Kansas Men's Basketball Lands Two Recruits

Nov. 9, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas men’s basketball team has signed two highly-touted recruits – Sherron Collins and Brady Morningstar – to national letters of intent, head coach Bill Self announced Wednesday.

ScoutHoops.com rates Collins the No. 2 point guard and No. 9 overall player. The 5-11, 195-pound Chicago native averaged 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Crane High School last season as he led his team to the quarterfinals of the Illinois state tournament. Collins is a three-sport standout as wide receiver/defensive back in football and shortstop/pitcher/outfielder in baseball. Collins chose KU over Illinois and Iowa.

“We are all very excited about Sherron’s decision,” Self said. “Sherron is thought of by many to be one of the best point guard prospects out of Chicago since Isaiah Thomas. He is a tough, powerful athlete who should be an immediate impact player for us. Crane High School plays in the Red West League in Chicago, which is considered one of the best basketball leagues in the country. He has been well schooled by his high school coach – Anthony Longstreet – and will be a great addition to our program.

“It’s always nice to recruit in the Chicago area from great programs like Crane and Homewood-Flossmoor because players from that area are generally tough. To get Julian Wright last year and Sherron Collins this year is a great testimony to the work that our staff has done, primarily Kurtis Townsend with Sherron.”

Morningstar will play this season at New Hampton School, a prep school in New Hampton, N.H., after a standout career at Free State High School in Lawrence. Last season, the 6-3, 170-pound guard averaged 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Firebirds. Morningstar was named first-team all-state and was the Sunflower League Player of the Year. He chose KU over TCU, West Virginia, Tennessee and Northern Illinois.

“Brady comes from a great, athletic family and was a very, very good player here at Free State High School,” Self said. “We have always thought of Brady as a guy who is so unselfish that he would be even a better player in college because he didn’t have to adjust to how he played from his high school days. He is attending prep school and is thought to be one of the best prep school players on the east coast. We feel like as he grows into his frame physically and develops some strength, with his present athletic ability, he can come in here and definitely help us win games.”

Morningstar’s father – Roger – averaged 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds during the 1974 and 1975 seasons for Kansas. Roger, 6-6, was a member of Kansas’ 1974 Final Four team and was an NCAA All-Tournament Team selection in the 1974 Midwest Region in Tulsa. Additionally, Brady is the brother to former KU volleyball player Jamie Morningstar, who played for the Jayhawks from 1999-2002 and was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection.

Kansas has one scholarship available following the signings of Collins and Morningstar.