K-State’s Dean Wade is finally healthy: ‘I went out there and dunked one first thing’

When Kansas State coaches informed Dean Wade he was cleared to return to basketball practice after four months on the sideline because of an injured left foot, he immediately informed his teammates of the good news.

His delivery method was memorable.

“I went out there and dunked one first thing,” Wade said. “I was laughing and so excited. Then I went and talked trash to some of the players, telling them I was back.”

The Wildcats are glad to have Wade back at full strength, or something close to it. The senior forward was K-State’s best all-around player last season, averaging a team-high 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds on his way to first-team all-Big 12 honors. But he was a non-factor during the NCAA Tournament, playing just eight minutes during the team’s run to the Elite Eight.

K-State coach Bruce Weber said Wade suffered a stress reaction in his left foot during a Big 12 Tournament victory over TCU. Both sides took a cautious approach during Wade’s recovery. So much so, that he was only permitted to shoot free throws until earlier this month.

Though Wade is proud to say he can now make 75 in a row from the foul line, he is happy to once again focus on all areas of his game.

“I think I am close to where I was before the injury,” Wade said. “It’s just that I have been out for so long I have to get myself back into the whole timing and pace of everything. I’m getting used to how fast practice is moving. It’s a transition, but I don’ think it is going to be too hard.”

Three weeks into the process, and he is already looking for ways to improve on his breakthrough junior season.

As good as he was, he could be even better. Weber has stressed the importance of rebounding, and Wade hopes to approach double-double numbers as a senior.

“That is really his main focus for me,” Wade said. “I just have to work hard in the weight room this offseason and gain some strength. Also, just read the ball better and figure out where the ball is going to bounce. I’m going to go after every rebound. Last year, I didn’t go after every rebound, only the ones that went in my area. That is a big thing for me, to go out of my area and get all the rebounds.”

But that’s not all he’s working on.

“Ball handling is probably my biggest thing right now,” Wade said. “I’m trying to make myself a more versatile player. I’m working on my ball handling to go right more, and shooting over my left shoulder, things like that. I don’t know if I will be able to play point guard, but I want to be able to help with pressure situations and be able to take the outlet pass up the floor.”

Staying aggressive will also be important. Wade got off to a so-so start last season and looked like he might play second fiddle to Barry Brown and Kamau Stokes. Then he erupted for 34 points in the Big 12 opener against Iowa State and became the focal point of the offense after Stokes went down because of a broken foot.

Wade shed the pass-first ways of his past and became one of the nation’s most efficient players last season, shooting 44 percent from three-point range and 59 percent from two-point range.

The Wildcats return all five starters from last season and added impact forward Austin Trice, but Wade will need to keep shooting, even if there are more mouths to feed.

“That won’t be a problem,” Wade said. “Everyone is really confident in me right now. Me being aggressive is going to open up more stuff for Kamau and Barry and help the team, all the way around.”

He may also need to play smarter. Wade will be a marked man next season. Opposing coaches will design their defensive strategies around stopping him.

That could take some getting used to.

“You still have to come out and make the right plays,” Wade said. “You aren’t going to score 20 every game. I understand that. But there are games where you can have nine assists. If you focus on defense, offense will come. I’m just going to focus on defense and playing hard. If other teams double-team me, I will work to create opportunities for my teammates.”

By now, Wade has certainly proven himself as a team-first player. He didn’t complain while he watched K-State beat Creighton and UMBC in the NCAA Tournament and then only played eight minutes against Kentucky. To this day, he says “it was amazing just to be a miniscule part of that whole thing.” Yes, he would have rather played. But he was proud of his teammates and happy to support from the bench.

He is also proud of the way they have ramped up the intensity of pickup games and workouts this summer. Mike McGuirl, Xavier Sneed and Trice have been particularly impressive, Wade said.

“This is probably the most intense offseason I have ever been a part of,” he said. “Coaches are pushing us more than they have in the past and players are pushing themselves way more than we have in the past. I thought we wouldn’t be able to top the work we put in last season, but we are at an even higher level right now.”

Wade is happy to be back in that mix, and eager to deliver more dunks and trash talk.

This story was originally published July 23, 2018 at 11:43 AM.