Jun 25, 2020
Danny Manning is considered by many to be the greatest Jayhawk of them all. It makes sense: He was a two-time All-American, a Wooden Award winner, a national champion, and his jersey hangs in the rafters at Allen Fieldhouse. And every part of Manning’s basketball life comes back to Kansas. His family moved to Lawrence when his father was hired as an assistant coach. He starred as a Jayhawk en route to becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. And when he decided to transition into coaching, he started at Kansas with the help of Bill Self. But his journey hasn't always been easy. Manning and his teammates fell short in the 1986 Final Four and the following season’s Sweet 16. And despite being a two-time NBA All-Star, there were the multiple injuries that led to him becoming the first player to return from reconstructive surgeries on both knees. But he just keeps fighting. He keeps finding success. And he keeps remembering the role that Kansas has played through it all.