Kansas State men’s basketball and head coach Casey Alexander have used the transfer portal as a pipeline for front court talent, and remains the case late in the window. Even with two of the program’s top forwards already in place, the Wildcats have landed another dominant presence in Xavier transfer Pape N’Diaye.
Kansas State adds further depth with addition of Xavier transfer Pape N'Diaye
The Wildcats already recruited hard in pursuit of New Mexico big JT Rock and Murray State's Brock Vice. Luckily for the fans, the fun didn't stop there. Instead of continuing the trend of guards and forwards, the staff opted for another big, and one of the Big East's most reliable rebounders at that.
The Musketeers didn't have a storybook season by any stretch. After a season-ending loss in the Big East Tournament to the eventual runner-up UConn Huskies, they finished just 15-18.
Unlike most others on the roster, N'Daiye didn't see much of the floor. He played a season-high 26 minutes in a 98-58 blowout loss to the Valparaiso Beacons, but no more than nine in the postseason.
He shot just 25% from the field in those minutes, one of the lowest margins on the entire Xavier roster. On the other hand, his turnover margin was of the best.
Where N'Daiye fits the Kansas State roster
The 7'0" junior fits the mold of both a forward and a center. He played the forward position last season, the same role occupied by starters like Khamari McGriff and Taj Manning.
Should his status remain the same on the Wildcats roster, that's the role he'll find. Should Casey Alexander and staff see him out as a center, there's also tremendous upside.
At the time of publication, it appears to be a competition between both Vice and Rock for the starting spot in the paint.
Among other forwards, N'Daiye joins the likes of power forward Matt Gilhool, Georgetown transfer Isaiah Abraham and others. In terms of size, he matches up with Gilhool the closest.
It's likely that if the pair sees the floor in any capacity, they'll be sharing minutes. Other forwards, like Miami transfer Timo Malovec, are likely to see more of a shooting role due to their range and versitility.
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