Meet the 2016-17 Wildcat men’s team
1 Carlbe Ervin
Height: 6-3
Weight: 202
Class: Senior
Hometown (previous school): Oklahoma City (Connors State College)
So far: He wasn’t the impact player he hoped in his first season, but the former junior-college transfer did provide depth at point guard after Kamau Stokes got hurt.
What he adds: Bruce Weber thinks Ervin may be the most improved player on the team. He played hurt last season. Now that he is healthy, he should provide solid guard minutes off the bench.
2 Cartier Diarra
Height: 6-4
Weight: 180
Class: Freshman
Hometown (previous school): Florence, S.C. (West Florence)
What he adds: K-State announced months ago that Diarra would miss the season with a knee injury, but he has recovered so quickly that he may be able to play half the year.
3 Kamau Stokes
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Class: Sophomore
Hometown (previous school): Baltimore (Fork Union Military Academy)
So far: K-State started 13-8 with Stokes starting at point guard. Then he got hurt and the Wildcats finished 4-8.
What he adds: Stokes is K-State’s best ballhandler and one of its best shooters. When he is at his best, so are the Wildcats.
4 D.J. Johnson
Height: 6-9
Weight: 237
Class: Senior
Hometown (previous school): St. Louis (Parkway North)
So far: Johnson finally recovered from nagging foot injuries last season and emerged as K-State’s top big man.
What he adds: A true inside presence. Johnson is a throwback forward, the type of player that thrives on scoring at the rim and fighting for rebounds. His style is rarely aesthetically pleasing, but he does dirty work.
5 Barry Brown
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Class: Sophomore
Hometown (previous school): St. Petersburg, Fla. (Gibbs)
So far: Brown helped K-State at point guard and shooting guard as a freshman, becoming one of the Big 12’s top scoring freshman along the way.
What he adds: Brown has more confidence than anyone else on K-State’s roster. He isn’t afraid to take chances, and the Wildcats need more players like that.
10 Isaiah Maurice
Height: 6-10
Weight: 225
Class: Freshman
Hometown (previous school): Durham, N.C. (Bull City Prep)
What he adds: Maurice is one of K-State’s most versatile players on offense. He can shoot from the outside and score inside.
11 Brian Patrick
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200
Class: Freshman
Hometown (previous school): Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Boyd Anderson)
What he adds: Patrick may be K-State’s best outside shooter. Expect him to make some three-pointers in his first season.
12 Mason Schoen
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Class: Junior
Hometown (previous school): Overland Park (BV Northwest)
So far: Schoen has been one of K-State’s best walk-ons. He can deliver when Weber calls on him.
What he adds: Experience and defense.
13 Zach Winter
Height: 6-3
Weight: 208
Class: Senior
Hometown (previous school): Andover (Hutchinson Community College)
So far: The walk-on guard is good for a few solid minutes at the end of blowouts.
What he adds: Winter is a dependable player in practice.
15 Dante Williams
Height: 7-0
Weight: 245
Class: Freshman
Hometown (previous school): Arlington, Texas (Bowie)
What he adds: Williams is the best shot-blocker Weber has had in years.
20 Xavier Sneed
Height: 6-5
Weight: 210
Class: Freshman
Hometown (previous school): Florissant, Mo. (Hazelwood Central)
What he adds: Sneed is the highest-rated recruit in K-State’s freshman class. He should provide a nice scoring punch and perimeter defense as a starter or reserve.
21 James Love
Height: 6-10
Weight: 230
Class: Freshman
Hometown (previous school): Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (American Heritage)
What he adds: Love was expected to provide depth and limited minutes inside. Instead, he will sit out the season with a redshirt while he recovers from a broken foot.
24 Pierson McAtee
Height: 6-6
Weight: 200
Class: Freshman
Hometown (previous school): Manhattan (Manhattan)
What he adds: A local walk-on, few players have more passion for K-State basketball than McAtee.
25 Wesley Iwundu
Height: 6-7
Weight: 205
Class: Senior
Hometown (previous school): Houston (Westfield)
So far: Iwundu is K-State’s best-known player. He has been around long enough to play in the NCAA Tournament and has contributed in three straight seasons.
What he adds: The Wildcats need a go-to scorer and Iwundu is a prime candidate to take over that role. He spent the offseason improving his jump shot and appears poised for a breakthrough season in his final go-around.
32 Dean Wade
Height: 6-10
Weight: 230
Class: Sophomore
Hometown (previous school): St. John (St. John)
So far: Wade was one of the Big 12’s best freshmen last season and a regular in K-State’s starting lineup.
What he adds: Few players have as much upside as Wade. The former four-star recruit can be a matchup nightmare on the perimeter. If he can learn to play with confidence, he could lead K-State in scoring.
35 Austin Budke
Height: 6-6
Weight: 227
Class: Senior
Hometown (previous school): Beloit (Hutchinson Community College)
So far: A walk-on, Budke entered K-State’s rotation last season when the team was short on size.
What he adds: Energy, and lots of it. Bruce Weber rarely raves about Budke’s stat line, but his hard-nosed playing style helps the Wildcats in many ways.
45 Kade Kinnamon
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Class: Sophomore
Hometown (previous school): St. John (St. John)
So far: Kinnamon, a walk-on, has helped K-State behind the scenes in practice.
What he adds: An in-state presence that will do whatever is asked of him to help the team.
This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Meet the 2016-17 Wildcat men’s team."