K-Stated

Last night, after the Chicago Bulls won the NBA Draft Lottery, I texted Fatima Smith, Michael Beasley’s mother, and said, “Congratulations - Mike’s the No. 1 pick.”

Her response? “It’s cold there.”

Anyway, we were in agreement he’d be the Bulls’ pick. Now, though, I’m not so sure.

Read More »

OK, I know this is getting ridiculous, but I just hung up the phone with Matt Suther, who is fielding questions and information for next weekend’s Manhattan Classic. Anyway, he just confirmed the Brandon Bass All-Stars from Alabama are in the Classic field, and Latavious Williams will be running with them.

So, you’ve got two 2009 commitments in the D.C. Assault’s Wally Judge (No. 48 in Rivals’ Top 150) and Rodney McGruder (No. 76). And K-State is in good shape with Williams, who is No. 13.

Other prominent teams in the field include the Dallas Heroes, the Iowa Barnstormers, Team Texas and the Spiece Indy Heat. Tickets can be purchased now at Powercat Illustrated at 1125 Moro Street from 10 am. to 5 p.m. or online at gopowercat.com or at the Kansas State Super Store in Manhattan.

NUMEROUS messages have been left for Curtis Kelly, the 6-foot-9, 235-pound sophomore forward who is leaving the University of Connecticut and visited Kansas State this past weekend. If and when he’s contacted, the conversation will be posted here. Kelly, a hyped recruit from Harlem’s famed Rice High,  averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 51 games with the Huskies.

SOME housekeeping items: Varez Ward, the 6-foot-3 combo guard from the Patterson School, hasn’t visited K-State and it doesn’t appear as if it’s going to happen. According to Mark Komara, who runs the Southeast Elite, Ward has taken trips to Texas and another visit - perhaps today or tomorrow - might be in the plans to Arkansas. But a decision should be coming as early as Wednesday. Expect the Longhorns to be the choice.

Also, don’t put too much stock into the notion of Duke guard Nolan Smith transferring to K-State. Due to his AAU ties and likely because Smith visited Manhattan during the basketball season - he’s best friends with Mike Beasley - the speculation began. His step-father, D.C. Assault founder Curtis Malone, didn’t exactly squas h the rumors, but he at least addressed the situation. “As of now, he’s staying,” Malone said. “He’s going to stay. Right now, I don’t think that’s going to change. He will be at Duke. This is coming from Nolan, and it’s his choice… If he hadn’t made the decision to leave by now, I don’t think he’s going to do anything.”

CATCHING up with Fatima - her family left Manhattan last week and is now back in the Washington, D.C. area, living with her sister before temporary housing is secured. At a recent Scott City Catbacker event, K-State basketball coach Frank Martin said Beasley’s first offer from a shoe company had been submitted and it was valued at $60 million. Ms. Smith wasn’t aware of such a figure, although she said the family had already met with adidas - which outfitted Beasley’s AAU team, the D.C. Assault. The next shoe company in line is Nike; a meeting in early June is planned.

In addition, expect to see a lot more of Beasley - and his mother - on television. Smith said ESPN has been tailing her son and the family for a reality program of some sort. Messages left at ESPN weren’t immediately returned. “When we were at adidas, the cameras were all in my face,” Smith said.

And for the funniest bit of information, Beasley has purchased a new pet. It’s a dog, and instead of what Ms. Smith labeled “a manly dog” like a pit bull or a Rotweiller - which he’d always maintained to his mother he wanted one day - he opted instead for a chihuahua. It’s name is L.O., which is short of Lights Out.