In the “up close” section of Kansas University men’s basketball media guide, freshman Omar Wilkes wrote, “Not many people know this, but I am a world renowned horse rider.”

Care to explain, Omar? Are you REALLY a world-renowned horse rider?

“No way,” he said, busting out in laughter. “I’ve ridden a horse maybe twice in my life.”

OK, so Wilkes is no aspiring jockey, but he obviously has a sense of humor.

The 6-foot-4 guard can hold his own on the basketball court, too. The son of former Los Angeles Lakers standout Jamaal Wilkes, Omar picked up a few things from his pop during his childhood days in L.A.

Yet Wilkes stresses he never was pushed into basketball.

“In terms of him pushing me and forcing me to play, that’s never been an issue,” Wilkes said. “But when you grow up with one thing, you don’t really know too much else.”

It didn’t hurt, either, that Wilkes grew up with papa’s friends, including Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, hanging around the house. Basketball was just there. His inherited genes were there. As a result, his skills earned him a scholarship to KU, fresh off back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances.

Wilkes left Southern California for Lawrence in June to acquaint himself with the team, the town and the university. He took classes, played lots of pick-up basketball, and went through a heavy conditioning program with help from strength coach Jonas Sahratian, eventually adding 10 pounds of muscle.

The summer in Lawrence might have helped Wilkes’s transition, but the worst stages of culture shock still are ahead.

Wilkes has yet to live through a Midwest winter.

“When it gets below 65, its freezing for me,” Wilkes said. “I haven’t seen snow yet. I’m kind of clueless.”

Fortunately for Wilkes, Allen Fieldhouse is pleasantly toasty come wintertime.

Wilkes should bring versatility to the Jayhawks. He was one of the lunkers in a phenomenal recruiting class — coach Roy Williams’s last at KU — that also included J.R. Giddens, Jeremy Case and David Padgett.

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New KU head coach Bill Self needs all of them to contribute this season.

“I think they are going to have to help in order for us to be good,” Self said of the quartet. “With our depth situation, David Padgett and J.R. Giddens will have to have big years for us. And, I think the table is set and there are definitely minutes to be fought for by Omar Wilkes and Jeremy Case.”

It’s early, but Wilkes already has shown he can be a playmaker on the college court. At the Late Night in the Phog midnight scrimmage, Wilkes was among the most impressive, scoring nine points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting. He also grabbed a rebound and recorded a steal.

“There’s a lot of areas that I can improve in,” Wilkes said. “I’m more of a jack of all trades rather than a master of any. But my weaknesses are strength and experience.”

Wilkes can’t wait for the exhibition game with the EA Sports All-Stars. He just hopes that the current crop of Jayhawks don’t have all of the Final Fours out of their system. He and the rest of the freshman class are just as hungry to reach college basketball’s biggest stage.

“I think I have a great shot at helping this team,” Wilkes said. “I want to help. The only way I benefit is if we do well.”