Danny Manning

Danny Manning powered Kansas to the 1988 national title, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player and National Player of the Year honors.

Danny Ricardo Manning was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1966 and attended the University of Kansas under coach Larry Brown. His college career produced the most remarkable individual performance in the history of the tournament. In 1988 Kansas entered the NCAA Tournament as an 11th seed with a 21-11 record — a team so undermanned that Manning carried them almost singlehandedly. He averaged 27.3 points per game across the tournament, leading Kansas to six victories including upsets of Duke, Purdue and Oklahoma to win the national championship 83-79 against Oklahoma. The run was dubbed Danny and the Miracles by Sports Illustrated. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and won the Naismith Award as national player of the year. His four-year Kansas career produced 20.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Los Angeles Clippers selected him first overall in the 1988 NBA Draft. A torn ACL in his first NBA season disrupted his professional trajectory. His college career — particularly that 1988 tournament run where he personally carried an 11-seed to the championship — remains the greatest individual tournament performance in the sport's history.

Manning was a versatile 6'10" forward with exceptional basketball IQ and fundamental skills. He possessed a soft shooting touch, reliable post moves, and the ability to play both inside and outside. His court vision and passing ability were uncommon for a player of his size.

Manning's leadership of Kansas to the 1988 championship with an undermanned team cemented his place in college basketball lore. His jersey number 25 was retired by Kansas, and he remains one of the most beloved figures in Jayhawks history.

• NCAA champion 1988
• NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player 1988
• Consensus National Player of the Year 1988
• 3x Big Eight Player of the Year