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Grant Flanders
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Basketball Roster & Recruiting Center (6.6.21)
Check out an updated basketball Roster & Recruiting Center.
HS - Logan Landers (signed)
HS - Maximus Edwards (signed)
Transfer - Mark Smith (signed)
Transfer - Markquis Nowell (signed)
Transfer - Ismael Massoud (signed)
Scholarships to Fill: 0
Current # of scholarship players + Mike (free year) for 2021-22 season: 14
High School additions:
Logan Landers:
NOTE: The first commitment of the class came from Wisconsin big Logan Landers in October of 2020. Landers singed with the Wildcats in November. He is a skilled big at 6-foot-9 that can play at both the '4' and the '5'. He provides a combination of size, ball handling, and shooting. It will be interesting to see what lengths the K-State strength and conditioning can take Landers as that is one area he does need some work. He won't see the floor a bunch as a freshman, but he will provide a small amount of value off the bench if he isn't redshirted. His defense will be a project, but his offensive ability should show through rather quickly.
What it means: Logan Landers commits
Ten things you need to know about Logan Landers, the first commit of Kansas State's 2021 class.
Maximus Edwards:
NOTE: Maximus Edwards verbally committed to the Wildcats early in 2021 and signed in the spring. As an under the radar recruit, K-State offered him in Aug. 2020 and made a push for him once they saw him play in the Grind Session with Our Saviour Lutheran this winter. The staff sees Edwards as someone who could make an instant impact, but that shouldn't be necessary. As a bigger wing he should have the versatility to play the '3' and small-ball '4' seamlessly. He is known for his athleticism and ability to play above the rim, especially on the fast break. His jumper is best off the catch but he does have an in between game that includes turnarounds and dribble up mid-range jumpers. There is still a lot of unknowns as far as how he will translate to the Big 12 level, but K-State saw something in him while many other schools and recruiting services have struggled evaluating Edwards during the pandemic. With the current makeup of the team Edwards role shouldn't have to be robust, but if he is capable enough, he could carve out a decent role. Until he proves he's ready, there are plenty of other mouths to feed at '3' and the '4' in the 2021-2022 season.
Signature Spotlight: Maximus Edwards
Learn more about Kansas State forward signee Maximus Edwards.
Transfer additions:
Mark Smith
NOTE: Mark Smith could have been a Wildcat the first time he transferred from a school. Smith was in the portal after his freshman stint at Illinois years ago. The Wildcats couldn't take on his scholarship at that time, so he chose Missouri. After three seasons in Columbus, he decided it was the right time for him to move on once again. Associate head coach Chris Lowery had recruited the combo wing out of high school building a great relationship with Smith even long before then making this decision that much easier for the Edwardsville, Illinois native. Smith has a good all around game. He's not elite at any one thing, but he has a solid jumper, handle, and decent athleticism. He has good size in a 6-foot-5 frame. With four seasons already completed at the high major level, he has a real chance to be one of the better pieces for the Wildcats in his final year of eligibility and I'd be shocked if he wasn't a day one starter.
Mark Smith College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Mark Smith - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more
www.sports-reference.com
What it means: Mark Smith transfers to K-State
Ten things you need to know about Mark Smith, the first transfer of the Kansas State 2021 class.
RELEASE: Weber Announces the Addition of Transfer Mark Smith
Head coach Bruce Weber and associate head coach Chris Lowery comment on the Mark Smith addition
Markquis Nowell
NOTE: Markquis Nowell chose the mid major route out of high school when he did hold offers from several high major schools. He played three seasons at Arkansas Little-Rock, with his sophomore season being his most impressive as he received first team All-Sunbelt honors. His junior year was a shakier path as locker room issues arose for Nowell and he felt it was best to opt-out of the program mid-season and enter the transfer portal. Assistant coach Shane Southwell having known Nowell before he even became a coach, gave K-State an opportunity to bring the experienced and talented guard into the fold. Nowell has tremendous on court speed and excellent handle of the basketball. He is a capable playmaker and on defense he is better than his size would suggest. He is a pest on that end and will do all he has to do make the ball handler uncomfortable. Being the shortest guy on the floor most, if not every night, means Nowell will still have his disadvantages on both ends at times. I think his skill can outweigh those disadvantages, enough to get him on the floor for about 20 minutes per game. I think he will come off the bench and give Nijel Pack another very capable ball handler and playmaker the Wildcats can turn to in the rotation. Nowell has two years of eligibility remaining.
Markquis Nowell College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Markquis Nowell - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more
www.sports-reference.com
What it means: Markquis Nowell transfers to K-State
The goods on K-State hoops addition Markquis Nowell, the second transfer and fourth commit of the 2021 cycle.
Q&A with transfer addition Markquis Nowell
Transfer point guard Makquis Nowell discussed his commitment to Kansas State in detail with KSO
RELEASE: Weber Announces the Addition of Transfer Markquis Nowell
Coaches Bruce Weber and Shane Southwell discuss the
Ismael Massoud
NOTE: The final addition to the recruiting cycle could be viewed as the best. Ismael Massoud is a good offensive stretch four that, without Southwell's services, would have been a long shot to land. He played two seasons at Wake Forest in the ACC and comes to the Wildcats with three years of eligibility remaining. He is a skilled '4' with the ability to score at tall three levels. Massoud's shooting ability from outside at the collegiate level has already been proven along with his ability to knock down turnaround mid-range jumpers. At Wake Forest he was used at the '5' for much of his sophomore season and was a major reason for transferring away. At K-State Massoud will mostly be used as a stretch four, and should never have to matchup with a guy much bigger than him. I think he is capable of starting, but in year one I think it is more likely he comes off the bench in a heavy rotational role. His defense and ability to finish at the rim are the biggest question marks that could quickly be put to rest, depending just how good Massoud turns out to be.
Ismael Massoud College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Ismael Massoud - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more
www.sports-reference.com
What it means: Ismael Massoud transfers to K-State
What the addition of stretch four transfer Ismael Massoud of Wake Forest means for Bruce Weber and Kansas State.
Q&A: New basketball addition Ismael Massoud
New transfer addition Ismael Massoud discusses his decision to leave Wake Forest for Kansas State.
RELEASE: Weber Announces the Addition of Transfer Ismael Massoud
Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of transfer Ismael Massoud
NOTE: Unless there is anymore attrition to the roster, which I don’t anticipate, it is onto the Class of 2022 and beyond. For now there is one scholarship to fill in that class as Mark Smith’s will come available when he exits the program next spring. Remember Mike McGuirl’s won’t count against the 2021-2022 scholarship tally. I think we can assume maybe a spot or two likely opens up on top of the Mark Smith exit meaning there could be as many as 2 or 3 available scholarships to fill next off-season. But that is a ways away and honestly not easy to predict at this moment in time. Expect more offers to roll in for both 2022 and 2023 prospects.
ANALYSIS: Kansas State finished the 2021 cycle on a strong note. Only a month after the season completed and the staff lands three instant impact transfers. That is not something I expected out of Bruce Weber and the Wildcats, and in turn really proves they could make things work in this "transfer era" of basketball. They had never used the portal at this level before. They saw the need to bring in some instant talent following two dreadful seasons and the exit of DaJuan Gordon. They added guys like Nowell and Massoud who could play multiple seasons in Manhattan while upgrading the Gordon departure by landing Mark Smith who brings instant experience they were desperate for in the 2020-2021 season. It was a do or die type of offseason, and the staff delivered. Now the question is just how good they will be. With a full offseason to prepare and the newcomers coming to campus in the summer, it will give the Wildcats plenty of time to make a plan of attack in order to compete in the tough Big 12 once again.
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