Jerome Tang likes Kansas State’s five newcomers, but he is still looking to add more
Jerome Tang has added five new players to the Kansas State basketball roster this offseason.
In his mind, that group of newcomers is enough to make the Wildcats competitive in the Big 12, and possibly beyond, next year. But Tang is always looking for ways to make his team better. So don’t think for even one moment that he is done recruiting for the 2023 cycle. K-State still has two open scholarships, and Tang intends to fill them at some point this summer.
“If we don’t sign anybody else, I feel like we have got a group that can get us to the NCAA Tournament,” Tang said Thursday. “But our goal is not the NCAA Tournament. So we’ll keep grinding, turning over every rock to make sure that we find the right guys.”
Tang has a wish list in mind should K-State find two more players worthy of a roster spot.
His top priority is a veteran guard from the transfer portal. He also wants a versatile and experienced big man, but he is not married to that idea. If the Wildcats find a talented transfer or recruit in the next few weeks they will look to add him regardless of his position. Tang says he wants to round out his second K-State team with “the best available player.”
Do they absolutely, positively have to sign more prospects? No. Remember, the Wildcats kept three of their 13 players on the sideline last season with redshirts and that didn’t stop them from winning 26 games or reaching the Elite Eight. K-State could be just fine with 11 players.
But it could be much stronger with 13.
“Our margin for error right now is very small,” Tang said. “So the goal is to add a couple more guys. That is going to give us a bigger margin for error and that’s going to add some firepower to our offense.”
It is certainly exciting to think about how good the Wildcats could be next season with two extra pieces on their roster.
K-State’s five incoming players all figure to make an immediate impact of some sort.
Tang shared his thoughts on each of them while speaking to reporters this week.
On North Texas guard transfer Tylor Perry: “He is a big-time winner. He won national championship in junior college, he won a NIT championship and a pair of conference championships at North Texas. And he might be a better person than he is a player. He has always got a smile on his face and has great energy. We’re really excited to have him. He’s going to take on a leadership role, because of his experience and his personality.”
On Creighton wing transfer Arthur Kaluma: “Obviously he was a big-time get for us. He was in two NCAA Tournaments at Creighton and could have been in a Final Four had a call gone the other way at the end of a game. We just love the fact that he’s won at a high level and he cares about winning. He’s extremely versatile and he can score in a variety of ways. He’s a versatile defender who rebounds the basketball.”
On freshman guard Darrin Ames: “His body is in shape. He’s a hard worker. He has got a lot of stuff to his game. But, just like all three of our young guys, he’s a freshman so it’s going to take him a little time. But we’re excited about Dai Dai.”
On freshman forward Rich Macaleab: “He is a physical specimen with a lot of gifts and talents. He is working real hard to get himself in college basketball shape, which is a lot different than high school. But he’s a great worker and a fun kid to be around.”
On freshman guard Robert Jones: “Obviously he is a gifted scorer who can play at a high level. With all three of these guys there is an adjustment period that is going to take place. But RJ is the kind of kid that he could play 10 minutes and have nine points because he’s such a gifted shooter and scorer.”