Danny Manning, Lawrence High’s highly touted 6-foot-11 senior basketball player, has scheduled a Thursday morning press conference at the school in order to announce his college choice.
The choice, the Journal-World has learned, is Kansas.
Manning recently moved to Lawrence from Greensboro, N.C., when his father agreed to accept a coaching position on KU coach Larry Brown’s staff. Ed Manning was officially named to that post today.
“It’s been between North Carolina, North Carolina State and Kansas all along,” stated the younger Manning on Monday afternoon, before playing in a pickup basketball game with members of the KU team in Allen Fieldhouse.
“I narrowed it down to three, then my family moved here. I’ve always wanted my family to be able to see me play. I like KU. I feel we have a lot of talent here and the future will be bright.”
Manning made it clear he was not officially announcing Monday, but his statements gave a clear indication he’s headed to Kansas.
“This is a nice arena and I’ll enjoy playing here,” said Manning. “I’m mostly doing (declaring early) this to take the pressure off; so I can enjoy myself my senior year. I’m happy with my choice.
“Lawrence is real nice, a friendly town,” he added. “I left a lot of friends in North Carolina, but I’ve met some new ones here. I like it here a lot.
“I’m looking forward to my senior season,” he added. “Coach (Ted) Juneau will make us play together … as a team. I like him. He’s a nice person.”
Manning, who some say could go straight to the pros instead of college, has indicated he’ll keep an open mind on whether he’d ever leave KU early for the NBA.
“That would depend on what my dad and coach Brown thought,” Manning said.
As of this morning, no time had been set for Manning’s Thursday press conference.
