Lawrence High senior Stephen Vinson, the Sunflower League player of the year and second-team all-state pick, will try to walk on to Kansas University’s basketball program, LHS coach Chris Davis said on Thursday.

Vinson, a 6-foot-3 point guard, averaged 15.9 points and 8 assists a game to help the Lions finish 18-5 in 2001-02 and qualify for the Class 6A state tournament for the first time in seven years.

“He has talked to the coaches to KU,” Davis said. “He understands the tryout procedure for walking on.”

Vinson, a two-time all-league performer and the league’s sophomore of the year, was a three-year starter for the Lions.

“His education is important to him,” Davis said. “He had a fair amount of offers  a lot from the East Coast. That never fit into his plans and what he wanted to do. The education part is very important and Kansas is where he wanted to go to school.”

Once tryouts begin in October, Vinson could be battling high school teammate D.J. Watkins for a spot on the KU roster. Watkins, the Lions’ top scorer at 17.7 points a game and school’s all-time leading three-point shooter, also plans to try to walk on.

Could both players make the Jayhawks?

“I think that would be wonderful,” Davis said. “Both Stephen and D.J. are hard-nosed players. They’re two of the best guards we’ve had at Lawrence High. I’m excited about their futures in basketball and their futures as young men. They’re both great kids.”

KU usually adds a walk-on or two after open tryouts in October.

“Next year could be a decent year for walk-on tryouts,” Davis said. “Kansas is where Stephen wanted to be and it’s one of the best programs in the country.”

The last time a Lawrence High player was on KU’s roster was the NCAA championship team in 1988, the senior year for Danny Manning (LHS class of ’84) and Chris Piper (class of ’83).