Jerome Tang prevents a protest at K-State by asking fans to pray for Nae’Qwan Tomlin
Jerome Tang appears to have a calming effect on Kansas State basketball fans.
A day after 6-foot-10 senior forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin was dismissed from the Wildcats, a small group of fans gathered on campus to express their frustrations about his mid-season exit from the team in the form of a protest.
But then Tang showed up and the crowd, which had assembled in support of Tomlin, dispersed. He offered a suggestion to the group, according to a video from Topeka TV station KSNT.
“Lots of prayers for Nae’Qwan,” Tang told the crowd. “Everybody around here.”
K-State assistant basketball coach Jareem Dowling was also on hand to convince the crowd that there was a better way to handle things. They both could be heard advising the group to “spread love.”
“Let’s change that energy and get those academics done,” Dowling said. “On to the next.”
Tensions have been running high at K-State this week as speculation has raged over the future of Tomlin.
The talented forward was arrested for “disorderly conduct” and “fighting or brawling” in October, and he had been serving an indefinite suspension ever since. He was granted diversion in the case in November, which led some to believe he was on track to return to the team before the start of Big 12 play. But that never happened.
K-State students voiced their frustrations about his prolonged absence by chanting “We want Nae’Qwan” at games and then by protesting outside of the on-campus house of university president Richard Linton.
But the ordeal came to an end on Wednesday when athletic director Gene Taylor announced that Tomlin was being booted off the roster.
Another day of protests could have followed. But Tang helped put a stop to that.
Tomlin has not played in a single game this season. Much was expected of him after he helped the Wildcats win 26 games and reach the Elite Eight last year. But it turns out his time at K-State is done.
In all likelihood, Tomlin will either enter the NCAA transfer portal and search for a new college basketball home in the coming weeks. He could also look to turn pro.
K-State is off to a 7-2 start this season without him. The Wildcats will next be in action on Saturday at LSU.