Keith Langford will finish his college basketball career where he started it — at Kansas University.

“I mean, I owe it to the sophomores — ‘The Five,'” said Langford, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Fort Worth, Texas, who Monday said he might follow the lead of Roy Williams and leave Mount Oread in the wake of Williams’ decision to become coach at North Carolina.

Cooler heads prevailed Tuesday and it now appears all five members of Langford’s class — Langford, Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien, Michael Lee and Jeff Hawkins — will remain Jayhawks. Nobody on the roster, it seems, plans a transfer, so all players but seniors Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich will play for a new coach next season.

“It’s the first thing we all agreed on,” said sophomore power forward Simien, who was one of the leaders at a team meeting held after Williams’ emotional farewell to the squad Monday afternoon.

“We talked after coach left that we’re all staying. A lot of us got on the horn and talked to some of the recruits, some of the incoming guys like Omar (Wilkes) and David (Padgett). We’re not trying to put any pressure on those guys, just hope they make the best decision for themselves. We’re still going to be a good team regardless. Hopefully those guys will come in and be part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

At least two of the four recruits, who need to receive what is called a “mutual release” from KU letters of intent to be immediately eligible at another school, likely will wait until the new coach is hired before they will decide whether to bail.

Jeremy Case, 6-1 of McAlester, Okla., Monday said he’d be coming to KU. J.R. Giddens, 6-4 of Oklahoma City, also will be here.

“J.R. respects Roy’s decision and is fine with Kansas. He’s happy. He’s coming,” said Giddens’ mom, Dianna.

The current Jayhawks, who finished national runner-ups last Monday night in New Orleans, voted unanimously to cancel a parade set for Thursday. The team awards ceremony will be held as scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lied Center.

“We don’t want to be in a parade float pouting,” Simien said. “Parades are supposed to be fun.”

Former KU coach Williams will be at Thursday’s banquet and awards presentation.

“That will be hard,” Williams said Tuesday. “Most of the years I walked into a standing ovation. I don’t think I’ll get that this time, but I want to be there because those people are genuine. I’m going to show respect for my team and my love for my team.”

Langford said Williams was welcome to attend.

“Most definitely,” he said. “He’s a part of celebrating the team. Coach Williams is part of the team. He brought the team together. He’s part of the team as much as anybody. The banquet is celebrating the 13 guys and coach Williams.”

Simien paused about a second before answering whether Williams should attend the banquet.

“Uh, yeah,” Simien said. “It’s going to be real awkward, to say the least. I’m not real sure if we’re going to all be over it. I’m sure time is the greatest healer. In time players will say it’s the right thing (Williams leaving). Right now emotions are still running high for players, fans. It’s definitely going to be awkward at the banquet.”

Simien was asked Tuesday if he regretted Monday’s angry statement in which he said, “I literally gave my right arm for that man.”

“They kind of gassed it up more than what it was,” Simien said. “I don’t remember crying and I don’t remember storming out of Allen Fieldhouse, anything like that. It’s just something I felt like saying. Maybe it was in the heat of anger a bit, but it’s what I really felt.”

In 2000, Williams declined an offer from North Carolina because of love for his players. This time, the players weren’t enough.

“It’s hard to swallow. It’s hard to see what’s different,” Simien said. “Keith, Aaron and myself and other guys don’t want to think about that, but it enters your mind.”

Simien also was bothered seeing Williams coaching up his new players at his introductory press conference shown Monday night on TV. Williams at times looked from the podium to his new Carolina players and said how hard he’d work for them, and they for him.

“Seeing him first with his new team, his new guys just a couple hours after crying in the locker room with us, that was tough,” Simien said.

Simien said the players were happy to have met Tuesday with interim AD Drue Jennings because they want a say in their new coach.

“Obviously I would like someone who has KU ties,” Simien said. “I don’t want to see too many changes but right now the players are real concerned with the fact we’re hurt, voicing our opinions, making sure we have some say in who is coming in, not having the athletic director make the decision for us.”