K-State gets a boost with MAC POY Nate Johnson transfer

Akron guard Nate Johnson, the MAC Conference Player of the Year, is transferring to Kansas State, he announced Sunday on social media.

Johnson, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Liberty Township, Ohio, swept postseason honors in the MAC, earning Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Johnson averaged 14.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 30 minutes per game last season.

He scored a season-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting against Toledo on March 14. In the NCAA Tournament, he added 13 points in 36 minutes against the No. 4 seed Arizona Wildcats.

According to Yahoo Sports!, Johnson previously told the Akron Beacon Journal he intended to return to Akron next season. However, he entered the transfer portal last week and has now found a new home with the Wildcats.

The only question surrounding Johnson is whether he’ll play point guard. As of now, he’s the most accomplished player on the roster and is likely a lock to start.

Johnson brings a winning pedigree to the program. Akron captured both the MAC regular season and tournament titles last season, finishing with a school-record 28 victories.

His commitment injects excitement into a program that had been sorely lacking it. With Johnson on board, and if Head Coach Jerome Tang adds a few more quality transfers, optimism around the Wildcats is expected to grow.

Kansas State returns only four players from last season: point guard David Castillo, guard CJ Jones, and forwards Mobi Ikegwuruka and Taj Manning.

The Wildcats have also secured commitments from Abdi Bashir, a 6-foot-7 sophomore guard from Omaha, Nebraska, and Khamari McGriff, a transfer forward from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

K-State ended the 2024–25 season with a 16–17 overall record and a 9–11 mark in Big 12 play, tying for ninth in the conference. They missed the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.

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