8C
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2. 2006
Freshmen bring rock star abilities, homegrown humility
BY C.J. MOORE
The three Jayhawk freshmen — Sherron Collins, Darrell Arthur and Brady Morningstar — are saying all the right things.
"I think were just going to do whatever coach Self asked us to do," Collins said. "We're not going to try to come out and try to be stars and try to take over the team."
But with two McDonald's All-Americans — Collins and Arthur—and a hometown hero in Morningstar, Jayhawk fans are expecting big things and so is Kansas coach Bill Self.
"When we recruit players, the perception is that they're going to step in and have an unbelievable impact, and that's not always the case," Self said. "These guys, primarily Sherron and Shady (Arthur), have a chance to have an immediate impact and I'm
not sure Brady is far off from having an immediate impact as well"
Sherron Collins
Without further ado, meet the class of 2010.
Collins is not like most freshmen.
Several weeks before practice started as the team underwent Self's two-week version of hell — his boot camp — Collins could be heard encouraging his teammates and leading several drills.
"He's a leader," junior Rodrick Stewart said. "Sherron is funny because not too many freshmen come in and just have that natural leadership ability like he does."
Collins said he was used to playing that role and he wouldn't have it any other way. When he started at point guard as a freshman at Crane High
School In Chicago, he was a leader right away.
He led Crane to two conference and city league championships, and led the way his senior year by scoring 33 points a game, averaging eight rebounds and diving on six assists.
"That's just me being normal, me being me," Collins said. "I know how to lead, how to talk to my teammates and just lead by example. At the same time, I have to gain their trust first to get them to listen to me."
Self realizes Collins' potential but isn't quite ready to hand over the keys to a freshman.
"I think Sherron has the intagliables to be a great leader," Self said. "But before he can become a great leader, he's going to have to figure out what's going on for himself."
Freshmen Brady Morningstar, Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur could have an immediate impact on a team looking for man
Darrell Arthur
Arthur, a 6-foot-9-inch forward from Dallas, was one of the most highly sought after big men in the country and one of the last high-profile prospects to sign.
Whether he likes being sought after or is just a careful decision-maker, Arthur took his sweet time deciding to come to Kansas.
"When we went around the room yesterday and I talked about how much time we spent recruiting guys hard, and you could add up the whole room and it probably didn't add up to Darrell as far as the length of time," Self said. "Julian took 2 1/2 hours and Darrell took 2 1/2 years."
But Self knows Arthur could be
well worth the wait. He won back-to-back state championships at South Oak Cliff high school and was the co-Mr. Basketball in Texas his senior season, and he's shown Self a thing or two so far this fall.
"The reason he was being recruited so highly is he's got some natural things you can't teach," Self said. "He's got a body. He's got strength. He's got touch. He's got explosiveness."
Even with all the accolades, Arthur doesn't expect to be a big star right
away for the Jayhawks. He said he wanted to come in this season and block shots and get rebounds.
Arthur talks as if he'll be coming off the bench but Self has said he had a chance to start in the frontcourt with forward Julian Wright, whom Arthur tried to model his game after.
Brady Morningstar
Morningstar has heard the rumblings, as have his teammates, and his friends have told him what people are saying - he's here because of his dad, former Jayhawk Roger Morningstar, and because he played down the road at Lawrence Free State.
But his roommate Collins has already taken notice; this wasn't a politics signing, because Morningstar can play.
"Right now, a lot people think Brady won't play during the season," Collins said. "We do have a lot of talent and there's times that I might not even play, but Brady can shoot the ball well, he can pass the ball well and
Darrell Arthur's nickname is Shady.
he can jump high too."
Morningstar took his game to a prep school in New Hampshire last year to make sure he was ready to play at a school like Kansas.
Sherron Collins was a three-sport athlete at Crane High School. He pitched for the baseball team and played wide receiver/free safety for the football team. He was recruited by colleges in all three sports.
After graduating from Free State in 2005 as the Sunflower League player of the year, he had interest from smaller schools. But he said he wanted to get away from Lawrence for a year and season his game enough to be a jayhawk.
Morningstar was a star at New Hampton Prep, leading the 25-10 team by scoring 22 points per game.
After a solid AAU summer season in 2005, Self offered Morningstar a spot on this year's team.
"It's a dream but it's also a reality," he said. "I'm actually here now. It's the real deal. I'm here to get something accomplished."
Kansan staff writer C.J. Moore can be contacted at cjmoore@kansan. com.
Edited by Natalie Johnson
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