Rapid Recap: Kansas State basketball insight
Kansas State schedules USC
One of the questions I asked Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang on Friday was how they worked themselves into an opening night contest with USC in Las Vegas and how eager he was to assert the Wildcats into it.
He acknowledged that it was too good of an opportunity for exposure to turn down and a great early test for K-State. They felt it was a necessary challenge to incorporate into the season and an excellent way to begin the year.
Those assembling the tournament presented Andy Enfield and the Trojans with about three different opponents that they’d like them to play at the Las Vegas venue. Obviously, Kansas State was one of the foes, and USC had far more interest in seeing the Wildcats.
Israel trip
K-State coaches and players leave for Israel on August 10. They will play at least one game but likely three. Also in the Middle East on the same trip will be Arizona. The two programs will be seeing a lot of each other beginning in 2024 after the other Wildcats have also joined the Big 12.
The Kansas State group is very excited about it, with many of them pointing out how they are eager to invest in their faith and religion more and more while overseas. Others did admit that they were not looking forward to the 12-hour flight.
More on the K-State freshmen
When asked about who has impressed him during the Summer thus far, K-State head coach Jerome Tang did not hesitate in identifying two players that have caught his eye. One was true freshman guard Dai Dai Ames.
He described the Chicago native as a guy that is on a mission to be the best that he can be and someone that lives in the gym. Previously, it was also shared that Ames was the true freshman that arrived in the best shape, too.
That has assisted him in hitting the ground running since arriving in Manhattan. After highlighting that the campus and town is far different than what he has been accustomed to in life, Ames noted that it has helped him really lock in and eat and sleep basketball.
Tomlin’s role
Not only has future NBA player Nae’Qwan Tomlin assumed more of a leadership role at Kansas State, he was pivotal in helping lure the two transfer additions to Manhattan as well. He knew Tylor Perry from their days at the junior college level and Arthur Kaluma from their NBA workout with the Boston Celtics.
Perry and Tomlin were not junior college teammates but played against one another in Hutchinson, Kansas at the sight of the final four. Perry played for Coffeyville Community College and won the national title that year.
His time with Kaluma during the NBA Draft process was significant. The Creighton transfer admitted that he learned a lot about the Wildcats even before visiting because of the conversations that he had with Tomlin during that time.
Tomlin always knew he would return to college, but Kaluma was hopeful to remain in the draft. However, he felt that he had more to prove and more to gain by playing another year of college ball after receiving the feedback from pro scouts.
Seeing the immense athleticism and upside from Tomlin in person also made him an attractive teammate and inspired Kaluma to look into K-State even more from a recruiting perspective.
Kansas State leadership
Tomlin isn’t the only leader on the team this year. We have also seen Cam Carter break down the Kansas State squad as well. However, don’t overlook Tylor Perry in that light, either. Although Markquis Nowell, Keyontae Johnson and Desi Sills are gone, the leadership part is not lacking at K-State.
In fact, Perry may be one of the better leaders that I’ve been around in quite a while and that is saying something. The level of maturity that he possesses is always on display, he’s not afraid to speak up, is about the right stuff, a proven winner, selfless and determined to win at all costs.
Climbing Carter
Carter has actually been the player that everyone wants to talk about in the offseason in terms of being someone that has really seen their stock take off. Tang gushed about his work ethic and how bad he wants it this year, and assistant Ulric Maligi believes he can be the most improved player in the Big 12.
Taking it a step further, Tylor Perry mentioned Carter a few months ago as someone that nobody was talking about but would be later in the year. That momentum has carried into August, with Perry revealing that Carter has been able to keep up with him from a shooting standpoint and sometimes surpassing him.
Two remaining spots
Although Kansas State is leaving for the foreign trip in just a few days, they do still have two scholarship spots that remain. Tang hopes to fill them, stating that they are already the caliber of an NCAA Tournament team but can be a very, very good one if they find the right fits for the last two spots.
With that being said, they are content to stick with the 11 if that is how it unfolds. Sources have indicated that the K-State staff feels like there will be at least a player and maybe two worth adding that could still hop into the portal in time to help the Wildcats.
