Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang nabs MAC Player of the Year from transfer portal
Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang has added one of the top all-around guards in the transfer portal to the Wildcats' 2025-26 roster.
Akron guard Nate Johnson, the Mid-American Conference player of the year and defensive player of the year, announced his decision just days after entering the portal on April 17, choosing K-State over interest from Kansas, Kentucky and Indiana, among others.
Advertisement
Johnson, a 6-foot-3 junior from Liberty Township, Ohio, had a breakout junior season in helping Akron to a 28-7 record that included both MAC regular season and tournament championships and a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He led the Zips in scoring with 14 points per game while averaging 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals.
Johnson scored a career-high 31 points in the MAC Tournament semifinals against Toledo and added 22 points in the championship victory over Miami (Ohio). He scored 13 points in a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Arizona.
Related: Kansas State basketball big men Ugonna Onyenso and Baye Fall enter transfer portal
Related: Kansas State basketball transfer guard Brendan Hausen finds a new home in the Big Ten
Former Akron guard Nate Johnson (34) celebrates during the Mid-American Conference Tournament 2025 championship game against Miami-Ohio at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Johnson has committed to Kansas State for the 2025-26 season.
For the season, Johnson shot 43.9%, but just 30.1% from — a career low — 3-point range while knocking down 80.3% of his free throws.
Advertisement
Johnson is the third portal addition for the Wildcats, who earlier landed 6-9 forward Khamari McGriff from North Carolina-Wilmington and 6-7 guard Abdi Bashir from Monmouth.
But Tang still has at least three roster spots to fill after losing starting forwards David N'Guessan and Coleman Hawkins to graduation and five players — starting guards Dug McDaniel and Brendan Hausen, forwards Macaleab Rich and Baye Fall, and center Ugonna Onyenso — to the portal. Last week, high school forward Ashton Magee withdrew his commitment, leaving point guard Exavier Wilson as the lone incoming freshman.
The Wildcats still have four players left from last year's roster in guards David Castillo, CJ Johnson, Mobi Ikegwuruka, and forward Taj Manning. Memphis midyear transfer forward Tyreek Smith and starting guard Max Jones also could be back pending waiver decisions from the NCAA.
The transfer portal closes Tuesday, though players who enter by then can sign with a new school after that.
Kansas State basketball roster breakdown
Outgoing transfers
Macacleab Rich, sophomore forward
Brendan Hausen, junior guard (Iowa)
Dug McDaniel, junior guard
Ugonna Onyenso, junior center
Baye Fall, sophomore forward
Advertisement
Incoming transfers
Abdi Bashir, sophomore guard (Monmouth)
Khamari McGriff, junior forward (UNC-Wilmington)
Nate Johnson, junior guard (Akron)
Incoming freshmen
Exavier Wilson, guard
Returning players
Taj Manning, sophomore forward
CJ Jones, junior guard
Mobi Ikegwuruka, sophomore guard
David Castillo, freshman guard
Max Jones, super-senior guard*
Tyreek Smith, senior forward*
*Pending NCAA eligibility waiver
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball lands top all-around guard from MAC champion
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
An early look at the jersey numbers for Kentucky basketball
An early look at the jersey numbers for Kentucky basketball Mark Pope spent this offseason putting together a roster that many consider one of the country's best. They upgraded the defense, and brought in more high-level talents, adding them to a solid Freshman class, and a great group of returning players, including Otega Oweh, who removed his name from the NBA draft. The season is still a ways away, but there is plenty of excitement around the program. Pope took a squad that was cobbled together quickly to the Sweet 16 last season, so expectations are high. While fans wait for the season to get here, one of the fun parts of the summer is finding out the jersey numbers the players will wear. Kentucky hasn't released an official list yet, but there have been clues or reveals to many of them already. Here's a look at each player on the roster, and their expected number. These aren't official, and could be wrong, so take them with a grain of salt for now. Returning Players Otega Oweh Number- 00 There's no reason for Oweh to change his iconic number from last season. Fans are excited to see number 00 back on the court for his Senior season. Collin Chandler Number - 5 Chandler got better as the season wore on last year, and hit some big shots late in the season. He should be even better in year two. Trent Noah Number - 9 Noah is one of the home-grown talents on the team, and returns for his Sophomore season. His hustle and knack for making shots made him a fan favorite last year. Brandon Garrison Number - 10 The coaching staff is expecting big things from Garrison this season. He'll be one of the leaders on the team, and will get a chance to shine. The Freshmen Jasper Johnson Number - 2 If the number you've been wearing is available, you wear it. That's what Johnson, the talented guard recruit has done with the number two. Andrija Jelavic Number - 4 This is more of a prediction than fact, but Jelavic wears number four with his overseas team, and it's free, so it makes sense. Braydon Hawthorne Number - 22 Hawthorne was the last addition to the Kentucky roster, and a big recruiting win for Pope. Like Jasper Johnson, he wore #2 previously, so switching to 22 makes sense. Malachi Moreno Number - 24 Moreno will also stick with his high school number as a Wildcat. He is a multi-talented big man with loads of potential in Pope's offensive system. The Transfers Denzel Aberdeen Number - 1 It looks like Aberdeen will switch from 11 to 1 with the Wildcats. He was a big addition for Kentucky, and brings a multi-faceted skillset. Kam Williams Number - 3 This isn't official yet, but Williams wore number 3 at Tulane, and it's an open number, so it's likely that he'll keep it. He was Kentucky's first transfer commitment, and is a big-time shooter. Jaland Lowe Number - 15 Like Williams, keeping the number he's been wearing is likely for Lowe. He'll almost certainly be the starting point guard for the Wildcats, and looks to benefit from a more talented supporting cast. Jayden Quaintance Number - 21 Quaintance was number 21 at Arizona State, and will likely be number 21 at Kentucky. He is a potential superstar, and was a huge win for Pope and his staff. Mouhamed Dioubate Number - 23 This one is perhaps the most uncertain, but it has been reported that he'll take number 23. He wore number 10 at Alabama, but Garrison has that. Reece Potter Number - 33 Potter has worn numbers in the 30s in high school and at Miami (OH), so it's logical that he'll stay in that range. Number 33 is a great number if that's what he goes with.
