Silvio De Sousa of Kansas Jayhawks will not play

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas forward Silvio De Sousa will not play Thursday in the No. 1 Jayhawks' exhibition basketball opener after the attorney for an Adidas executive last week in federal court said coach Bill Self requested a $ 20,000 payment to De Sousa's guardian through a consultant for the shoe company.

"Information was presented during the current trial in New York – some of which we did not know," Self said Wednesday in a statement released by Kansas. "We have decided to withhold Silvio from competition until we can evaluate and understand the new information."

Also said in the statement that Kansas has discussed the developments with the NCAA.

The statement Wednesday, December 1, 2009 by James Gatto and consultant T.J. Gbadnola with KU badistant coach Kurtis Townsend to facilitate a $ 90,000 payment to the mother of trainer Kansas player Billy Preston.

In closing arguments Friday, Michael Schachter, an attorney for Gatto, said the KU-requested payment to De Sousa's guardian, Fenny Falmagne, came to an attempt to help De Sousa "get out from under" a pay-for-play scheme to wait Maryland.

"Due to the trial in New York being ongoing, I'll be glad to see you," said Big Wednesday media. "That has been a mandate given to me."

Self also reiterated what he said in his earlier statement about De Sousa.

"We will wait for an eligibility review to be done jointly by our university and the NCAA," he said. "And timetable on that is unknown, due to, obviously, the ongoing trial, and also when all parts can actually complete that review."

The 6-foot-9, De Sousa, originally from Angola, graduated from the IMG Academy in Florida and the Jayhawks immediately. It was held out of action to address eligibility before playing 20 games.

His emergence late in the season helped Kansas win the Big 12 tournament and earn a trip to the Final Four.

The Jayhawks will host Division II at Emporia State School on Thursday at Allen Fieldhouse. The 14-time defending Big 12 champions open the regular season Nov. 6 against Michigan State.