow to the head against Alabama). MU would move to 9-0 and #2 in the polls, but from there it was an up and down season that saw MU finish 6th in conference and be one of the last at large bids with a 12 seed after losing in the conference tourney to Texas despite 33 from Kareem. MU would catch fire and ignore the coaching principals instilled in them, and using a balanced attack made a run to the elite eight thanks to a team leading 20 points from Rush in the Sweet Sixteen victory over UCLA.
Rush would finish second in conference with a 19.8 ppg avg and again make 1st Team All Conference. The 712 points he scored is the 3rd highest scoring season in MU history, and the 111 three pointers made is the second best all time. Rush would declare for the draft after the season and was selected in the 1st round with the 20th pick.
Rush is the all time leader at MU in career 3 point % with 44% as well as holding the record by make a 3 pointer in 40 consecutive games. Despite playing only parts of 3 seasons his 8 thirty point games in his career have only been bested by 4 other Tigers. Regardless of his shortened time as a Tiger he still ranks 11th all time in points scored at 1,584 and his career scoring avg of 19.4 ppg is the 4th highest in MU history. He is currently playing for the 76ers.
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My summary on him from the Top100 Tigers (which is now - FIJItiger MU - 7/23 06:15:42