Kansas State basketball transfer portal recruiting efforts heat up with campus visits.

MANHATTAN — Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang has been typically methodical thus far in assembling his 2024-25 Wildcat basketball roster.

This could change in the coming days.

With two top transfer prospects on campus Wednesday and a few others in play after recent visits, the Wildcats are making a strong push toward the finish line with what could be a major upgrade throughout the 2023-24 season.

The Wildcats earned a scholarship on Wednesday when freshman guard RJ Jones announced he was entering the transfer portal. Additionally, forward Arthur Kaluma declared for the NBA Draft on Tuesday, although he could withdraw his name and return as a senior.

The Wildcats’ most immediate need is at center after starter Jerrell Colbert entered the portal and Will McNair graduated.

Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi and Arkansas point guard Khalif Battle were scheduled to visit K-State starting Wednesday. The Wildcats are also awaiting decisions on 6-foot-5 Florida State forward Baba Miller and Villanova guard Brendan Hausen.

Related: Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang: Dug McDaniel was a priority for Wildcats

The Wildcats have gone hard after Omoruyi, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound post player and three-year starter for Rutgers, since he entered the portal in late March. He had a long list of suitors, but it seems to finally be thinning out.

Omoruyi, a native of Nigeria, averaged 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and excelled as a defensive rim protector with 2.9 blocks per game while earning Big Ten honorable mention all-conference honors. as a senior. He’s already visited Georgetown and scheduled a trip to Alabama this weekend, although Tang would very much like to close the deal while he’s in Manhattan.

Battle, who at 6-5 and 185 pounds would give the Wildcats a big guard who can score from anywhere on the court, played one season at Butler before transferring to Temple and then last year to Arkansas. In his only season with the Razorbacks, he started 11 of 30 games, averaging 14.3 points and shooting 36.2% from 3-point range and 86.6% from the free throw line.

Miller, whose decision could depend on NBA interest, is a 6-11, 204-pound athlete from Spain who started 32 of 33 games, averaging 7.6 points and 4.9 rebounds as a sophomore at Florida State. . Some have compared him to former Wildcat Nae’Qwan Tomlin.

Related: Kansas State basketball lands former Michigan standout point guard in transfer portal

Hausen, a 6-4, 200-pound sophomore, spent two seasons as a reserve at Villanova, averaging 6.2 points in 17.7 minutes per game during the 2023-24 season. But like Battle, he would provide a much-needed perimeter scoring threat after shooting 38% from 3-point range.

If Kaluma decides to remain in the draft, the Wildcats will be without the three leading scorers from last year’s 19-15 team. He was third on the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game and led the Wildcats in rebounding with an average of 7.0.

K-State has already landed two portal transfers in Michigan guard Dug McDaniel and Illinois-Chicago guard CJ Jones. The Wildcats also signed four-star college guard David Castillo in November.

With RJ Jones gone, the Wildcats have at least four scholarships to hand out and three more possible, depending on Kaluma’s final decision and whether forward David N’Guessan and guard Ques Glover return as super seniors.

Arne Green lives in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett Network. He can be contacted at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

This article originally appeared in the Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball hosts transfers on recruiting visits