photo by: Matt Tait

Markieff Morris huddles up with participants at an NBA Cares event in New York on Wednesday, June 22, the day before the 2011 NBA draft.

6:33 p.m.

Marcus Morris has arrived in New York City and the twins are starting to kick off their final night before learning their NBA fates.

Most of the official NBA requirements wrapped up late this afternoon. Angel Morris, Marcus and Markieff’s mother, attended a seminar for NBA families around 5:30 and now the twins are regrouping in their room and planning how to spend the evening.

For the most part, it seems as if it’ll be a low-key night. Markieff insists that he’s not nervous and his demeanor serves as proof. He’s been smiling all day and has looked very comfortable with what’s going on around him every step of the way.

He keeps talking about feeling blessed to be here and fortunate and the way he’s carrying himself illustrates that he’s not just saying that. He means it.

Hoping to catch up with both twins one more time before the night’s over. Then it’s on to the waiting game. Safe to say tomorrow will be one of the longest days of their lives, just waiting to hear there names called by NBA commissioner David Stern.

Players are scheduled to arrive at the Prudential Center two hours before the first pick is made. When they do, they’ll pose for photos, meet sponsors and go through a few more required appearances like that. Then it’s into the green room until they hear their names called.

I’ll have more throughout the day tomorrow via Twitter and also will be live blogging the draft — at least until the time the twins are selected. The rest of the KUsports.com crew also will be chiming in with draft coverage from the home front.

KU coach Bill Self is going to be in the green room with the twins tomorrow night. No word whether Josh Selby is in New York or if he will be here tomorrow night. I’ll keep trying to track that information down.

Your best bet for info throughout the day tomorrow will be to by follow me on Twitter.

Also be sure to check out KUsports.com tomorrow for my story on Markieff’s day in the city.

2:03 p.m.

Markieff is in the middle of an NBA Cares event right now along with other potential first round draft picks, including Jimmer Fredette, Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams.

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2011/jun/22/34681/

photo by: Matt Tait

Markieff Morris huddles up with participants at an NBA Cares event in New York on Wednesday, June 22, the day before the 2011 NBA draft.

photo by: Matt Tait

Markieff Morris talks with a participant at an NBA Cares event in New York on Wednesday, June 22, the day before the 2011 NBA draft.

The Jimmer!

photo by: Matt Tait

Jimmer Fredette speaks with the media at an NBA Cares event in New York on Wednesday, June 22, the day before the 2011 NBA draft.

12:34 p.m.

Markieff addressed the media at the NBA Draft media day, discussing his decision to leave Kansas and what the transition has been like so far.

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2011/jun/22/34682/

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2011/jun/22/34680/

photo by: Matt Tait

Markieff Morris will sit at this table in The

12:17 p.m.

Former Colorado guard Alec Burks gave his opinions on the Morris twins.

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2011/jun/22/34679/

Former Kentucky guard Brandon Knight is also on hand, answering questions for the media.

photo by: Matt Tait

Kentucky guard Brandon Knight speaks with reporters at the 2011 NBA Draft media day Wednesday, June 22, 2011 in New York.

11:03 a.m.

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2011/jun/22/34678/

Just waiting on the media sessions to start. Markieff will be in Group B and will go from noon to 12:30. Marcus is not in NYC yet, he’s working out in Charlotte, which gives a lot more legitimacy to the idea of the Bobcats picking him at No. 9. He will be here this evening and I’ll catch up with him then.

Until then, I’ll be spending the next several hours w/ Markieff in the Big Apple. So check back throughout the day for videos and photos from NBA Draft 2011.

Original post 8 a.m.
You’ve all seen the picture of Marcus Morris in the New York Yankees cap.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Marcus Morris talks about his experience at the LeBron James Skills Camp, which he attended July 5-7 at Akron University. As for James’ free agency status, Morris speculated earlier Thursday at Allen Fieldhouse that he believed James would pick the Heat or the Knicks.

By now, you know that Marcus and twin brother, Markieff, hail from Philadelphia and are proud natives of the city of brotherly love.

And for the last three years you’ve seen these guys transform from inexperienced, oversized freshmen into two of the best players in college basketball.

Now, it’s time to see them in their element.

Journey with me to New York City, where I’ll spend a day in the life of the Morris twins and show you just what these guys are like in their home environment of the east coast. For the next several hours, I’ll bring you photos, videos and running updates of what the twins are doing, who they’re meeting and what they’re thinking one day before they hear their names called at the 65th annual NBA Draft — 6 p.m. Thursday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

For all of the players eligible to be drafted this year — and every other year, really — this is a special time for them and their families. Dreams will be realized, goals will be achieved and, without question, a few tears will be shed.

