Kansas State Looks to Make Another Deep March Madness Run With the Addition of Arthur Kaluma
Jerome Tang adds some much-needed experience at the wing position to bolster his 2023-2024 team.
Manhattan, Kansas (PSF) - This past weekend, Kansas State made some huge roster moves by picking up Creighton transfer Arthur Kaluma. The incoming junior forward will provide elite defensive versatility and a presence of physicality to a K-State roster that recently graduated five players and lost one in the transfer portal, as he will likely replace the role Keyontae Johnson had for the Wildcats last year. Kaluma averaged twelve points per game and six rebounds per contest while starting all 37 games for Creighton. He is the latest big pickup for Jerome Tang, who picked up guard Tylor Perry from North Texas earlier this spring. K-State is also returning 6’10” forward Nae’qwan Tomlin, who recently withdrew his name from the upcoming NBA draft to play one more year for the Wildcats. Although the losses of point guard Markquis Nowell and forward Keyontae Johnson will drastically alter the scoring production for K-State, Jerome Tang has gone out and got two high-level transfers to reload the Wildcats and give them a chance to be very competitive in the gauntlet of the Big 12. Let’s look at what the arrival of Kaluma and Perry and the return of Tomlin will add to Kansas State.
Arthur Kaluma is going to be a huge difference-maker on the defensive end. At 6’8” with a strong 225-pound athletic frame, he has an immense amount of lateral quickness to stay in front of perimeter players, and the strength to defend against forwards and bigs in a switch situation. Kaluma tested the NBA waters this offseason but ultimately made the decision to return to college basketball and transfer from Creighton this past month. In a pre-draft interview with the Indiana Pacers, Kaluma emphasized his commitment to the defensive end, and the clip below elaborates on his past year at Creighton.
The biggest thing for Kaluma to be successful will be his growth on the offensive end, specifically as a perimeter shooter. He only shot 31.1 percent from deep last year, but that percentage significantly increased from his freshman year where he shot 26.5 percent from three. He will need to shoot at a more efficient rate from deep to add value as an off-ball player. Despite his three-point shooting proficiency, he still has a ton of offensive value as a driver and is excellent at getting by defenders with his quickness and good at finishing around the rim with contact. His ball-handling skills are strong and he’s shown flashes of playmaking potential but isn’t a huge playmaker by nature of being an off-ball player. Regardless of how much he improves on the offensive end, Kaluma is a must-have on the court because of his defensive versatility. This clip displays his skills on the defensive end in a game against Butler, as he showcased his effort on the little things needed for success.
Tylor Perry will easily fill the scoring void left by the now-graduated Markquis Nowell. Perry was the player of the year in the Conference USA and the MVP of the NIT last year, averaging 17.3 points per game. He is a true three-level scorer that is capable of torching opposing defenses in the pick-and-roll. He really makes an impact from the three-point line, as he shot over 41 percent from deep last season. He’s a versatile shooter that can hit tough shots off of the ball screen, in catch-and-shoot situations, and in isolation scenarios. He will need to enhance his role as a playmaker next year, as he will step into the point guard role for K-State next year. He only averaged two assists per game and will surely need to create more scoring chances for his teammates to guarantee success. His height at 5’11” limits him defensively, but he still averaged one steal per game last year and has elite quickness to stay in from of guards on the perimeter. Here’s a clip of the dynamic scorer that K-State will be getting next year.
The other X-factor the Wildcats will have for the upcoming basketball season is a familiar face in Nae’qwan Tomlin. He averaged 10.4 PPG and six rebounds per game last year with the team and will look to have a larger scoring role next season as a senior. He is an athletic freak at 6’10” with high-level quickness and ball-handling skills. He is an insane vertical threat as a rim-runner and lob threat and uses those physical gifts on the defensive end as a shot-blocker. Tomlin is an interesting player because he started playing the game after high school, so he still is a very raw player. Despite not playing basketball until 18, he still shows a great feel for the game and makes high-level passing reads to teammates cutting to the basket. Tomlin will only continue to develop each day he’s at K-State, as he can develop his three-point jumper to become a threat stretching the floor. He shot 27.5 percent from three last year, so if he improves this rate in the offseason he’ll become a dynamic starter for the Wildcats. He also could add some strength to his lanky frame to become a better interior defender. His athleticism will be enough for him to guard perimeter players and his length will help him guard smaller bigs, but he should look to bulk up to become a bigger presence under the rim and on the glass.
He is still an excellent addition to Jerome Tang’s Wildcats and will project to have a starting role for K-State next year. These three players will be the catalysts for K-State’s success next year, and Tang has all the right coaching tools to get a locker room to gel together and build good chemistry. Expect the Wildcats to have another strong year and compete for the Big 12 title.
