LSU transfer Jerrell Colbert brings ‘freaky athleticism’ to Kansas State front court
There are two different ways you can view Jerrell Colbert as he begins his basketball career at Kansas State.
Look through one lens and you will see a former four-star recruit who picked LSU over more than a dozen high-profile schools, including Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Texas and Texas Tech.
Look through another lens and you will see a 6-foot-10 center who averaged 0.5 points and 1.3 rebounds while playing in only four games with the Tigers as a freshman before deciding to transfer.
Some think Colbert is a talented big man who simply needs a change of scenery. Others may identify him as a bust.
K-State coach Jerome Tang is betting hard on the former. So much so that Colbert was the first player Tang signed after he arrived in Manhattan.
“We are going to see Jerrell blossom into a special player here at Kansas State,” Tang said. “God blessed him with some gifts that most people just don’t have.”
Such as?
“Freaky athleticism and length and speed,” Tang added. “You won’t find many guys his size who are quicker or faster than he is. He provides you 13-foot vertical spacing on the basketball court. He’s also got a great heart. I love that about him.”
Colbert definitely passes the eye test. He fits the same physical mold of many of the players Tang found success with at Baylor while he was working under Scott Drew.
But his freshman stats leave much to be desired.
Colbert will get an opportunity to prove himself immediately. The Wildcats lost nine scholarship players to the NCAA transfer portal after parting ways with former coach Bruce Weber, leaving them without a single true center until Colbert enrolled in his first summer class.
There are now eight players on the K-State men’s basketball roster, but Colbert remains the only rim protector and low-post scorer in the group.
He is almost certainly going to play major minutes and start next season.
“Every minute I get here,” Colbert said, “I am going to show everybody what I can really do.”
Tang first saw what Colbert can bring to the court a long time ago. He says he has been watching Colbert play basketball since he was in middle school. Tang later recruited him at Baylor, and their relationship helped make it an easy decision for Colbert to transfer to K-State.
What comes next?
No matter what lens you choose to view Colbert through, K-State fans can expect a different, more mobile center than they’ve grown accustomed to in recent years.
“You’re going to see me rebound and run up the court,” Colbert said. “I’m going to post up and face up in the paint. One more thing is I can definitely defend. Defense is my biggest specialty.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "LSU transfer Jerrell Colbert brings ‘freaky athleticism’ to Kansas State front court."