For the Morris twins, the next couple of days figures to provide all of that plus a little more.

As Marcus and Markieff progress toward that inevitable day when they no longer can call each other teammates, a bunch of different emotions figure to rise to the surface. For a while, the buzz and excitement of being in the draft likely will keep those emotions subdued. And that’s where we come in.

Throughout the day, I’ll track the memorable moments that lead up to the time when each player hears his name called at Thursday night’s draft by NBA commissioner David Stern.

We’ll start with the 11:30 a.m. media session at the Westin Times Square and, from there, journey out onto the streets of the Big Apple, where Marcus and Markieff hit this stop and that on what surely will be one of the busiest — and at the same time fastest — days of their lives.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Markieff Morris battles for a bucket over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi forward Jawan Nelson during the first half, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse.

The next day, we’ll take you into the draft room at the Prudential Center, where I’ll be live blogging the draft — at least until the time the twins are taken. The rest of the KUsports.com crew will chip in to Thursday’s blog from Lawrence to make sure you’re up to speed on the latest from this year’s draft.

For grins, and to kill time both while you wait and while I flew out to NYC, I’ve thrown together a quick mock draft in five words or less of this year’s first round. Look it over if you want, or simply sit back and wait for the updates to start rolling in. Check back often throughout the day for the latest on the final day in the lives of the Morris twins as amateur athletes.

In addition to checking out KUsports.com all day, you also can track what’s happening throughout the week by following me on Twitter.

If mock drafts aren’t your thing, there’s still time to sign up for our 2011 KUsports.com NBA Draft contest, where predicting the draft spots of the Morris twins and Josh Selby can land you a sweet prize.

To enter, make sure you’re signed up for a KUSports.com account and ENTER THE CONTEST for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for some new KU gear.

Copy my picks below at your own risk.

1. Cleveland — Kyrie Irving, Duke. This year’s John Wall? Nope.

2. Minnesota — Derrick Williams, Arizona. I would take him first.

3. Utah — Brandon Knight, Kentucky. Take PG. Get forward later.

4. Cleveland — Enes Kanter, Turkey. Bold and solid pick.

5. Toronto — Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State. One-of-a-kind player.

6. Washington — Jan Vesely, Czech Republic. Everyone wants next Dirk.

7. Sacramento — Kemba Walker, UConn. Kings become contenders.

8. Detroit — Markieff Morris, Kansas. Believe it or not.

9. Charlotte — Marcus Morris, Kansas. Great fit for player & team.

10. Milwaukee — Alec Burks, Colorado. Favorite player in the draft.

11. Golden State — Klay Thompson, Washington State. Klay&Curry = Backcourt of future.

12. Utah — Chris Singleton, Florida State. Polished and versatile with size.

13. Phoenix — Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania. Best big man left.

14. Houston — Bismack Biyombo, Congo. Biggest gamble but worth it.

15. Indiana — Marshon Brooks, Providence. Solid guard improves Pacers.

16. Philadelphia — Tristan Thompson, Texas. Wanted Markieff, settled for Thompson.

17. New York — Nikola Vucevic, USC. Legit 7-footer hard to pass.

18. Washington — Donatas Motiejunas, Italy. More foreign flavor with size.

19. Charlotte — Jimmer Fredette, BYU — MJ loves the Jimmer.

20. Minnesota — Jordan Hamilton, Texas. Could go 10 picks higher.

21. Portland — Kenneth Faried, Morehead State. Would have a spot anywhere.

22. Denver — Tobias Harris, Tennessee. Nuggs need scoring.

23. Houston — Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA. Great length, natural scorer. Underrated.

24. Oklahoma City — Kyle Singler, Duke. Another Nick Collison.

25. Boston — Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech. Guard help for the future.

26. Dallas — Nikola Mirotic, Montenegro. Can afford project big man.

27. New Jersey — Davis Bertans, Latvia. Searching for late steal.

28. Chicago — Justin Harper, Richmond. Right demeanor to join Bulls.

29. San Antonio — Reggie Jackson, Boston College. Tony Parker’s not getting younger.

30. Chicago — Josh Selby, Kansas. Could be a steal.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Josh Selby licks his chops after hitting a second three-pointer against USC during the first half, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse.