Keep an eye on these transfer targets as Kansas State basketball recruiting heats up

Jerome Tang is staying true to his word.

The Kansas State men’s basketball coach promised to take a patient approach as he worked to add a trio of impact transfers this spring, and the Wildcats are still methodically exploring their options in the middle of April.

But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening in the world of K-State recruiting.

Two notable transfers who expressed interest in the Wildcats have committed to other schools. Meanwhile, a few other players have begun to emerge as potential key targets for Tang and his staff.

Here’s a look at where Tang may look next as he works to replace Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell and reload after a sensational first season in Manhattan:

Oral Roberts guard in high demand

Little has been reported about Max Abmas since the senior guard entered the NCAA transfer portal late last month, but no news could be good news for K-State.

Abmas, a 6-foot and 174-pound guard, is coming off a season in which he averaged 21.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4 assists for the Golden Eagles.

He figures to be one of the hottest commodities in the transfer portal this cycle after he helped Oral Roberts reach the NCAA Tournament this season.

Tang should know all about him, as he grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and played for former Baylor assistant Paul Mills at ORU.

There is thought to be mutual interest between Abmas and K-State, which could lead to a recruiting visit, and possibly more, in the coming weeks.

Hofstra guard lists K-State in his top four

Aaron Estrada could help replace much of the production that Nowell brought to the court last season at point guard.

The 6-foot-3 senior guard is looking for a new home after he averaged 20.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season at Hofstra. Estrada has experienced college basketball from every angle, having played at Saint Peter’s, Oregon and then spending the past two years at Hofstra.

He is looking to finish out his college career in a power conference, and he has trimmed his list down to four schools. Estrada is considering Kansas State along with Alabama, Cincinnati and Florida State.

Estrada seems to be taking a quicker approach to his recruitment than other players listed here, so he could be K-State’s first portal addition of the spring if he ends up picking the Wildcats.

North Texas guard could be in the mix

Tylor Perry is looking for a new basketball home after he helped North Texas win the NIT this past season.

The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a sophomore with the Mean Green. His skills could translate well in the Big 12. Many coaches, including new Texas Tech head man Grant McCasland, will be interested in his services.

Don’t be surprised if K-State makes an impression on him. Assistant coach Jareem Dowling helped recruit Perry to North Texas when he worked there two seasons ago.

There will be quite a bit of competition for his services, though. Perry is also considering Arkansas, Baylor, Creighton, Florida, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and others.

K-State might take a look at a Kansas City native

The Wildcats recruited Tamar Bates before he ended up at Indiana. Now that the Kansas City native is in the transfer portal he could look to play somewhere closer to home like K-State or Missouri.

Bates averaged 6.1 points and 1.6 rebounds for the Hoosiers last season.

Virginia big man lists K-State in his top five

Tang wants to add two experienced guards to the K-State roster this spring, but he is also in the market for a versatile center.

That makes Kadin Shedrick an intriguing option out of Virginia. The 6-foot-11 junior forward averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds with the Cavaliers last season. He is also a former teammate of David N’Guessan.

Shedrick has trimmed his list down to five possible transfer destinations, and K-State is one of them. The other four are Duke, Missouri, Texas and Xavier.

Off the board

K-State fans can stop dreaming about L.J. Cryer wearing purple next season. The Baylor sharpshooter expressed interest in the Wildcats after he entered the transfer portal but he decided to commit to Houston after touring the Cougars’ campus this weekend.

Houston transfer Tramon Mark is also off the board to Arkansas after he showed interest in K-State.