Jerome Tang is starting to feel the pressure, and tensions are rising in Manhattan (KS) after a disappointing 16-17 recording in 2024-25.
Going .500 simply isn’t good enough in the Big 12, especially after going to the Elite Eight in Year 1 and then landing players such as Coleman Hawkins and Achor Achor in the transfer portal last season.
With a pivotal season coming up, Tang and the Wildcats have landed one of the top available scorers in the transfer portal in Monmouth guard Abdi Bashir.
He started 23 games and appeared in 33 contests in 2024-25, averaging 20.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 33.2 minutes per game. Additionally, he shot 37.7% from the field and 38.3% from three, which he took 10.1 attempts from this year.
Bashir was named an All-CAA First-Team selection for his performance for the Hawks this past season. He’s capable of incredibly explosive performances, like the one he had against Rutgers in November. Bashir went 10-for-17 from the field and a career-high 38 points, and despite the loss, he was pretty much unstoppable.
Kansas State is coming off a disappointing season after going just 16-17 overall and 9-11 in Big 12 play.
