We are in the midst of a new era of Kansas State athletics — and it’s not too late to buy stock. Manhattan is the place for stars to be stars.
Ever since athletic director Gene Taylor took office in 2017, K-State experienced a steady climb in athletic success. Now, in the NIL era, K-State has soared to the top of the list of recruits across the country — and for good reason.
Manhattan builds stars.
As football kicks off its 2024 campaign with sky-high expectations, the star at the forefront of fans’ minds is quarterback Avery Johnson.
Johnson has called it a “blessing” being the quarterback at this university. Entering just his sophomore year, he’s already earned the trust of the program.
“Cut the kid loose and let him go play,” head coach Chris Klieman said. “The kid is really good. I’m not managing anything. I’m going to encourage him, tell him I love him, tell him how much I believe in him.”
Should off-the-field incentives be desired, Manhattan can deliver. For example, Johnson drives around town in style, sporting his lavender Corvette from Long McArthur Luxury.
LOOK: Kansas State QB Avery Johnson showed off a ‘one-of-a-kind’ lavender Corvette through a new NIL dealhttps://t.co/7jMyWrMLRu pic.twitter.com/2SRcpGYIEk
— On3 (@On3sports) July 27, 2024
Across from where Johnson will write his story at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is the brand-new Morgan Family Arena — home of the star outside hitter Aliyah Carter.
Carter, a three-time consensus first-team All-Big 12 member, chooses to call Manhattan home.
“I have had the opportunity to stay here for five years,” Carter said. “The transfer portal is crazy with every sport, and not a lot of people experience wanting to stay at the school that they started with. I’ve just been super blessed with that [feeling].”
At Bramlage Coliseum, both men’s and women’s basketball demonstrated the ability to attract the nation’s best.
Men’s forward Coleman Hawkins transferred to Manhattan alongside a record-breaking NIL deal, valued at $2 million, reported to be the largest deal by a college basketball collective.
Women’s forward Temira Poindexter, the reigning AAC Player of the Year, chose the Wildcats over other top-tier suitors across the nation as well.
It’s not just the transfer portal that K-State yields stars from.
Class of 2025, five-star tight end Linkon Cure chose Manhattan this offseason, becoming the first five-star to commit to the program in modern recruitment history.
Currently, men’s basketball head coach Jerome Tang and staff are deep in recruitment battles for multiple Top 10 basketball recruits in the class of 2025.
The nation’s No. 1 recruit, AJ Dybansta, will take an official visit to Manhattan this weekend. The consensus five-star small forward has the Wildcats on his top list of schools.
Alongside Dybansta is shooting guard Darryn Peterson, another consensus five-star and the No. 3 recruit in the nation, who placed K-State in his top eight.
Rounding out the list is shooting guard Meleek Thomas, the No. 6 player in the class who cut his list to seven schools, naming Tang and staff.
So as K-State receives nationwide attention, don’t let it be a surprise. The Little Apple has become — and will continue to become — a place for stars to be stars.
