Kansas Midnight Madness 2013: Andrew Wiggins Will Wow Fans at Exhibition

Kansas' version of "Midnight Madness" is called "Late Night in the Phog." This year's version takes place on Friday at the Allen Fieldhouse. The event has been a preseason staple in Lawrence since 1985, per KUSports.com, but this year's event will have something the previous 28 versions haven't had, and that's the presence of Andrew Wiggins.

The Canadian swingman was the consensus No. 1 player in high school basketball in 2012. After winning a spirited competition to get Wiggins to commit for at least a year, the Kansas Jayhawks are set to make a run at a national championship with the 6'8" prodigy as the centerpiece.

"Midnight Madness" events are just exhibitions, but Kansas’ "Late Night in the Phog" will only serve to increase the already-high expectations for Wiggins and this Jayhawks team.

Most of what fans will be watching for is the highlight-reel plays the young Jayhawks can produce. The team has its share of elite athletes, but none of them can put on a show quite like Wiggins. 

Here’s a sample of him doing aerial work from his high school days.

Obviously, there is more to his game than high-flying dunks, but if you want to get a fanbase excited at a "Midnight Madness" event, throw down a handful of monster jams.

Wiggins has shown before that he has a flare for the spectacular when the spotlight is on him. Check out this slam over New York Knicks center and former Jayhawk Cole Aldrich at a Kansas scrimmage in June. 

Did you see the look on Aldrich’s face as Wiggins soars by him. It’s that look as if to say: “It’ll only be worse if I jump.” If that indeed was on his mind, he was smart to keep his fruitless attempt to himself.

That’s just a taste of what Wiggins may unveil for KU fans on Friday and possibly into the regular season and NCAA tournament. He will be the most polarizing athlete in college basketball this season and the show is about to begin.

Follow me for musings on the NBA, boxing, MMA, the WWE and sports video games.