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* Danny Manning (1985-1988). (Mayer, Bedore picked as forward/center; Woodling, as No. 6 man to fill any position). Even the most jaded fans still get misty-eyed when they think back to the 1988 season and realize how Manning - almost through sheer talent and will power - carried his teammates to the national championship. If you ever want to read how it happenned, pick up a copy of Woodling's "Against All Odds," which tells the story.

More stories about Danny Manning

The KU basketball media guide calls Manning "the player against whom all Jayhawks are measured."

The thing about Manning was that. Even with his slender 6-11 frame, he was as agile as any point guard and could bring the ball up the court.

After a sensational junior season, Manning decided to forgo the 1987 NBA draft. During the 1988 NCAA Tournament, he had 27.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He let all his talent show during the championship game against Oklahoma, scoring 31 points and bringing down 18 rebounds. He also blocked two shots, had five steals and made four consecutive free throws to secure the 83-79 victory.

In doing so, he became the fourth Jayhawk to win the the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. (The others were B.H. Born, Clyde Lovellette and Wilt Chamberlain.)

During his four years at KU, Manning scored 2,951 points, putting him at the top of KU's all-time scoring record. He also was KU's all-time leading rebounder with 1,187.

Manning was also a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team. After the 1988 season, Manning was the No. 1 NBA draft pick and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. His professional career, while outstanding, was badly hindered by a series of major knee injuries, the first of which he suffered in his NBA rookie year of 1988-89. His KU jersey was retired in 1992.