Indianapolis Star
4 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
'We gave the crowd a game.' Indiana All-Stars, Kentucky set girls single-game scoring record in 2OT nail-biter
INDIANAPOLIS – After the marathon double-overtime battle between the girls Indiana All-Stars and Kentucky ended Saturday night inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Hamilton Southeastern's Maya Makalusky sat near the scorer's table to decompress. Exhausted after Indiana's 106-103 loss to rival Kentucky in the finale of the two-game series' 49th running, Makalusky didn't absorb her team's sweeping defeat as much as the overall experience. On Friday night at Lexington Catholic High School, the Indiana All-Stars girls lost 84-73 to Kentucky by the series' largest single-game margin since 2022. The next evening back in the Hoosier State, Indiana attempted to stave off Kentucky's first series sweep since 2012 and 10th all-time since 1977. Following a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Laila Abdurraqib (Lawrence Central/New Mexico) at the end of regulation to tie the score 76-76, it seemed Indiana had the momentum on its side. Indiana's 11-4 run to deadlock the game countered Kentucky's 17-5 run that erased an earlier five-point deficit. However, two five-minute bonus quarters proved enough time for Kentucky Miss Basketball's ZaKiyah Johnson (Louisville Sacred Heart/Louisiana State) to secure the sweep. Johnson tied the score in overtime by sinking 3-of-3 free throws in the final seven seconds after drawing contact on a desperation 3-point heave at the top of the key, and she dropped in eight of her game-high 34 points in the double overtime to lock down the win. Johnson set a new single-game series record for points scored by besting both Kentucky's Amiya Jenkins (31 in 2022) and Indiana's Tiffany Gooden (1994) while establishing a two-game record with 62 points to again beat Gooden's mark of 55. Makalusky, the 2025 IndyStar Indiana Miss Basketball honoree, had a team-high 29 points. The Indiana University commit finished with 47 points for both games before fouling out with 27.4 seconds remaining in the final bonus period. She was named the Hoosier Shooting Academy MVP. 'Obviously, we have nothing to hang our heads about,' said Makalusky, who posted a team-high 14 rebounds with two assists and three steals. 'I mean, we got double overtime. We played hard, and we should be proud of what we gave.' What the Indiana and Kentucky All-Stars gave the downtown Indianapolis crowd was a historic show. Marking the series' first double-overtime game and third overtime contest in history. Saturday's game set a new single-game record for combined points scored at 209, while adding new standards for most combined field goals (72) that broke the record of 68 in 1994. Kentucky's 106 points were the most scored by the neighboring All-Stars in a single game. The previous high was 101 in 2008 and 2022. 'We gave the crowd a game, and it's all you could ask for,' Makalusky said. 'It's super exciting, and it's great to see girls sports having their moment and the amount of support. Obviously, we want to go out winning, but at the end of the day, we have nothing to hand our heads about. The energy was up, and we were ready.' Indiana led 16-15 after the first quarter and carried a 35-32 lead into halftime. Indiana took a 45-42 advantage in the third quarter on an and-1 layup by Makalusky and were up 53-48 entering the fourth. In the game's final five minutes of regulation Kentucky's run created a whirlwind 15 minutes of tug-of-war with 13 ties and 13 lead changes. Peyton Bradley (Meade County/Louisville) had 26 points, eight assists, five steals and seven rebounds for Kentucky as one of four players in double figures. Abdurraqib finished with 11 points, four assists and eight rebounds. Indiana had five players with 10 or more points, including Jaylah Lampley (Lawrence Central/Mississippi State) and Addison Baxter (Columbia City/Butler) with 17 each. Monique Mitchell (South Bend Washington/Akron) had 10, while Brooke Winchester (Warsaw/Ball State) had 11 rebounds and eight points. Kya Hurt (Lawrence North/Illinois State) dished out a team-high seven assists with eight points and three steals. 'I'm just glad I finally got to play on this team with everybody and enjoy this moment,' Hurt said. 'We wanted this one really bad, especially because it went to double overtime. I was excited because we got a chance to play again and try to win the game.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jasper cruises past Central for its 27th regional title
JASPER, Ind. (WEHT) — Kai Kunz spins a complete game shutout to help Jasper take down Central 6-0 and advance to the semi-state semifinals. The Wildcats will play Greensburg in the opening round of semi-state play. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
