New York Native Duo Poised to Lead New Era
May 17, 2022 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
They were young men with dreams. They were kids, really, New York City natives who mainly knew each other by face while tearing it up at Rucker Park and Dyckman. Sometimes they were on the same team. Mostly they competed against each other. Really, Markquis Nowell and Ish Massoud could never envision where their journeys would take them. Or that they'd wind up in the Little Apple.
Now they're kings of the court at Kansas State. They're the cornerstones of a new era. They're roommates. They're virtually inseparable.
"That's my brother," Massoud said.
Nowell transferred from Arkansas-Little Rock prior to last season; Massoud from Wake Forest. All they wanted was a chance to shine. They did last season. Then when there was a transition of coaching staffs at K-State in March, every one of their K-State teammates left; they remained.
When new K-State head coach Jerome Tang looks back on his first year in Manhattan years from now, he might forever recall how this New York City duo helped shape his first squad.
"My impression of Coach Tang and the coaching staff has been nothing short of amazing," Massoud said. "The moment they got here and the moment they spoke to me and Markquis and told us about their program — they've shown us nothing but love and tell us how much they value us and how much they appreciate what me and Markquis are trying to do with K-State basketball."
When Tang was introduced as K-State head coach on March 24, he swept fans off their feet with a passionate speech. He impacted Nowell and Massoud as well. He said that he came to K-State not to rebuild, but to "elevate."
Nowell, a senior point guard, and Massoud, a junior forward, were sold.
"Coach Tang has a winning mindset," Nowell said. "This guy really wants to win. "We have a group of coaches who are probably one of the hardest-working coaching staffs I've been around. They've just made me feel at home. Nothing has really changed. We just continue to work and build this program back up. It's been a fun journey. It hasn't been devastating or depressing. It's been a fun one."
The 55-year-old Tang was a part of college basketball's great turnarounds for nearly two decades at Baylor. During his 19 years, first as an assistant coach and then as associate head coach, he helped Baylor to post a 397-222 (.641) overall record, including a 168-155 (.520) mark in Big 12 Conference play, to go along with 13 postseason appearances (10 NCAA Tournaments, three NITs) and a national title. He helped construct nine consensus top-25 recruiting classes. He coached 11 All-Americans. He helped send 13 players to the NBA.
"I trust my work," Tang said during his introductory news conference March 24. "It's not about a day when you're making shots or not making your shots, you've got to trust your work. When you put in the work, you can go out there and play confidently. The only reason I'm here is because I work hard."
Baylor's 55-9 record over the past two seasons is the nation's best mark among power conference teams.
Massoud said: "His track record speaks for itself."
"Obviously, his press conference he wasn't putting on an act," Massoud continued. "He's a great man, a great person, and a great coach. He really has high character and is a really valued man and wants nothing short of winning a national championship."
Nearly two months have passed since their introduction to Tang. Nowell still remembers one of the first times that he knew Tang was different.
"We were in the weight room working out, and you know how teams break the huddle and go, '1, 2, 3, break.' He came into the huddle and said, 'This is what we're going to do. We're going to say 3, 2, 1 win,'" Nowell said. "He said, 'We're doing this because we're never going to be No. 3 in anything. We're going to be No. 1.' That really stuck with me."
Nowell and Massoud recounted their past couple months during a Zoom news conference late Friday afternoon after final exams. Massoud was in an airport waiting on a flight home to visit his family, and Nowell was dressed in his practice uniform at the Ice Basketball Training Center. Nowell will be a part of the Catbacker Tour this week to see fans across parts of Kansas.
"We get stopped all the time from fans telling us how much they appreciate us staying and how excited they are for this season and for Coach Tang and the coaching staff," Massoud said. "It's been nothing but love."
Aside from participating in individual workouts, Nowell and Massoud have spent the past several weeks playing an active role, whether it be on social media or during official visits, in helping K-State collect talent for next season.
The parade of signees began with 6-foot-10, 216-pound LSU transfer Jerrell Colbert, a former top-150 recruit, on April 18. Two days later, Mississippi State transfer combo guard Camryn Carter, another former top-150 recruit, jumped on board. On May 2, the Wildcats secured their first high school signee in New Orleans native Dorian Finister, a combo guard who scored more than 1,300 points and led G.W. Carver Collegiate Academy to the Louisiana Class 4A State Championship this past season.
On May 5, K-State signed New York native and NJCAA honorable mention All-American Nae'Qwan Tomlin, a 6-foot-8, 195-pound small forward who was rated as the No. 7 prospect on the 2022 JuCoRecruiting.com Top 100.
There's more to come.
"I've noticed that everybody that is committed and that they came from other places and had the same mindset as me, which is to get better and win," Nowell said. "That's a huge part of what this team is trying to rebuild and do. We have guys like Cam Carter, who sat out much of his season last year, and he just wants to come in and work. Jarrell Colbert sat out and just wants to come in and work. All these guys just want to get better and leave their egos aside. That's a huge part of where we need to be right now."
Who's Nowell most excited to see on the court?
"The most exciting signee is probably Nae'Qwan, who's from New York," he said. "We came from similar backgrounds. He plays with that passion and joy and love for the game that me and Ish play with. That's probably the one where I really want to get on the court and play alongside him and see how he does."
No, Nowell and Massoud never envisioned they'd be here many years ago back when they were on the asphalt courts back home. But they're excited for the road ahead.
"It's been a fun challenge," Nowell said. "My vision isn't God's vision. Whatever He wants to happen will happen, and that's how I live my day on a daily basis. Whatever I expected coming into this year, He didn't have planned for me. I know eventually it'll all work itself out and we'll have the guys to win.
"I trust Coach Tang and everybody on the coaching staff. I have high hopes."
