Kansas State’s starting center has decided to transfer after two years with Wildcats
Another Kansas State men’s basketball player has decided to transfer.
Jerrell Colbert, a 6-foot-10 and 235-pound redshirt sophomore center, has entered the NCAA transfer portal after spending two seasons in Manhattan under head coach Jerome Tang.
He is the third K-State basketball player to depart the team since its season came to an end in the first round of the NIT. Colbert joins reserve guard Dorian Finister and starting guard Cam Carter, who recently announced plans to enroll at LSU.
Colbert’s departure comes as a bit of a surprise because he waited longer than his former teammates to enter the transfer portal. It seemed like he was committed to playing at least one more season with the Wildcats and then had a change of heart.
The big man averaged 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds as a key member of K-State’s frontcourt this season. He started the final 13 games of the campaign and delivered the occasional big stat line, including 15 points and seven rebounds against Cincinnati.
Tang will need to prioritize size in his recruiting efforts, as both senior forward Will McNair and Colbert will not return next season.
He has already identified Michigan transfer Tarris Reed as a potential fit. The 6-foot-10 sophomore forward averaged nine points and 7.2 rebounds for the Wolverines last season and took a recruiting visit to Manhattan over the weekend.
K-State has a connection to Reed, as assistant Rodney Perry used to coach him when he played for Link Academy as a high school prospect.
The Wildcats are also in the mix for another Michigan transfer: sophomore guard Dug McDaniel. He is currently visiting K-State on his own recruiting trip after averaging 16.3 points and 4.7 assists for the Wolverines.
This story was originally published April 1, 2024 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Kansas State’s starting center has decided to transfer after two years with Wildcats."