Morris twins' latest basketball choice is Kansas
The former Prep Charter basketball stars selected the Jayhawks over Villanova.
This time, they opted to live out one brother's childhood dream.
Marcus and Markieff Morris, the twin brothers who led Prep Charter to two consecutive PIAA Class AA state basketball titles, gave oral commitments to attend Kansas next season
While seniors at Prep Charter, the Morrises had originally signed with Memphis last season. The Morrises, who will play this season at Apex Academies, a prep school in Cherry Hill, later de-committed, recommitted and de-committed again.
"I think it's a heartfelt decision," Prep Charter coach Dan Brinkley said of his former players' current selection. "What is important is that you go to that school that you always wanted to go.
"Kansas was Marcus' favorite school since he was 10 years old."
Marcus, a 6-foot-9 swingman, and Markieff, a 6-10 forward, chose Kansas over Villanova. The brothers could not be reached for comment.
In addition to being Marcus' favorite school, the twins told Brinkley that Kansas suited them the best.
They fell in love with the Jayhawks' storied basketball tradition. Coach Bill Self's custom of graduating players was another plus. And with several current Jayhawks expected to become 2008 NBA lottery picks, they saw this as an opportunity to play right away.
Brinkley said it was still a tough decision.
"Villanova is loaded," he said. "And [Wildcats coach] Jay Wright is a great coach. They had the team that [the Morrises felt], 'We could do great things here.' "
But getting the opportunity to play at Kansas was hard to pass on.
It also was something the Morrises never thought would be possible.
"Kansas didn't even recruit them," Brinkley said of last season. "They have five scholarships available. They have to build a whole new nucleus."
Going to prep school "worked out tremendously," Brinkley said.
The twins, who turned 18 years old in September, are ranked among scout.com's top five post-graduate players.
Marcus is the nation's 37th-ranked prospect in the class of 2008, according to rivals.com. He averaged 21 points last season en route to being named a first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection by The Inquirer. Rivals.com ranks Markieff, who averaged 19 points, 74th.