Kansas State To Host California PF Basketball Recruit Tanner Lancona

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

Following the decisions to transfer by Michael Orris, Adrian Diaz, and Angel Rodriguez, Bruce Weber has been desperately seeking a win. He has the chance for a big one next week when 6’9″ power forward Tanner Lancona visits K-State’s campus next weekend. His decision to visit Manhattan follows a trip Weber took to California in which he visited Lancona’s high school and talked to the recruit for over an hour.

Lancona originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Washington State but was released from the letter on April 11. The Cougars where in a position wherein they promised more scholarships than they had available to give, and classified the decision to release Lancona as a “mutual decision.”

K-State, already lacking height and losing starting forward Jordan Henriquez to graduation, is down to Thomas Gipson, D.J. Johnson and incoming center Neville Fincher to serve as big men. Securing Lancona, who is considering three additional schools, would add some desperately needed beef inside. The Tesoro High School player averaged 19 points and eight rebounds his senior year and looks like he could easily stand his ground against the thinner departing Diaz or Henriquez.

Tancona is visiting St. Louis this weekend, and is also considering BYU and Colorado State. K-State may have an inside lead here with a thin bench (more playing time) and opportunity to play in one of the Big 6 conferences (although St. Louis will be joining the new Big East conference next year). He is rated as a three-star recruit by Scout.com, is notably capable of stepping out and knocking down three point shots, and has a generally awesome name. He will be on campus May 3-5.