-
Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer
Former Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins, the best player left in the transfer portal, announced Friday that he has committed to Kansas State.
Hawkins visited the Wildcats’ campus last weekend after a scheduled trip to Louisville was canceled. An upcoming visit to LSU was also canceled, which left coach Jerome Tang’s program as the clear favorite.
The 6-foot-9 Hawkins is coming off his best college season, averaging 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He shot 36.9% from 3-point range and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as Illinois made the Elite Eight.
He played some of his best basketball in Big Ten action, finishing with 30 points against Iowa and scoring at least 20 in four other games.
After the season, Hawkins entered his name into the NBA draft before joining the transfer portal in late April. When he entered the portal, he said his “intention is 100% to stay in the draft.” But Hawkins withdrew his name right before the deadline and became the most sought-after transfer still on the board.
He is No. 10 in ESPN’s transfer rankings.
Tang has now added eight players from the portal this spring. He has completely revamped his frontcourt, also signing forward Achor Achor from Samford and shot-blocker Ugonna Onyenso from Kentucky. Michigan transfer Dug McDaniel will run the show as the point guard.
Kansas State took a step back in Year 2 under Tang, going from the Elite Eight in 2023 to missing the NCAA tournament in 2024. But the Wildcats’ rebuilt roster has them in position to get back to the tournament in 2024-25 — and potentially ranked in the Top 25.