McNair Kept Going

By: D. Scott Fritchen

Will McNair comes off his best game as a Kansas State Wildcat. But it's about more than that. The fifth-year senior center has spent this season moving his 6-foot-11, 265-pound frame around the basketball court with a furrowed brow, backing inside and hitting turnaround layups, draining midrange jump shots, catching alley-oops (and even hitting a 3-pointer), and rebounding, and altering shot angles, and blocking shots.

He had 17 points and 10 rebounds at Kansas on Tuesday, his first double-double at K-State. On ESPN, against the tough Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse, McNair was all effort, and never let down, and always carried hope.

"It made me feel good for sure," McNair said of his performance. "But the goal was to get that W, and we didn't get that."

No, K-State did not get the victory in a season when wins have at times been challenging to come by, but McNair has spent his career winning on his own stage, overcoming obstacles, overcoming doubt, overcoming stress and making the most of his opportunities — first at New Mexico State, then at Mississippi State, and now in 30 games in a Wildcat uniform.

"I've learned resiliency," he says. "I'm not going to lie I didn't think I was going to make it. Going to Mexico State was the first time I'd been away from my family. I kept going."

And now he's here, sitting in a black down jacket, a black t-shirt, gray sweatpants, and brown size-18 UGGs inside the team meeting room at the Ice Family Basketball Center. He's on the cusp of Senior Day against No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum. He'll go through the ceremony with fellow seniors Tylor Perry, David N'Guessan and Taymont Lindsey. And he's trying to put it all into words, the journey to this point, and the blessings that have come along with it.

"I'm super happy," he says. "I can't ask for more. I'm blessed every single day. I got to meet Coach Jerome Tang. It's a blessing."

At the moment, McNair sits inside the same meeting room where he once detailed for a visitor the ins and outs of his path to Manhattan.

It was easy to spot McNair when he grew up in North Philadelphia. He was usually at Olney Recreation Center on Godfrey Avenue. He played basketball against grown men. He was 13 years old. However, it was actually football — not basketball — that originally piqued young McNair's interest. The second youngest of four siblings, he listened to his older twin brothers, who convinced him that he needed to consider basketball. After all, he was 6-foot-5 in middle school.

McNair played at Parkway Center City Prep School and then Martin Luther King High School. But he was hesitant about college due to a sub-standard grade-point average. Then New Mexico State stepped in and gave him a chance. After three seasons, he transferred to Mississippi State. After transferring to Providence for two months this offseason, he sought a new home and received a phone call from K-State assistant coach Jareem Dowling. After speaking with Dowling and Tang, McNair was sold.

Over his career, McNair has strived to make a big impact on the court. He has scored more than 650 points and has grabbed more than 530 rebounds and has dished out more than 70 assists and has blocked more than 90 shots and has recorded more than 40 steals.

He has 25 career double-digit scoring games, including seven in the Big 12 this season. K-State is 9-2 this season when McNair scores in double figures. After nearly recording double-doubles at West Virginia and at Oklahoma (he had 12 points and nine rebounds in each game), he reached the milestone at Kansas.

He also ranks eighth in the Big 12 with 1.2 blocks per game.

"Monster," K-State point guard Tylor Perry says. "Will has improved so much since the day he stepped on campus. I couldn't be more proud of him. You ask a guy to come in and change his role, he's stepped in and has done everything that we've asked him to do and more.

"Glad he's on our side. He's a winner. He brought that winning attitude to this team."

What has McNair learned the most from Tang?

"Just being in the paint and being a beast," McNair replies. "He said that he had to have people double me, so it'd be easier to catch and shoot along the perimeter. I've just tried to be a paint beast."

He's come a long way since the days of hooping at Olney Recreation Center on Godfrey Avenue in North Philadelphia.

He smiles at that realization. He comes off his best game at K-State. And he hopes there are more to come. He'll have seven family members with him at Senior Day ceremonies. But he has other things on his mind as well.

"I'm trying to be tough right now," he says. "I haven't even given much thought to (Senior Day ceremonies). I'm just trying to get this win."

It's what March is all about.

"A win would be super important," he says. "That'd put us as a 10 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, and it'd be better to play four games than five games. We can get some motivation, and anything is possible from then on.

"It's March Madness for a reason."

Then McNair grins. He rises from his chair and heads out of the room.

There's still plenty of work to do for the paint monster.

Kansas State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Taymont Lindsey

David N'Guessan

Tylor Perry

Related Videos