The pressure was on Sunday night as 16 Kansas University men’s basketball walk-on candidates tried to impress three former Jayhawks running the tryouts.

The KU student-body hopefuls spent nearly two hours in Allen Fieldhouse running drills under the direction of Danny Manning, Brett Ballard and Michael Lee.

“I could definitely tell that nobody really stood out,” KU sophomore Jon Bailon, of Denver, said, “because a lot of people were intimidated. When we stepped out on the floor, I guarantee everybody had a little bit of nerves going through their body.

“I know I did. I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. But it was a good experience. I enjoyed it, and I’m sure everybody else did too.”

KU director of basketball operations Ronnie Chalmers said the purpose of having the former Kansas players on hand wasn’t to intimidate, but to help.

“When they see these guys that have played in the system – Brett, Mike Lee and Danny – out here giving up their time to coach them through these drills, they know that they can give them pointers with, ‘Hey, this is what we’re looking for in Kansas basketball. This is what you’ve got to do to make this roster,'” Chalmers said.

After going through dribble drills, three-man weave and fast-break drills to start the evening, the hopefuls never really had time – or the energy – to dwell on those directing the action.

Manning is a full-time assistant, Ballard is administrative assistant/video coordinator and Lee graduate student manager for the Jayhawk program.

After receiving a two-minute water break, tryouts shifted to 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 half-court drills before going full court, 5-on-5.

“I just tried to show that I talk a lot trying to help on defense,” said KU sophomore Nathan Hickey, a 2006 graduate of Lawrence High. “A lot of the guys were tired on both sides of the ball, so I was trying to be more vocal to get my guys more motivated and just outwork the other team.”

The 16 candidates were put through running drills after the scrimmaging was complete: down-and-backs and suicides – running to half court, the free-throw line and the opposite base line, then returning to the base line after touching each line.

“What you did today was an off day for our guys,” Manning told the players, just before they completed the sprints.

“I wasn’t expecting the ‘off day’ remark, but I definitely know what to expect now,” Bailon said. “They go through hell, basically.”

With KU’s roster already sporting 12 scholarship athletes and five walk-ons, it is unlikely any players will be added to the 2007-08 team.

Chalmers said the hopefuls would have to prove they could “bring those intangibles to the court that we don’t already have on the team.”

“Coach (Bill) Self will make that final decision about it, but you never know,” Chalmers said. “There could always be a sleeper in the crowd, and we’re always looking for someone who can make our team better. That’s basically what this is for. We never say never, but we already have 17 guys so the chances look very slim.”

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Morgan visits Cincy: J’Mison Morgan, a 6-10 senior center from Dallas South Oak Cliff High, told Rivals.com he had fun on his official visit to Cincinnati over the weekend. He now has completed his NCAA-allotted five visits: to KU, Cincy, UCLA, LSU and Alabama.

“It’s a nice campus,” Morgan told BearcatLair.com of Cincy. “Everything is real close together, and I was able to watch the team practice and hang out with the players. Coach (Mick) Cronin was telling me I should be an automatic force if I work hard, and there should be immediate playing time. I want to get minutes my freshman year but I don’t have to start.”

Morgan will announce his college choice on his birthday, Nov. 2.

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Thomas undecided: Quintrell Thomas, a 6-8 senior from St. Patrick High in Elizabeth, N.J., did not choose a college over the weekend. It still could be some time before he selects either KU, Rutgers or UNLV. His high school coach, Kevin Boyle and AAU coach, Derrick Bobbitt, indicated Sunday no decision had been reached with nothing scheduled for today. Thomas told Rivals.com he had not selected a school and he might need a couple more days.