A blast from the past: Alex Galindo greets Kansas Jayhawks basketball team in Puerto Rico
A former University of Kansas men’s basketball player who hails from Puerto Rico spoke to the 2023-24 KU squad Tuesday night at the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, officially welcoming the Jayhawks to the island for their seven-day stay.
Who was that man shaking hands with and hugging all the KU coaches and greeting the players?
It was Alex Galindo, a 6-foot-6 sharpshooter from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, who, after averaging 4.1 points a game in 23 games as a freshman in 2004-05 at KU, transferred to Florida International. That’s where he sat out the 2005-06 season, then averaged 13.9, 13.3 and 14.4 points per game his final three seasons of college basketball.
“I was very happy to speak,” Galindo told The Star while watching the Jayhawks practice on Wednesday. “I’ve been a KU fan, even after I left. I follow KU throughout the year. The fans are crazy. Allen Fieldhouse is a scene. I was catching up with the coaches (talking about) coach (Bill) Self’s practice tactics,” he added with a smile.
“Coach Townsend (Kurtis) … he hasn’t changed. He’s the same. Coach (Joe) Dooley hasn’t changed. Jeremy Case … we played together in my time at KU. He hasn’t changed. Bill Self is the same. It speaks to who they are as persons.”
Galindo — he works for the U.S. government as a probation officer and also runs a basketball academy and high school hoops program on the island — played pro basketball in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela and Puerto Rico starting in 2009. He retired from the game 3 1/2 years ago.
Now 38, he lives in the San Juan area with his wife of 11 years and 6-year-old son.
His message to the Jayhawks was simple.
“To enjoy, (Puerto Rico there are) two things,” Galindo said. “Be smart and be careful. Puerto Rico is a beautiful island. There’s a lot of things to do. There’s a lot of construction. Concentrate on what you came here to do.”
Galindo’s advice for KU players — and fans — continued.
“San Juan is a great city. Like any major city, it has its wrong things,” Galindo said. “Puerto Rico is one of the best destinations for tourism in the Caribbean, and in San Juan there’s a lot of things to do — beach, food, nightlife. Fans should definitely try our food. We have good culinary, great restaurants. Definitely go to the beach and enjoy it. It’s hot. It’s summer and it’s a great destination.”
Of the sweltering heat, Galindo said: “It’s different. Lately it’s extreme. We’re having a lot of advisories of extreme heat. Definitely hydrate a lot because it’s hot. If you are not used to heat it’s going to be a scene.”
Galindo hit 17 of 44 three-pointers in his one season at KU (38.6%). In his three seasons at FIU, he made 45 of 127 attempts (35.4%), 51 of 161 attempts (31.7%) and 42 of 115 tries (36.5%). He laughed when asked if he addressed the topic of 3-point shooting with the current Jayhawks.
“No, they have plenty of those who can do that,” he said of long-distance shooting. “I don’t think they need my advice, but I was a good shooter.”
Galindo liked what he saw at practice Wednesday. KU will meet the Puerto Rico Select team at 11 a.m. Central Time on Thursday in its first game of this three-game exhibition tour.
“They will have the best players every year,” Galindo said. “How they play together … the NCAA Tournament everything has to go right for you. They are going to have a good year like they always do. They definitely are a contender.”
