Mailbag: Kansas State transfer portal targets and spring ball discussion

1. WHICH BASKETBALL TRANSFERS HAVE THE MOST INTEREST IN KANSAS STATE?

DY: As we have consistently shared this week, the two that we felt comfortable about in terms of a strong mutual interest between Kansas State and the player, were Oral Roberts guard transfer Max Abmas and Baylor guard transfer LJ Cryer.

So, that would be my answer. Joe Tipton of On3 also reported that K-State has made the cut for Houston transfer Tramon Mark, but we don’t have any information of our own that points us in that direction.

2. WHO IS THE UNDER-THE-RADAR FOOTBALL PLAYER THAT YOU EXPECT TO MAKE AN IMPACT THIS SEASON?

DY: I’ll point to two players on the offensive side of the ball, and that is Kansas State receiver Jadon Jackson and offensive lineman Andrew Leingang. Now, because we do a pretty solid job of sharing who is “next up” so to speak, they are probably not necessarily under the radar for the avid fan.

However, in general, they certainly still are since neither has started a game for the Wildcats. Jackson came on late last year but they protected his redshirt and only played him when it made sense in that regard. Additionally, he was banged up a bit last season.

Leingang has had buzz about him since the day he arrived in Manhattan. He was a huge recruiting win for K-State and has followed a similar path as Cooper Beebe when he began to be raved about by the coaching staff.

However, a medical-related problem momentarily set Leingang back last season. It would not shock me at all to see him make a splash this year.

Defensively, I would pick safety Marques Sigle or linebacker Desmond Purnell.

Quietly, the buzz about Sigle keeps increasing. He is going to be a starter and someone that Kansas State relies on a lot, and he has exceeded what defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman expected of him at this stage.

Purnell will also be a likely starter, and he was universally praised by the K-State defensive coaches on Wednesday.

3. WHICH PLAYER THAT REDSHIRTED WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT NEXT YEAR?

DY: I’m assuming it is a basketball question, as Jerome Tang and Kansas State redshirted all three of Anthony Thomas, Jerrell Colbert and Taj Manning.

While Colbert did flash in the last few minutes of the exhibition contest versus Washburn, he seemed to be the one that was a bit of a work in progress from a basketball IQ and understanding standpoint. That on-court maturity and poise was an emphasis during his redshirt year.

Thomas should be ready to go from a defensive angle next season. However, he has a ways to go on the offensive end and needs to continue to craft his body and have it look the way that the coaches want it to by November. He’s headed in the right direction.

But Manning is probably the best bet. The K-State coaches consider him to be a future All-Big 12 choice at some point in his career, he’s tough, he’s physical, he’s long, he’s explosive and he is committed to working as hard as necessary.

Manning won’t be a great scorer and shooter next season in all likelihood, but he’ll be a defensive weapon and one of the better rebounders.

Taj Manning/Kansas State Athletics

4. WHICH OF THE THREE K-STATE FRESHMEN IS READY TO BE A SOLID CONTRIBUTOR RIGHT AWAY?

DY: My initial instinct is to say RJ Jones. He plays the best, regular competition of the three after a year at Wasatch Academy against a national schedule. Kansas State needs wings that can shoot it, and he covers that department.

5. WHAT SURPRISED YOU MOST THIS BASKETBALL SEASON?

DY: The biggest surprise was probably a good one. I don’t think anyone thought K-State would have two All-Americans at the end of the season. The fact that Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson were that good is ultimately why the Wildcats were third in the Big 12 and advanced to the Elite Eight.

6. OVER OR UNDER 3.5 TRANSFER ADDS FOR BASKETBALL?

DY: I would lean towards over, but I’m not prepared or comfortable with saying who else could potentially exit the program. There might not be any more that leave or enter the transfer portal. However, Kansas State already has three openings, and the head coach revealed that conversations were still ongoing.

I’m just leaning on the percentages and not necessarily basing it off of inside information.

7. WHAT IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR KANSAS STATE IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL?

DY: Tang probably already shared it. K-State wants two stud guards that can play right away and have a ton of experience and have played in meaningful games and won a lot of games. And they want a more commanding and forceful big man that can defend, rebound and finish loudly around the rim.

8. WHAT IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR WILL HOWARD?

DY: The best case for the Kansas State starting quarterback is to take care of the ball, improve upon what he began to do last year for the offense, be more explosive in the passing game and throw with more anticipation.

I would imagine that Will Howard can be in the All-Big 12 discussion.

9. WILL THE K-STATE RECEIVERS BE READY?

DY: That is probably the biggest question for the K-State offense. They have an incredibly deep offensive line. Howard is back under center, Ben Sinnott is a weapon at tight end and the Wildcats should have a formidable duo in the backfield with DJ Giddens and Treshaun Ward.

The buzz on Keagan Johnson seems significant and genuine. I think they have a stud in the Iowa transfer, and he has impressed everyone in the Spring. Unfortunately, Jackson has missed most of the Spring. It’s good that Phillip Brooks returns and gives Howard a bit of a reliable security blanket that he knows well.

A lot will be asked of RJ Garcia, and the key may be how he holds up and contributes. How reliable can he be in his first full year of contributing and will his slender build have enough durability to not hit a proverbial wall or avoid the injury bug?

10. IF YOU HAD TO BUY STOCK IN ONE OF THE INCOMING FRESHMEN, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

DY: Avery Johnson. He has the highest ceiling of all the guys they signed, has a terrific arm, is a tremendous athlete and has really made a lot of progress already in his short time on the Manhattan campus. He wasn’t the highest-ranked signee by accident.

Klanderman gushed about him, too.

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