They were young men with dreams. They were kids, really, New York City natives who mainly knew each other by face while tearing it up at Rucker Park and Dyckman. Sometimes they were on the same team. Mostly they competed against each other. Really, Markquis Nowell and Ish Massoud could never envision where their journeys would take them. Or that they'd wind up in the Little Apple.
Now they're kings of the court at Kansas State. They're the cornerstones of a new era. They're roommates. They're virtually inseparable.
"That's my brother," Massoud said.
Nowell transferred from Arkansas-Little Rock prior to last season; Massoud from Wake Forest. All they wanted was a chance to shine. They did last season. Then when there was a transition of coaching staffs at K-State in March, every one of their K-State teammates left; they remained.
When new K-State head coach Jerome Tang looks back on his first year in Manhattan years from now, he might forever recall how this New York City duo helped shape his first squad.
"My impression of Coach Tang and the coaching staff has been nothing short of amazing," Massoud said. "The moment they got here and the moment they spoke to me and Markquis and told us about their program — they've shown us nothing but love and tell us how much they value us and how much they appreciate what me and Markquis are trying to do with K-State basketball."
When Tang was introduced as K-State head coach on March 24, he swept fans off their feet with a passionate speech. He impacted Nowell and Massoud as well. He said that he came to K-State not to rebuild, but to "elevate."
Nowell, a senior point guard, and Massoud, a junior forward, were sold.
"Coach Tang has a winning mindset," Nowell said. "This guy really wants to win. "We have a group of coaches who are probably one of the hardest-working coaching staffs I've been around. They've just made me feel at home. Nothing has really changed. We just continue to work and build this program back up. It's been a fun journey. It hasn't been devastating or depressing. It's been a fun one."
The 55-year-old Tang was a part of college basketball's great turnarounds for nearly two decades at Baylor. During his 19 years, first as an assistant coach and then as associate head coach, he helped Baylor to post a 397-222 (.641) overall record, including a 168-155 (.520) mark in Big 12 Conference play, to go along with 13 postseason appearances (10 NCAA Tournaments, three NITs) and a national title. He helped construct nine consensus top-25 recruiting classes. He coached 11 All-Americans. He helped send 13 players to the NBA.
"I trust my work," Tang said during his introductory news conference March 24. "It's not about a day when you're making shots or not making your shots, you've got to trust your work. When you put in the work, you can go out there and play confidently. The only reason I'm here is because I work hard."
Baylor's 55-9 record over the past two seasons is the nation's best mark among power conference teams.
Massoud said: "His track record speaks for itself."
"Obviously, his press conference he wasn't putting on an act," Massoud continued. "He's a great man, a great person, and a great coach. He really has high character and is a really valued man and wants nothing short of winning a national championship."
Nearly two months have passed since their introduction to Tang. Nowell still remembers one of the first times that he knew Tang was different.
"We were in the weight room working out, and you know how teams break the huddle and go, '1, 2, 3, break.' He came into the huddle and said, 'This is what we're going to do. We're going to say 3, 2, 1 win,'" Nowell said. "He said, 'We're doing this because we're never going to be No. 3 in anything. We're going to be No. 1.' That really stuck with me."
Nowell and Massoud recounted their past couple months during a Zoom news conference late Friday afternoon after final exams. Massoud was in an airport waiting on a flight home to visit his family, and Nowell was dressed in his practice uniform at the Ice Basketball Training Center. Nowell will be a part of the Catbacker Tour this week to see fans across parts of Kansas.
"We get stopped all the time from fans telling us how much they appreciate us staying and how excited they are for this season and for Coach Tang and the coaching staff," Massoud said. "It's been nothing but love."
Aside from participating in individual workouts, Nowell and Massoud have spent the past several weeks playing an active role, whether it be on social media or during official visits, in helping K-State collect talent for next season.
The parade of signees began with 6-foot-10, 216-pound LSU transfer Jerrell Colbert, a former top-150 recruit, on April 18. Two days later, Mississippi State transfer combo guard Camryn Carter, another former top-150 recruit, jumped on board. On May 2, the Wildcats secured their first high school signee in New Orleans native Dorian Finister, a combo guard who scored more than 1,300 points and led G.W. Carver Collegiate Academy to the Louisiana Class 4A State Championship this past season.
On May 5, K-State signed New York native and NJCAA honorable mention All-American Nae'Qwan Tomlin, a 6-foot-8, 195-pound small forward who was rated as the No. 7 prospect on the 2022 JuCoRecruiting.com Top 100.
There's more to come.
"I've noticed that everybody that is committed and that they came from other places and had the same mindset as me, which is to get better and win," Nowell said. "That's a huge part of what this team is trying to rebuild and do. We have guys like Cam Carter, who sat out much of his season last year, and he just wants to come in and work. Jarrell Colbert sat out and just wants to come in and work. All these guys just want to get better and leave their egos aside. That's a huge part of where we need to be right now."
Who's Nowell most excited to see on the court?
"The most exciting signee is probably Nae'Qwan, who's from New York," he said. "We came from similar backgrounds. He plays with that passion and joy and love for the game that me and Ish play with. That's probably the one where I really want to get on the court and play alongside him and see how he does."
No, Nowell and Massoud never envisioned they'd be here many years ago back when they were on the asphalt courts back home. But they're excited for the road ahead.
"It's been a fun challenge," Nowell said. "My vision isn't God's vision. Whatever He wants to happen will happen, and that's how I live my day on a daily basis. Whatever I expected coming into this year, He didn't have planned for me. I know eventually it'll all work itself out and we'll have the guys to win.
"I trust Coach Tang and everybody on the coaching staff. I have high hopes."
Players Mentioned
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