The Kansas State Wildcats men’s basketball program took a big step in retooling its roster for the upcoming season with the signing of University of North Carolina Wilmington transfer forward Khamari McGriff. The 6-foot-9 junior brings size, experience, and versatility to a Wildcats team in need of depth in the frontcourt following a wave of offseason departures.
McGriff, a native of Tallahassee, Florida, played four seasons with the UNCW Seahawks, helping guide the program through one of its most successful eras. The Seahawks posted four straight 20-win seasons during his tenure, including a 27–8 campaign this past season that culminated in an NCAA Tournament appearance. McGriff contributed significantly, averaging career highs of 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while playing in all 34 contests.
A physical post presence, McGriff is expected to play a crucial role for Kansas State following the losses of centers Ugonna Onyenso and Baye Fall, and forward Macaleab Rich, all of whom entered the transfer portal. The departures of experienced starters David N’Guessan and Coleman Hawkins due to graduation further underscored the Wildcats’ need for size and experience in the paint—both of which McGriff provides.
McGriff has also shown the ability to compete against top-tier competition. Earlier this season, he scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a strong performance against then-No. 1 Kansas. In UNCW’s NCAA Tournament matchup against Texas Tech, he chipped in eight points and three boards in just 16 minutes off the bench, demonstrating his ability to produce under pressure on the national stage.
Kansas State now has just four returning players from last season’s roster: point guard David Castillo, guard CJ Jones, and forwards Mobi Ikegwuruka and Taj Manning. McGriff joins recent signee Abdi Bashir, a 6-foot-7 sophomore guard from Omaha, Nebraska, as part of a new wave of talent aiming to elevate the Wildcats back to postseason contention.
The Wildcats finished the 2024–25 season with a 16–17 overall record and a 9–11 mark in Big 12 play, tying for ninth in the conference. With the signing of McGriff, head coach Jerome Tang and his staff are sending a clear message: they are committed to building a competitive, well-rounded roster capable of returning to the NCAA Tournament and contending in a tough Big 12 conference.
