Kansas University’s basketball tradition meant more to C.J. Giles than a chance to play close to home.

“It was really hard for me because I love UW to death, and I also love Kansas,” said Giles, a 6-foot-10 center from Ranier Beach High in Seattle who picked KU over Washington on Tuesday. “I had to go with Kansas because it was the best fit for me. I love the tradition down there.”

That tradition was on full display during Giles’ campus visit. Giles met Danny Manning, KU’s director of student-athlete development and an All-American in 1988 who led Kansas to the national title.

“Danny Manning was one of the greatest players who ever played there,” Giles said. “I couldn’t turn away from him coaching me.”

Giles, who averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks per game as a senior, filled the final spot in coach Bill Self’s first recruiting class at KU.

Kansas signed Midwest City, Okla., forward Darnell Jackson, Florida Air Academy center Sasha Kaun and New York guard Russell Robinson in the early period, then added forward Alex Galindo of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J., on Monday.

Giles originally signed with Miami but asked for — and received — his release after a coaching change. His addition cushions the blow after KU lost freshman center David Padgett, who plans to transfer at the end of the semester.

“You never like to see a coaching change or a coach losing his job,” Self said. “Because of the change, C.J. became available after he was released from his letter of intent. In our situation, it couldn’t come at a better time after David’s decision to leave. Now we have as a good a young big-man combination as anyone in the country with C.J., Sasha and Darnell. It’s a perfect situation with a veteran like Wayne Simien able to help.”

Simien will be a lock to start at one post position as a senior, while the three freshmen will battle veterans Christian Moody and Moulaye Niang at the other.

The competition doesn’t scare Giles.

“Anywhere you go, you’re going to have to compete,” he said. “Nobody ever promised me a starting job.”

Giles’ father, Chester, played for KU under former coach Ted Owens and knows KU’s tradition well.

“I want to be part of that,” C.J. Giles said. “They have a sold-out arena every year, every game. I just had to pick Kansas.”

Now, Giles will wear the crimson and blue, just like his father.

“When they visited here, his father was able to relive some of his moments,” Self said. “His senior year an injury prohibited him from playing to his potential. Now his son has a chance to do great things at a place he has a great love for.”

Giles won’t miss his father or younger brother Malcolm, a 6-5 guard who will be a junior next season — likely at Free State High. The family is moving to Lawrence with C.J.

6Sports video: Second Seattle product commits to KU

“It looks like I’m coming home,” Chester Giles said. “I’m excited to be staying with my boys.”

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Top-ranked class: The late additions of C.J. Giles and Galindo vaulted KU’s recruiting class to second in the nation in rankings released Tuesday by rivals.com.

The Web site ranked Kentucky’s recruiting class first ahead of KU, Texas, Indiana and UCLA. Oregon, which won a battle with Kansas for highly touted Detroit swingman Malik Hairston, was sixth. The only other Big 12 Conference team to crack the top 25 was Missouri at 14th.

All five KU signees — Giles, Galindo, Kaun, Robinson and Jackson — rank among rivals.com’s top 15 at their positions.

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Chalmers announcement Friday: Mario Chalmers, the nation’s top-ranked junior point guard, has scheduled a news conference Friday to announce his college choice.

Ronnie Chalmers — the guard’s father and coach at Bartlett High in Anchorage, Alaska — told Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com late Monday night that his son would decide between Arizona and Kansas.

“Yes, my son has made a decision about what school to attend,” Ronnie Chalmers said. “After talking as a family tonight, its going to be Kansas or Arizona.”

Mario Chalmers (6-foot-1, 165 pounds) is the eighth-ranked player overall among juniors. He reportedly has chosen Kansas but won’t make the announcement until Friday, two days after his birthday.

If Chalmers has made a decision, his father wasn’t about to spoil Friday’s announcement.

“No, he hasn’t made up his mind yet,” the coach told the Journal-World on Tuesday.

Kansas picked up its first commitment for 2005 on Sunday when Bothell, Wash., forward Micah Downs (6-8, 175) told Self he was coming to Kansas.

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Hansbrough down to three: Tyler Hansbrough, the nation’s third-ranked junior power forward and fifth-rated overall player in the class of 2005, told rivals.com that he had narrowed his college choices to Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. The 6-9, 230-pounder from Poplar Bluff, Mo., said he would announce his decision in July.

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Manning’s role: Manning has been mentioned as a candidate to replace assistant Norm Roberts, who left Kansas to take the head coaching job at St. John’s. Self said the former Jayhawk likely would return in the same role he filled last season.

“Danny as of now … his status is he’s an assistant coach,” Self said. “The reality is the timing has to be right for he and his family. There’s a great chance he will be an administrator next year, but in real near future — if there’s ever any other movement in our staff — he could take on those duties.”

One candidate to replace Roberts reportedly is former Miami and Michigan assistant Kurtis Townsend.