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KU Basketball: All-Time Kansas Jayhawks Starting Five

By trevb

Jan 7, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; A general view of the entrance to Allen Fieldhouse before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas Jayhawks. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; A general view of the entrance to Allen Fieldhouse before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas Jayhawks. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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04 APR 1988: Kansas forward Danny Manning (25) and Oklahoma center Stacey King (33) during the NCAA Final Four basketball championship held in Kansas City, MO at the Kemper Arena. Kansas defeated Oklahoma 86-78 for the title. Photo Copyright Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
04 APR 1988: Kansas forward Danny Manning (25) and Oklahoma center Stacey King (33) during the NCAA Final Four basketball championship held in Kansas City, MO at the Kemper Arena. Kansas defeated Oklahoma 86-78 for the title. Photo Copyright Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images /

The Kansas Jayhawks All-Time Team: Starting Five

PF: Danny Manning

Danny Manning carried the majority of the team on his shoulders in 1988, along with Scooter Barry and Kevin Pritchard. Which ultimately led to the sixth seeded Danny and the Miracles to a National Championship title.

For Manning’s entire college career, he averaged 20.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and a 59.3 field goal percentage per SportsReference. Though his most notable achievement is his National Championship run in 88′ he impressed in his first three years as a Jayhawk as well.

Now coaching at Wake Forest, Manning continues to be a great presence in the game of college basketball. What if he could come back and play for an all-star KU team? Manning was as good as he was in college when he joined the NBA. He can easily carry that success over to an all-star season.

It is unfortunate, though, that Manning’s college basketball career will be marred by the turbulence that Larry Brown caused during his basketball seasons. It is a subject matter, but one that should not discredit Manning’s greatness.

Manning was one of those consistent high performance players. A player that never seemed to have an off night, which in context of the NCAA Tournament is extremely valuable. Manning would continue his consistency in the NBA as well.

Manning would round out the superior force of the athletic backcourt, one that resembles a Kansas team of last season. Except, the frontcourt should be a force as well. Imagine if Manning could come back and own his miracle morale once again for KU Basketball. It would be a sight to see.

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