As college basketball teams from across the country work to finalize their rosters ahead of the 2024-25 season, Coleman Hawkins stood as the biggest remaining prize, a proven contributor from a winning program who could be a much-needed final piece for a team with Final Four or national championship aspirations.
Now, the Illinois transfer has found a new home — and, because of it, the outlook for Kansas State looks that much brighter.
Hawkins, universally regarded as the best available player in the transfer portal, has committed to Jerome Tang and the Wildcats, news that first broke Friday morning and was later confirmed by Hawkins himself on social media.
REQUIRED READING: How Kansas State football upgraded its 2024 roster through the transfer portal
Hawkins’ pledge comes about one week after he completed a visit to Kansas State, a trip that occurred after Hawkins’ previously scheduled visit to Louisville was canceled. Shortly before his commitment to the Wildcats, Hawkins also reportedly canceled a visit to LSU, signaling that he was likely headed to Manhattan.
A versatile 6-foot-10 forward, Hawkins was an integral piece for an Illinois team that went 29-9 last season and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where it lost to eventual national champion UConn.
He was an Associated Press second-team all-Big Ten selection while starting each of the 35 games in which he played. On a talented Illini team featuring a pair of first-team all-Big Ten honorees in Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask, he was third in scoring, tied for first in rebounding, first in steals and first in blocks.
Hawkins has played four seasons of college basketball, but due to an NCAA waiver granted to every player who took part in the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season, he has one more season of eligibility.
With Hawkins aboard, an already robust transfer portal haul for Kansas State becomes that much more enticing. Hawkins is the Wildcats’ eighth transfer addition this offseason,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/coleman-hawkins-stats-247-ranking-175737136.html
Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal
Publish date : 2024-06-14 17:57:37
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