Brady Morningstar spent last season as a red shirt on Kansas University's men's basketball team. He hopes the year off will lead to significant playing time this year.

Brady Morningstar, who turns 23 on Jan. 23, is older than your average college sophomore.

“They always joke to me I’m going to graduate when I’m 27,” Morningstar, Kansas University’s third-year soph basketball shooting guard, said with a laugh, referring to his Jayhawk teammates.

“I’ve always felt like an older guy on the team,” he added, asked about his status as a team veteran.

“I had five years of high school and red-shirted last year.”

One of four returning scholarship players from KU’s national championship team, Morningstar is hoping his age and/or experience leads to extended playing time during the 2008-09 season.

“I’m focused. I’ve been here two years, and haven’t played a meaningful minute,” said Morningstar, who practiced but did not play in games last season after scoring 34 points and dishing eight assists against four turnovers as a true freshman in 2006-07.

“Right now, I’m just trying to make everyone around me play better and try to prove to myself I can actually play here.”

Morningstar earned all-state honors his senior year at Free State High and, as team captain, averaged 22 points a game at New Hampton (N.H.) Prep School.

He believes he learned what it takes to play at this level while sitting out last season.

“I learned a ton just practicing every day, especially against all the great players we had,” Morningstar said of departed guards Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Jeremy Case and Rodrick Stewart.

“Watching other teams play, all the great players : I saw just how hard you have to play and how good you have to be out there.”

The 6-foot-3, 187-pound Morningstar worked hard on his game over the summer. He enrolled in both sessions of summer school while also weightlifting, playing pick-up games with teammates and competing in the Kansas City Pro-Am Summer League.

“I tried to improve in every asset of the game,” Morningstar said, noting, “I am in pretty good shape, but I can always get stronger and quicker.”

There is still a batch of guards on KU’s roster: returnees Sherron Collins, Tyrel Reed and Conner Teahan, as well as newcomers Tyshawn Taylor and Tyrone Appleton, plus swingmen Mario Little and Travis Releford.

“Everyone is working hard now, trying to play their roles,” Morningstar said of practices leading up to the Jayhawks’ Labor Day weekend trip to Canada.

Coach Bill Self would love to be able to grant playing time to the sophomore guard trio of Morningstar, Reed and Teahan.

“Tyrel and Brady have to step up and be counted. They have not had a chance yet. I think they can be a part of the rotation. Hopefully Conner can play as well,” Self said.

KU’s sixth-year coach said Morningstar needed to be one of the squad’s best shooters and as well as be “a little more aggressive.”

Morningstar will take whatever comes his way.

“I mean, as long as I do what I’m capable of doing and work hard, I hope it will be (the case),” Morningstar said of earning extended playing time. “I just want to get out there and contribute to the team any way I can.”

He’s already doing his part at practice.

“A lot of reps we are out there first,” he said of the returning players. “We know what we are doing. The younger guys are watching us. It’s how it’ll be for a little bit. I don’t mind at all.

“It’s a little strange not having eight of the guys we had last year. It’s different, but every team changes every year. It just so happens we lost all those guys. It’s a re-start, but also pretty good, pretty fun.”

Notes: Collins, who is coming off left knee surgery and reported to camp out of shape, practiced over the weekend, Self said. “No live stuff, though,” Self said of keeping him out of scrimmage situations . … Self said former KU guard Russell Robinson, who was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft, will play in Turkey this upcoming season. Robinson played for the Houston Rockets’ summer-league team. … Jordan Hamilton, a 6-7 senior forward from Los Angeles, tells zagsblog.net he is considering KU, UConn, Texas and Syracuse. … Lance Stephenson, a 6-5 guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., tells Zagblog.net he has a list of Memphis, Texas, KU, Southern Cal and St. John’s. He said he will not choose a school in the early signing period.