Kansas Men's Basketball Inks Philadelphia's Morris Twins and Chicago's Mario Little on First Day of Fall Signing Period
Nov. 14, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. – University of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self announced Wednesday that twin standouts Markieff and Marcus Morris and junior college transfer Mario Little have signed national letters of intent to play at KU next season. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Morris twins completed their high school careers at <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Philadelphia’s Prep Charter and currently play at APEXAcademy in Pennsauken, N.J. A Chicago native – WashingtonHigh School, Little will transfer to Kansas from Chipola (Fla.) Community College.
“We have always liked to recruit interchangeable parts,” Self said. “These three signees are all versatile players that can play multiple positions on the floor. All can post. All have good ball handling skills and all have great length.”
Markieff Morris is a 6-10, 230-pound forward/center who averaged 23 points and 15 rebounds at Prep Charter in 2006-07. Rivals.com ranks Markieff at No. 72.
Marcus is a 6-8 ½, 220-pound forward rated as the 37th best prospect by rivals.com. He averaged 27 points and 12 rebounds last year at Prep Charter. The Morris twins chose Kansas over Villanova and Saint John’s.
“We feel Marcus and Markieff Morris are two of the most underrated players in the country,” Self said. “Both twins are very skilled as they can both shoot the ball with range and also have an inside game.”
“Markieff is a big forward that can play either spot on your front line. He is a very good low post player,” Self said. “Marcus is a very skilled, do-everything wing when he has the ball. He is a tall perimeter player that can also go inside. The twins experienced great success in high school having won two state championships (2006, 2007) and have been very well coached by Dan Brinkley at Prep Charter.”
Little is a 6-5, 210-pound, small forward who is rated as the top juco player in the country by JucoJunction.com. Little averaged 10 points and six rebounds as sixth man on Chipola’s national junior college runner-up team in 2006-07. Early in the 2007-08 season, Little is averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Little chose Kansas over Illinois and KansasState.
“Mario is a versatile guard who can play the wing or he could be a two guard,” Self said. “He’s a very good scorer and he will bring an element of toughness to our program. With coach Greg Heiar, Chipola plays a very similar style to that we do and he has been very well drilled in his stay at Chipola.”
Self indicated Kansas could announce more signees later this week.
