Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
Kansas State (Projected: 8th in Big 12)
Jerome Tang’s Wildcats suffered a second-year slump after reaching the Elite Eight in 2023 in Tang’s first season at the helm. Year three is set to be a big one, a talented roster with no excuse not to get back to the Big Dance if you’re Tang. The NIL for K-State hoops is rumored to be one of the best in the sport, and if Tang wants to keep that money flowing in, a big season needs to be on the horizon.
Just three players return from last season’s let down, most notably David N’Guessan (8 ppg, 7 rpg). N’Guessan has been an important part of the first two years of Tang’s tenure, starting 39 games across the last two seasons as a lengthy and athletic four. Macalaeb Rich (4 ppg) returns after a promising freshman season, adding more depth to the three and four spots. Taj Manning (1 ppg) is the final returner, seeing limited time as a freshman, and likely to see the same role as a sophomore with the number of incoming transfers that can play the three or the four.
Eight players left Kansas State after the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament this past March. In the backcourt, Tylor Perry (15 ppg, 4 apg), Cam Carter (15 ppg, 5 rpg), Dai Dai Ames (5 ppg), Dorian Finister (3 ppg), and RJ Jones (2 ppg) departed. The Wildcats’ frontcourt lost Arthur Kaluma (14 ppg, 7 rpg), Will McNair Jr. (8 ppg, 5 rpg), and Jerrell Colbert (3 ppg).
To replace the losses, Jerome Tang went hard in the transfer portal, landing eight transfers with ranging D-I experience. Dug McDaniel (16 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg at Michigan) was part of a vastly disappointing Michigan squad last season but put up impressive numbers himself. McDaniel can score at all three levels and is a great creator for his teammates. The main question surrounding McDaniel is his ability to stay eligible. McDaniel suffered an academic suspension this past spring, not allowing him to partake in any road trips in order to stay on top of his schoolwork. If McDaniel is fully ready to go for each and every game, K-State has itself an experienced power conference point guard. Brendan Hausen (6 ppg at Villanova) is another high major pickup in the backcourt, coming over from Villanova with two years of experience after two satisfactory seasons as a bench guard for the Wildcats.
Tang made a handful of high-major additions to the frontcourt as well, perhaps none more well-known than Illinois transfer Coleman Hawkins (12 ppg, 6 rpg at Illinois). Hawkins was the recipient of a rumored, massive NIL deal worth around $2 million. Regardless of how much he got paid, Hawkins will be a vital piece for Tang, giving the Wildcats an ultra-versatile forward that can quite literally do everything on a basketball court. Next to Hawkins in the frontcourt will likely be Kentucky transfer Ugonna Onyenso (4 ppg, 5 rpg at Kentucky). Onyenso’s role at Kentucky blossomed as a sophomore, starting 14 of 24 games and establishing himself as an elite rim protector and rebounder. Setting Onyenso next to Hawkins gives the Wildcats everything you could need in a frontcourt, and a talent level high enough to compete in the top half of the Big 12. Baye Fall (1 ppg at Arkansas) is the final high-major pickup of the cycle by Tang, an athletic big who appeared in just nine games for Arkansas this season as a freshman.
Tang also dipped into the mid-major world to fill out his roster in the transfer portal, finding three double-digit scorers. Achor Achor (16 ppg, 6 rpg at Samford), likely most-known for his 23-point, 8-rebound performance in a tight loss to Kansas in the NCAA Tournament this past March with Samford, should be an impactful addition to the Wildcats’ frontcourt. Achor is one of the best athletes in the country, always prepared to throw down a putback jam or come out of nowhere to erase an opponent’s shot at the rim. Contuining the list of transfers is Max Jones (15 ppg at CS Fullerton), a possible starter in the K-State backcourt as an experienced guard and great scoring threat. CJ Jones (11 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg at UIC), no relation to Max, is the other mid-major addition to the Wildcats’ backcourt, an efficient scorer himself, but primarily seen as a pure point guard option behind Dug McDaniel.
A freshman and a JUCO transfer round out the roster for Tang’s third year in Manhattan. Freshman David Castillo (4*, NAT 58) could be another option in the backcourt for the Wildcats, a high potential guard who can play both spots in the backcourt. JUCO transfer Mobi Ikegwuruka stands at 6-6 and will be another athletic addition to the wing for Tang’s squad with three years of eligibility remaining.
After a brilliant first season at K-State, Jerome Tang went through a down year as the Wildcats went sub .500 in Big 12 play and missed the NCAA Tournament. I don’t think there’s any reason to question Tang yet, however the outcome of this upcoming season could change that view. This roster has enough talent, experience, and versatility to put together consistent performances, something that will be much needed in the heat of Big 12 play.
With a majority of the roster brand-new to Manhattan, there will be a lot of kinks in the rotation for Tang to work out. Coleman Hawkins should be a stud for the Wildcats, Dug McDaniel should be another signature undersized point guard for Tang at Kansas State, but the rest of the roster feels open. My X-factor for this team is Cal State Fullerton transfer Max Jones, a guy who I think will have more of a scoring load than most may think. McDaniel will have the ball in his hands a lot in the backcourt, but Jones’ scoring ability will be of great value throughout the course of the season in my eyes.
The Big 12 is set to be insanely top-heavy in 2024-25, and although K-State fans may not like the placement prediction I’m about to give them, it’s important to see the bigger picture. I’ve got the Wildcats placed 8th in the conference, a spot that seems low until you realize they’re competing with Kansas, Houston, Arizona, Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, and BYU, among others. I think Kansas State is still at minimum a top 35 team, and one that should hear its name called come Selection Sunday.