Jerome Tang lands juco basketball transfer who plans to redshirt at Kansas State
Coach Jerome Tang’s newest incoming transfer is taking an unconventional journey to the Kansas State men’s basketball roster.
Stephen Osei, a 6-foot-10 freshman big man from the junior college ranks, has announced his intentions to play for the Wildcats after growing up in Toronto and spending his freshman season at Casper College in Wyoming.
Osei averaged 11 points and seven rebounds while playing in 26 games for the Thunderbirds last season. He shot 63% from the floor and scored as many as 23 points in games. That was enough for him to show up on K-State’s recruiting radar as Tang looks to rebuild his roster after a losing campaign.
Osei could give K-State a boost inside. He also held scholarship offers from Eastern Illinois, FDU, Incarnate Word and UTSA.
The Wildcats hope that Osei is ready to contribute at the Big 12 level, but not immediately. K-State plans to let Osei spend next season on the sideline with a redshirt as he works his way back from an injury.
Tang hasn’t found much success with redshirts since he took over in Manhattan. In his first season, he redshirted Anthony Thomas, Taj Manning, Dorian Finister and Jerrell Colbert. Only Manning remains at K-State, and he rarely plays in a deep reserve role.
Ques Glover and Baye Fall also moved on to other schools after redshirt seasons with the Wildcats.
K-State will hope things go better with Osei as he works to help the team in future seasons.
K-State Wildcats basketball tracker
Outgoing transfers:
- Brendan Hausen (Iowa)
- Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia)
- Macaleab Rich
- Baye Fall (Rutgers)
- Dug McDaniel (Memphis)
- CJ Jones
Incoming transfers:
- Abdi Bashir (Monmouth)
- Khamari McGriff (UNCW)
- Nate Johnson (Akron)
- Stephen Osei (Casper College)
High school recruits:
International recruits:
Returners:
- Mobi Ikegwuruka
- Taj Manning
- David Castillo
- Max Jones*
- Tyreek Smith*
*Player is seeking a waiver to gain extra eligibility
Available scholarships: 2-4
This story was originally published May 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Jerome Tang lands juco basketball transfer who plans to redshirt at Kansas State."