T.J. Otzelberger and the Iowa State Cyclones picked up their second transfer portal commitment of the 2026 cycle in Kansas State forward Taj Manning.
As a 6-foot-7 junior at K-State, Manning averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game on 48/18/69 splits.
Here is Jake Brend’s scout of Manning:
As a 6-foot-7 junior at K-State, Manning averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game on 48/18/69 splits. Here’s the case for Manning. Jerome Tang was clearly not a great coach, and we have no idea how many players he misused during his tenure. Manning didn’t play more than 20 minutes until mid-January; after that, he played 25+ in all but one of K-State’s remaining 16 games. After Tang got fired, Manning averaged 6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. KenPom tells me he’s a good offensive rebounder and above average around the rim. Could very well be serviceable as a backup big man.
