PAGE 6 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPECIAL SERIES Sept. 12: Larry Brown, Ted Owens Sept. 13: Greg Ostertag, Scot Pollard Sept. 14: Nick Bradford, Jeff Graves, Jeff Hawkins, Ron Kellogg, Ryan Robertson, Billy Thomas Sept. 15: Xavier Henry, Josh Selby Sept. 16: Wayne Simien, Darnell Valentine Sept. 19: Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Julian Wright Yesterday: Cole Aldrich, Nick Collison Today: Marcus and Markieff Morris Tomorrow: Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush Friday: Paul Pierce LEGEND OF THE MORRII KORY CARPENTER kcarpenter@kansan.com MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO Marcus Morris Marcus Morris AT KANSAS YEARS: 2008-2011 ACCOLADES - Second team All-American selection (2011) - Big 12 Player of the Year (2011) - First team All-Big 12 (2011) - Big 12 Championship (2009-2011) - Yahoo Sports! Most Improved player (2010) - All-Big 12 Team (2010) - Second in the Big 12 with a .570 field goal percentage (2010-2011) - Third in the Big 12 with 654 points (2010-2011) - Third in the Bio 12 with 290 rebounds (2010-2011) - Second team All-American selection (2011) MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO Markieff Morris AT KANSAS YEARS: 2008-2011 ACCOLADES - Second team All-Big 12 (2011) * Big 12 Championship (2009-2011) - Big 12 Championship (2009-2011) • Led the Big 12 and 12th nationally with a .589 field goal percentage (2010-2011) • Led the Big 12 with 8.3 rebounds per game (2010-2011) • Led the Big 12 with 13 double-doubles (2010-2011) • Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team member (2010-2011) • Led Kansas in rebounds and blocks (2010-2011) • 18th in school history with 662 rebounds • 17th in school history with 103 blocks Two pudgy-faced freshmen from Philadelphia came to Lawrence in 2008 and seemed a bit out of place. Flat brim caps and an East Coast style just didn't mesh with Kansas. But it didn't take long before the Morris twins fit in around town like they were free-state bred. In their freshman and sophomore seasons, the Morris weren't the focal point of the team; that role was assigned to Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich. They were, however, absolute keys to the Big 12 Championship that the Jayhawks won in 2009, and the 33-3 record in 2010. When Collins and Aldrich were gone, the Morris twins were the undeniable leaders of the Jayhawks. It was only for one year that Kansas was truly their team, but it was a treat nonetheless. Both Markieff and Marcus continued to develop their outside game, while remaining ferocious in the paint. They never won a national title, but the Morris twins will always be remembered by the Jayhawk faithful with warm thoughts. ON TO THE NBA Few could blame the Morrison for jumping to the NBA after their junior year when their stock was at its pinnacle. The twins signed with agent Tony Dutt of Rival Sports Group, LLC, and declared for the 2011 NBA draft. What happened next proved how much they meant to one another. A DEFINING MOMENT Jayhawk fans loved Markieff's toughness, but Marcus was the true star. However, on June 23, 2011 — NBA draft night — Markieff was selected before his brother with the 13th pick by the Phoenix Suns. After hearing his name, he kissed and hugged his mother, Angel, then hugged Marcus. A reporter with ESPN asked teary-eyed Marcus how he would handle being separated from his brother for the first time. Marcus said that he's just happy for his brother, and that it's not the end of the world. "I'll send him some flowers or some fruit," Marcus said. Seven minutes later, the same amount of time separating their births, Marcus was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 14th pick. It was a storybook start to two NBA careers with tremendous promise. SOURCES: KUATHLETICS.COM, ESPN.COM, SPORTS-REFERENCE.COM Good Friends.Cool Place.Smart Living Fully Furnished 2, 3 & 4 Bedrooms • Private Shuffle to KU • Private Bathrooms 24 Hour Fitness Center • Pet Friendly to learn about our great specials connect with us on & 1 4101 W. 24th Place 785.856.KU4U (5348) T For Info text LEGENDS to 47464 Legends Place www.LegendsPlace.com 10