School is out, summer is in full swing, and players are still committing through the transfer portal. The latest commitment came from PJ Haggerty after he withdrew from the NBA Draft and decided to head to Manhattan, Kansas, and play for the Kansas State Wildcats. His commitment gives head coach Jerome Tang a star player to hopefully get the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament again. Haggerty is arguably the best player ever to play for Coach Tang and instantly makes the Wildcats a contender in the Big 12.
Kansas State made a deep run into the tournament during the first season under head coach Tang, and it has been tough sledding since then. Last season, the Wildcats limped to an overall losing record, one of the more confounding things of the basketball season. The Wildcats had an incredible roster highlighted by Dug McDaniel and Coleman Hawkins, but the depth was bad, and they struggled on the offensive end for most of the season.
Coach Tang isn't on the hot seat yet, but with more losing seasons, he may find himself on the hot seat in the future. The Wildcats have already had an enormous offseason and added a ton of talent to help them win many games. Marcus Johnson is a talented big man who can dominate in the paint on offense and on the glass. Khamari McGriff is a defensive big man who shoots a high percentage at the basket and is a rim protector.
The frontcourt was already upgraded, but the Wildcats desperately needed guys who could score. Coach Tang got a commitment from Abdi Bashir Jr., one of the nation's leaders in three-point makes—Nate Johnson from Akron. Johnson was the MAC player and the MAC defensive player of the year. He will be an instant upgrade over anyone that Coach Tang had in the backcourt last season. The Wildcats already had quite a haul in the portal before adding Haggerty.
Haggerty was one of the game's true stars last season at Memphis. The guard averaged over 21 points per game last season, which was good for third overall in the country. In addition to his ability to score, he also averaged six rebounds and four assists. There isn't anything he can't do, and he arrives in Manhattan as one of the favorites for the conference Player of the Year and will likely be an All-American. Â
Over the last two seasons, the Wildcats had too many times where they had a lull on the offensive end. They had too many scoring droughts that changed the course of games, often for the worse for Coach Tang. As mentioned, Haggerty is an elite scorer and is a player who can make sure that the Wildcats get a basket when they need one and will be able to carry them at times. The current roster for Kansas State looks like one built to make a deep run in March. Many things can change, but the addition of Haggerty should be just what the doctor ordered to cure what ails the Wildcats program. After a win, I am ready for more viral videos of the Kansas State locker room.