KU basketball camping leadership team seeks new leaders

Kansas Basketball Camping Leadership member Drew Veach holds the string bag that includes the chips that decides the order in which groups will be placed. This is Veach’s first year on the leadership team.

Jack Kenna | @jkenna99

Camping out for a spot inside Allen Fieldhouse is a Kansas basketball tradition unlike any other. But without the help from the student leadership team working to keep the process running smoothly, camping wouldn’t be what it is today.

The Kansas basketball camping leadership team is currently searching for a few select students to take over organizing the tradition, which has been part of the culture at the University of Kansas since the 1970s. The group works for the students and communicates with athletics throughout the season to make sure everything goes according to plan.

“We are basically like the liaison between students and athletics, and we are the ones in charge of camping,” said Ryleigh Dyke, graduate leadership member.

Last week, the team sent out applications with the intention to give the selected candidates a chance to observe the process for the final few home games before stepping into the leadership roles next year.

“We kind of do it midseason, toward the end of the big games, so they can see the process,” said Megan Pihlstrom, senior leadership member. “It’s about getting their foot in the door and watching us do our role first before they step in next season.”

Kansas students received an email from Kansas Athletics Feb. 4 asking interested students to apply to join the leadership team. KU Basketball Camping Leadership has received over 90 applications since that email.

Students are taking advantage of the opportunity to be a part of such a historic tradition. More than 90 applications have already been submitted for just a handful of available spots, making the selection process competitive. With so many applications and so few spots, leaders are looking for candidates that stick out.

“Someone who’s super eager and excited about KU basketball,” Dyke said. “Someone who’s organized, communicates well and is just a positive person.”

Applicants are also encouraged to understand some of the history that makes Kansas the basketball school it is.

“Even if they just started paying attention when they got to college, having them know some of the history helps us know they actually care about KU basketball,” Pihlstrom said.

Applications to join the leadership team are now officially closed. The leadership committee is hopeful to make a final decision in the coming weeks, with plans to fill two leadership positions ahead of the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State on March 7.

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