A pair of guards today will sign men’s basketball letters-of-intent with Kansas University on the first day of the week-long early signing period.

Sherron Collins, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound playmaker from Chicago’s Crane High, and Brady Morningstar, a 6-3, 170-pound combo guard from Free State High and New Hampton Prep School, will ink this morning at their respective schools, then ship the letters to KU’s hoops office.

Collins, Sports Illustrated’s No. 2-rated point guard in the country, averaged 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds last season at Crane.

He chose KU over Illinois and Iowa.

Morningstar, who figures to gain from playing 35 games against stiff competition at New Hampton Prep, while also hitting the weights hard this school year, averaged 19 points and five rebounds his senior year at Free State.

He chose KU over TCU, West Virginia, Tennessee, Northern Illinois and others.

Collins, who is also a football standout who will play just basketball in college, scored two touchdowns in Monday’s 34-28 victory over Curie in the Chicago Public League playoffs.

Collins, who had five catches for 103 yards at receiver and 111 rushing yards on nine carries at halfback, scored on 58-yard and 6-yard receptions.

KU also has received a verbal commitment from center Cole Aldrich, a 6-10 junior from Bloomington, Minn., who can’t sign until November of 2006.

The Jayhawks also are awaiting word from Darrell Arthur, a 6-9 senior from Dallas’ South Oak Cliff High.

Recruiting analysts believe he will likely wait until spring to sign. He has KU, Indiana, Baylor, SMU and Texas on his final list.

Rivals.com reports that KU is also in the running for Davon Jefferson, a 6-7 forward from Patterson Prep School in North Carolina. USC and Oklahoma State are believed to be other possibilities, as well as a jump to the NBA.