Mailbag: Kansas State basketball recruiting summary
1. Does Kansas State hold off until the Summer to fill the remaining three spots?
DY: I don’t think they intentionally time any of it. If they see a player they really, really like, Kansas State chases them with aggression with the purpose of landing them. Could they leave one spot open for a just-in-case scenario where an elite player comes available? Of course, and that plays out at times.
2. How long would K-State keep a fourth spot open?
DY: I’m pretty sure I answered that above, but I could see K-State leaving a fourth spot open just in case there is a graduate transfer that comes available that is an elite player. That wouldn’t shock me unless they can identify four studs before then and secure all four.
3. Predict the starting offensive line.
DY: For game one? My prediction is the exact starting offensive line that Kansas State trotted out last season. The only potential modification, in my opinion, would be that Taylor Poitier is at right guard instead of Hadley Panzer.
4. Which current Big 12 basketball player would you add to Kansas State?
DY: Does Max Abmas count? He was just added by Texas and K-State needs a primary ball-handler at guard that can create for others.
5. Does K-State land over or under 2.5 five-star prospects in the 2024 and 2025 classes?
DY: Whoa. Under. Setting the line at 2.5 would suggest you’re convinced that Kansas State lands at least two five-star prospects and that’s awfully bold. It does become a bit easier if David Castillo is awarded five-star status at some point, but that’s not a certainty even if it is possible.
6. Do college coaches have any say in recruits re-classifying?
DY: Of course. A kid can’t re-classify and enroll earlier than expected if that particular school does not have a scholarship available. And typically the decision is made because the college broaches the idea because of a need that they have, like Baylor needing a post and having Yves Missi re-classify to 2023.
7. Is Kansas State still in a good position to land Patrick Ngongba?
DY: That’s a bit of a loaded question. If he were to announce his decision within a few weeks or a month, my answer is yes. If it goes beyond that, it will be trickier and trickier. He’s already added new offers from Syracuse, Notre Dame, Providence and Indiana.
Some in the industry believe UConn, UCLA and Michigan are about to do the same and not to rule out Kentucky. The quicker that K-State can wrap it up for Patrick Ngongba, the better.
8. Who is the longest shot that has a good chance to carve their name into the two-deep for the Fall?
DY: I’ll just throw out some scenarios. Darell Jones at cornerback comes to mind. Kansas State will probably elect to go with Keenan Garber, Jacob Parrish, Will Lee and Jordan Wright as the four, but maybe he can sneak in at some point.
He has been mentioned a lot, but the room is deep, so does K-State offensive lineman Sam Hecht count? The walk-on is a favorite of head coach Chris Klieman. It’ll just be tough to surpass last year’s starters, Poitier, Andrew Leingang, John Pastore and Carver Willis.
What about Erwin Nash at receiver? The Kansas State walk-on from the state of Kansas is a big body with some good times that has impressed those around the Vanier Family Football Complex. He just is likely working behind Seth Porter, Phillip Brooks, RJ Garcia, Jadon Jackson and Keagan Johnson.
Can he out-do Xavier Loyd?
9. What are the odds that Keyontae Johnson returns to K-State for one more season?
DY: Well, that’s the million dollar question, perhaps literally. My gut instinct and conversations lead me to believe that it’s still less than a 50 percent chance that Keyontae Johnson returns to K-State, but it is not an impossibility.
10. Would you rather cover a Kansas State football game in Monterrey or a basketball game in Mexico City and versus who?
DY: Personally, I have not visited either one before and am probably more interested in seeing Mexico City, in general.
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