Kansas’ Manning Is Repeat All-American Selection

Danny Manning of Kansas was named to the Associated Press All-American basketball team for the second straight season Monday. He was joined by Hersey Hawkins of Bradley, the highest-scoring National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division I player in 11 years.

In addition to the two seniors, the first team includes senior Gary Grant of Michigan, junior Sean Elliott of Arizona and sophomore J.R. Reid of North Carolina.

The team was selected by a 20-member panel of sportswriters representing AP and member newspapers.

Manning, a 6-foot 10-inch forward, was the only non-senior on the first team last season.

“I think he’s had a phenomenal year considering we’ve had so many problems this year,” Coach Larry Brown said, referring to injury and academic trouble that has plagued Kansas. “It’s added extra responsibility to Danny, and he’s done a tremendous job.”

Manning, who was named Big Eight player of the year as a sophomore and junior, averaged 22.3 points and 8.9 rebounds this season for Kansas, which has a 21-11 record and is seeded sixth in the Midwest Regional.

Hawkins, a 6-3 guard, enters NCAA tournament play with a 36-point scoring average, the highest since Freeman Williams of Portland State averaged 38.8 in 1977. He is also the first player to score 1,000 points in a season since Williams in ’77.

Bradley (26-4) won the regular-season and postseason Missouri Valley Conference championships and is ninth-seeded in the Southeast Regional.

Grant has been known as much for his defense as his 22-point average. He led the Big Ten in steals for three consecutive seasons and averaged 6.9 assists per game this season for the Wolverines, who are 24-7 and are third-seeded in the West Regional.

Elliott averaged 19 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Wildcats, who were ranked No. 1 for six weeks this season and are 31-2 and top-seeded in the West Regional. The 6-8 forward shot 57% from the field.

Reid, a 6-9 forward, had a solid sophomore season, averaging 17.9 points and 8.7 rebounds and shooting 61% from the field for the Tar Heels, who are 24-6 and are second-seeded in the West.

Pittsburgh’s Jerome Lane, who was selected to the third team as a sophomore last season, was named to the second team this season along with Temple freshman Mark Macon, Duke junior Danny Ferry and seniors Steve Kerr of Arizona and Jeff Grayer of Iowa State.

The third team: Sherman Douglas of Syracuse, Fennis Dembo of Wyoming, Bryon Larkin of Xavier, Will Perdue of Vanderbilt and Michael Smith of Brigham Young.