Chances are you won’t recognize Kansas State men’s basketball when it takes the floor for the first time this month.
That’s because, with 11 newcomers this season, K-State brings an almost completely different look to Bramlage Coliseum in 2024-25 — highlighted by a completely new group of guards.
Here’s a quick look into each K-State guard signed by head coach Jerome Tang in the offseason.
Max Jones, SG, Cal State Fullerton
Jones, a 6-foot-4 guard, averaged 15.3 points per game for the Titans of California State University, Fullerton last year.
Profiling primarily as a scorer, Jones posted a clip of 39.5% from beyond the arc, addressing a major need for the team in the offseason. He selected K-State over suitors such as Louisville and Texas Tech. Jones said the family atmosphere was the biggest calling card to Manhattan.
“I’d say I chose K-State mainly because coach [Jerome] Tang and the coaching staff, they showed a different type of love — it’s more of a family, it’s not just a basketball team.”
Before his two years at Cal State Fullerton, Jones spent a pair at Division II Tampa University where he was named Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year. Jones said he’s “very blessed” to be in Manhattan as he never thought he’d be able to call a program the caliber of K-State his home.
Brendan Hausen, SG, Villanova
A 6-foot-4 sharpshooting guard, Hausen is a career 39.5% 3-point shooter and averaged 6.2 points per game in his sophomore season at Villanova.
Hausen saw the floor for six minutes when each Wildcat squad faced off last year. He went 0-2 from beyond the arc but remembers something else from his trip to the Little Apple.
“It was unbelievable, loud the whole game, fans on their feet the whole time,” Hausen said. “No joke about the Big 12 crowds. Coming from Villanova, and coming to a big arena like this, it was unbelievable. It definitely stuck with me all year, so it was awesome.”
With K-State’s need to improve its long-distance shooting, Hausen is expected to be a key spot-up shooter for the Wildcats.
“Especially with the pieces around me, I think that I fit right into the puzzle being able to come in and knock down shots,” Hausen said. “But also, help us win — win by any means.”
Dug McDaniel, PG, Michigan
McDaniel, the Wildcats’ point guard, was the first addition and a major splash to Tang’s portal class. He averaged 16.3 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Michigan.
K-State missed a true point guard last year as former guard Tylor Perry assumed the role despite profiling more as a shooting guard. McDaniel said he is ready to take the reins as the point guard.
“I kind of get back to my strengths of being a pass-first guard,” McDaniel said “Getting my teammates involved, I have a lot of great weapons around me and I can’t wait to get back to my original game.”
David Castillo, CG, Sunrise Christian Academy
Castillo, K-State’s lone freshman, was a consensus 4-star out of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita.
A combo guard and top-50 high school prospect, Castillo could make an impact during his rookie campaign. Four-year starter and K-State Hall of Fame member Jacob Pullen said Castillo is someone he could see dethroning Pullen as K-State’s all-time leading scorer, citing Castillo’s loyalty.
C.J. Jones, SG, Illinois-Chicago
The Wildcats’ other Jones at guard, CJ Jones stands at 6-foot-5, giving him more height than most others at the position.
A native of East St. Louis, Illinois, Jones was a high school teammate with K-State’s Macaeleb “Buddy” Rich. He transferred to K-State after a sophomore season at UIC where he averaged 11.4 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, entering Manhattan as a junior.