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The latest statistics confirm only 0.4% of births in the United States result in identical twins.  Despite the fact few of us truly understand the unique life of identical twins, we know their lifelong bond is special.  However difficult, there comes a time when each must forge their own way.  Or do they?

That brings us to Marcus and Markieff Morris, aka, the "Twin Towers."

The Morris twins, both forwards, were Kansas’ top rebounders and scorers last season.  They elected to forgo their senior years and head to the NBA.  It’s no secret the two hope to land on the same NBA team, but they are bracing for the inevitable separation.

"We’re comfortable going different directions," said Marcus at the NBA combine held in Chicago.  "We want to play together at the end of the day, but we’re very comfortable with him going his way and I go my way.  It has to happen.  We’re young men and we’re growing."

"That’s life.  If it happens, it goes along with (the fact) we’re growing up," added Markieff.  "If we are separated, then I’m happy for him and be ready to be on my own.

"I’m always going to hold out hope until draft day."

Many mock drafts show the two, both terrific shooters, as first-round picks; most show Marcus in the top ten.  He’s more of a perimeter player (17.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg last year), and seems to have an edge with his explosiveness and ball-handling. 

"A lot of people think I’m a four," he said.  "If that’s what you want to make me, to see me at the next level, then I’m gonna have to play the four.  But I just have a natural feel for the game at the three.  I know I can handle it, I can put it on the floor."

Marcus recognizes folks have raised a flag regarding his ability to guard the three position.

"If that was the major question, I feel like I’m in good shape, because I never really had a chance to learn how to guard the three.  And during this process, I’m gonna have that chance of being quicker and being able to guard threes more."

With that being said, he quickly addressed his flexibility at either position.  He believes his game will translate to the big stage very well.

"If a team needs me to be down low, then that’s what I’m gonna do.  I’m not gonna just say ‘I’m a three’ and that’s it.  I played college basketball at the four and I was successful, so if that’s the position I need to be at, then I will definitely take over at playing the four."

"I think I’m a natural NBA player," Marcus said confidently.  "The game comes natural to me; I just think I have a natural feel for it."

{AUTHOR_BOX}Markieff (13.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg last year), heavier and slightly taller, gets the job done on the defensive end with his physical work in the paint.  He didn’t have the same opportunity Marcus had at Kansas to show his abilities until Cole Aldrich left the program last season.

"Coming in, a lot of people didn’t know how much I could do," explained Markieff.  "I kinda made my name my junior year, but this is definitely helping me show that I’m a valuable piece, that I could be a valuable piece to an NBA team.  I just want to show NBA players that we are different.  We are different players."

Both potential rookies want everyone to know they bring different skill sets to the table.

"We’re not the same player by any means," stated Marcus.  "At Kansas, it kinda looks that way because the four and five are interchangeable.  It definitely looks that way."

At the combine, they worked out and participated in drills separately "so people can talk about him and they can talk about me and not always compare us," explained Marcus.

The Morris twins are certainly used to be compared, both on and off the court.

One certain similarity should grab the NBA’s attention.  The Player Efficiency Rating of both players ranked within the NCAA’s top 15.

One particular highlight of the NBA combine involves the true measurement of players.  Here’s how the twins measured up:

                   w/o shoes   w/shoes   weight   wingspan  standing reach    body fat
Marcus:        6′ 7”          6′ 8.75”     229.6      6′ 10”         8′ 9.5”             8.0
Markieff:       6′ 7.75”      6′ 9.25”    240.8      6′ 10.75”    8′ 10.5”          10.2

On a personal note, ex-Kansas teammate Josh Selby says the only way to tell the twins apart is by their sideburns and Markieff’s "bigger head."

"Yeah, if people really don’t know it’s you, they will not be able to tell us apart, no matter how much you think you will," shared Markieff.  "It’s almost impossible."

It doesn’t help that the twins each have 17 identical tattoos. 

"Same place, same type.  Everything’s the same," said Markieff, smiling.

Marcus, the more outgoing of the two, said he wanted to be at the combine for Selby and Markieff to "make sure they’re comfortable."  Spoken like an older sibling, but he’s actually seven minutes younger than Markieff.

"I think that they’re doing well," Marcus said, gauging the combine performance of both guys.  "I actually got a chance to watch Josh, and I stayed and watched ‘Kieff.  I think ‘Kieff really stood out amongst the four man.

"It means a lot to me that they’re successful.  I really care about both of them."

Selby weighed in with his view of what makes the Morris twins stand out.

"They’re special," he said.  "Just because you don’t find a set of twins that’s gonna compete, day in and day out, and work so hard.  They love to be in the gym just as much as I do.  They’d be the gym 24 hours if they could.  Those two are special guys."

Markieff shared that the longest time the two have been away from each other was "four or five days."  One time…Marcus went to camp, Markieff didn’t.

It’s that twin thing.

There are plenty of teams that have multiple picks in the draft, so wouldn’t that be something if the twins’ wish came true?  We know chemistry wouldn’t be an issue.