No. 0. Fear the Beard. “He’s in shape.” All-time leading scorer. 

Jacob Pullen made his mark on Kansas State history long before his induction to the 2024 K-State Hall of Fame class.  

However, the question persisted over time: When will Pullen’s jersey ascend into the rafters of Bramlage Coliseum?

“I’m getting in the Hall of Fame,” Pullen said. “They’re going to put my jersey up. [The wait] has really been [because of] me,” Pullen said. “[Athletic Director] Gene Taylor had done a great job of reaching out to me and talking to me. My schedule hasn’t allowed it.”

An occasion so special for the all-time great requires the right timing and the right circumstances. 

“I wouldn’t want to do it any other way than a KU or Texas, a big Monday, big time, Big 12 game,” Pullen said. “I wouldn’t want to do it the wrong way. And again, I want certain people to be able to make it.”

As for when to book your tickets for the moment, the wait shouldn’t be much longer. 

“As my schedule clears up, I promise it’s going to happen over the next few years,” Pullen said. “I’ll be here, and I can’t wait for it. It’s going to be amazing.”

Since graduating from K-State in 2011, Pullen’s career has largely taken him overseas, playing all across Europe. 

“As I got older, [my career] turned into more like a hired hitman,” Pullen said. “Pay me and I’ll show up and score anywhere you ask me to score. When I was younger, I played in Barcelona. I played in some big, big clubs. I have records in countries now where kids probably think I’m their version of Steph Curry.”

His journey added countless experiences to his life. 

“It was fun,” Pullen said. “I learned Spanish, I could speak Italian, I understand Serbian, Croatian and Russian — so many languages. I’ve picked up on cultures. It’s been amazing.”

Still, he misses home. Within the next “two to three years” Pullen believes he will lace up for the last time as a professional. 

“Right now, financially, I love it,” Pullen said. “I still go play because I’m not done. But as I am getting older, I’m closer to retiring, and I just miss being home. I’m a dad. There’s certain stuff that’s becoming more important than basketball. … It’s closer to being over the more I wake up and I think about it every day.”

Looking back on his time in Manhattan, memories flood to Pullen’s mind. While fans’ favorite matchups are usually against Kansas or from the NCAA Tournament, Pullen said his favorite was against Alabama in 2009. 

“Alabama, when I broke the 1000-point record, I was in the zone, man,” Pullen said. “I think I outscored Alabama in the first half … I just remember feeling like the game was moving in slow motion. … I just controlled every aspect of that game.”

Pullen started in every game during his sophomore through senior years in Manhattan, outside of a three-game suspension. He saw action in every game as a true freshman as well, including 14 stars. 

Pullen’s suspension from the NCAA was caused by impermissible discounts from Dillard’s department store. Along with his teammate Curtis Kelly, Pullen was given free clothes by the store during a time when the NCAA did not allow player benefits of that nature.

While he loved his time in the Little Apple, he does envy the recent NIL change issued by the NCAA. 

“I am mad that NIL wasn’t around,” Pullen said. “‘Fear the Beard’ would’ve cleared million dollars easily. But in hindsight, I played for four years. College was amazing. It was real college at that time, real fans. Loyalty was the biggest thing.”

Having played during his era of college basketball, Pullen doesn’t believe his all-time program scoring record will ever be touched. 

“With the transfer portal, I might have this record for 100 years,” Pullen said. “The loyalty thing is not the same.”

Pullen does understand why current athletes would decide to enter the portal. However, sticking it out was fulfilling for him.

“I remember as a freshman, me and [coach Frank Martin] had some big fights,” Pullen said. “I had a lot of schools calling … and I was really contemplating leaving … [But] I put in the work, did everything that he asked me to do, believed in his system … it was a great relationship after that.”

One player Pullen believes has a shot at reaching his heights is true freshman four-star guard David Castillo. 

“I watched him play, he gives me loyalty vibes,” Pullen said. “… If somebody can do it, he’s got four years to do it. I believe he might, unless he goes to the NBA earlier. He doesn’t give me unhappy transfer vibes.”