Jerome Tang thinks Kansas State has winning team with or without adding new transfers

Jerome Tang would like to add three more incoming transfers to Kansas State’s basketball roster before the Wildcats head abroad for a string of exhibition games in the Middle East this summer.

But he is in no rush to sign anyone right now.

Truth be told, he is content to enter next season with just 10 scholarship players if the right transfer options fail to present themselves in the next few weeks. He is recruiting at his preferred pace, even though other teams have already raided the portal.

“This is what we planned for,” Tang said earlier this week at a Catbackers event in Salina. “I think we can be a good basketball team with the 10 guys on our roster. I think if we can add the right three guys we can be a special team. With 10 guys you don’t have any margin with injuries and errors. If we can add three more then all of a sudden an injury doesn’t hurt you, that kind of thing.”

Tang has a wish list for the transfer portal.

Most of all, he wants to find a veteran guard who can score to pair with Tylor Perry and Cam Carter in the K-State backcourt. Secondly, he is looking to add a versatile forward or center who can make plays on both ends of the floor. Thirdly, he would prioritize someone who can play on the wing.

“The next best available,” tang said. “That is how we view that one.”

Tang is proceeding as if Nae’Qwan Tomlin will return for another season of college basketball and Keyontae Johnson will remain in the NBA Draft. A surprise decision from either player could change the roster math.

One of the main reasons that Tang can afford to be patient with the transfer portal is that the Wildcats have already landed a prized commitment. North Texas guard Tylor Perry was one of their top priorities this spring and K-State beat out schools like Florida, Mississippi and Texas Tech for him.

Perry averaged 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Mean Green last season. K-State coaches think he is well equipped to fill the void left by Markquis Nowell.

“I am excited that he is here and he gets a chance to play in front of the crowd at Bramlage Coliseum,” K-State assistant Jareem Dowling said. “They are going to love his energy. He is going to show flashes of Markquis. I wouldn’t say they are brothers, but they are first cousins with all their similarities.”

Perry shot 41.3% from three-point range last season. The Wildcats will definitely lean on him as an outside shooter.

“He’s a big shot maker, man,” Dowling said. “You need somebody that has done that over and over. This might sound crazy, but I will put his shot-making ability at the end of the game (up against anybody). He probably got more big shots in the last two years or so than LeBron (James). He makes shots, and he makes them when it matters.”

With Perry in the fold, K-State currently sits at No. 45 in Bart Torvik’s national preseason rankings. The additions of more transfers would boost that number. But Tang likes the group he has right now.

K-State is coming off a sensational first season under Tang in which the Wildcats won 26 games and reached the Elite Eight. Cam Carter and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are both returning starters. David N’Guessan is also back after serving as a key forward on last year’s team. Expectations are high for Taj Manning and Jerrell Colbert as they come off a redshirt season.

Dai Dai Ames, RJ Jones and Macaleab Rich are also promising freshmen.

Tang has spoken highly of two returning players.

“I expect Cam to take a leap in his consistency,” Tang said. “We saw him be a double-figure scorer from time to time, and then there were some games where he just wasn’t making an impact. I expect him to have an impact on every game, both scoring and defending. He could be an all-league defender and I have seen him shoot the ball well. Now I am expecting that consistently.”

Carter averaged 6.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists last season.

Jerrell Colbert, a 6-foot-10 center from Houston, can also be a difference-maker if he continues to improve this summer.

“It’s going to be his first season playing, so there are going to be some highs and lows,” Tang said. “But I expect him to be in the rotation and to make an impact. He can do more than just block shots, rim run and catch lobs. I don’t know that he needs to do more than that next year. I want to see him play and contribute minutes every game.”

As it stands right now, K-State could put together a nice starting five capable of entering next season with upside.

Tang is ready to win with this group, but he is also holding out hope that he can add a few more impact transfers the same way he did last year with Desi Sills and Johnson.