Kansas State University Athletics
‘His Actions Speak Really Loud’
Feb 25, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Time can either slowly dwindle or move lightning fast this time of year. As his college basketball career shrinks to a handful of regular-season games, Kansas State senior wing David N'Guessan holds onto each precious second, fights for every basket and rebound, and battles for a school and a team that he has loved for three years.
"I mean, I'm trying to help my team out in any way I can," N'Guessan said. "I just play as hard as I can. I feel like that's my job, my role on this team."
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound N'Guessan poured in a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds in a 66-54 loss to Arizona State on Sunday. It marked his eighth career double-double, including his team-leading fifth of the season, and his second 20-point, 10-rebound performance in a season that he doesn't want to end.
K-State's most consistent player, N'Guessan averages a team-high 12.9 points on 63.2% (141-of-223) shooting to go along with 7.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. He has come a long way since he averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in his first season at K-State in 2022-23. A transfer from Virginia Tech, N'Guessan is a fifth-year senior and the only third-year player in a starting role for the Wildcats.
N'Guessan announced on April 30 that he would return to K-State in 2024-25 and use his extra year of eligibility. He has seen action in 90 games at K-State, including 66 starts for an Elite Eight team, a NIT team, and a squad that is currently 13-14 overall and 7-9 in the Big 12 Conference with four regular season games to go.
He has been the glue for a roster this season that has featured 11 newcomers.
"He's playing like a third-year guy in the program that cares," K-State head coach Jerome Tang said. "But I'm going to say that about all these dudes. We made a change on our team where we've gone from being individuals to being guys who are playing for and with each other to now we have a team that's playing for K-State and I'm proud of that, I'm really, really proud of that, and David, obviously, is leading the way, because he's been here the longest."
N'Guessan's steady improvement over three seasons has been a testament to hard work while he has developed a voice over time as well.
"He's way more vocal and way more assertive," Tang said. "His actions speak really loud, you know? That's just a part of the growth process and you love to see that. Hopefully we can get more guys to stick around and see that evolution take place."
N'Guessan was born and raised in De Lier, The Netherlands, and grew up playing hoops. He hit a growth spurt — he went from 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-9 between ages 15 and 17 — that played a part in his decision to come to America to play high school basketball and potentially refine his talents at the collegiate level. He graduated from Mt. Zion Prep in Lanham, Maryland, as one of the top 40 power forwards in the nation. In March 2020, he chose to make Virginia Tech his initial college home over offers from St. Joseph's, VCU and Washington State.
At Virginia Tech, N'Guessan averaged 2.6 points as a freshman and 3.7 points as a sophomore.
He entered the transfer portal right before the May 1, 2022, deadline. His phone rang non-stop his first week on the market, as a bevy of Division I programs sought his talents. He visited K-State and revealed his top eight possible selections (K-State, Maryland, Georgetown, St. Joseph's, George Washington, UMass and Rhode Island) and returned to The Netherlands to spend time with his family and formulate his decision.
"Definitely the people and the relationships I have with the coaches set K-State apart, but also the people that I trust that have known the coaching staff for a long time was big, too," N'Guessan said upon arriving at K-State in August 2022. "I didn't hear anything but great things about them. The Big 12 is obviously a big-time conference."
This season, the Big 12 has tested N'Guessan and the Wildcats, who come off the loss to Arizona State and now travel to face UCF, 14-13 and 5-11, in a 6:00 p.m. tipoff Wednesday in Orlando, Florida.
"One game at a time," N'Guessan said. "We can't let (Arizona State) lead to a slow start at UCF because a slow start on the road can ruin the whole game for you. Coach mentioned in the locker room we have to wash this (loss) and do everything you can to get your body and mind ready for the next game."
N'Guessan, who ranks ninth nationally and tops in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (63.2%), isn't easily rattled.
Exactly where has N'Guessan most improved this season?
"His confidence," Tang said. "He doesn't let a missed shot affect him as much. It used to be if he missed a shot he didn't want to shoot again or if there was a bad play, it lingered. He's shown he has the ability to move onto the next play. That's really a big-time growth for him.
"Once again, I'm very proud of how he's evolved as a player and as a person."
He's a veteran determined to fight to the end.
"I mean, all you can think about is the next game and finishing out the season strong," N'Guessan said. "I still think we have a really good team that can make a late run, and that starts with the next game on Wednesday against UCF. It's just one game at a time and then make some noise in the Big 12 Tournament and go out and win that."
Time can either slowly dwindle or move lightning fast this time of year. As his college basketball career shrinks to a handful of regular-season games, Kansas State senior wing David N'Guessan holds onto each precious second, fights for every basket and rebound, and battles for a school and a team that he has loved for three years.
"I mean, I'm trying to help my team out in any way I can," N'Guessan said. "I just play as hard as I can. I feel like that's my job, my role on this team."
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound N'Guessan poured in a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds in a 66-54 loss to Arizona State on Sunday. It marked his eighth career double-double, including his team-leading fifth of the season, and his second 20-point, 10-rebound performance in a season that he doesn't want to end.
K-State's most consistent player, N'Guessan averages a team-high 12.9 points on 63.2% (141-of-223) shooting to go along with 7.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. He has come a long way since he averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in his first season at K-State in 2022-23. A transfer from Virginia Tech, N'Guessan is a fifth-year senior and the only third-year player in a starting role for the Wildcats.
N'Guessan announced on April 30 that he would return to K-State in 2024-25 and use his extra year of eligibility. He has seen action in 90 games at K-State, including 66 starts for an Elite Eight team, a NIT team, and a squad that is currently 13-14 overall and 7-9 in the Big 12 Conference with four regular season games to go.
He has been the glue for a roster this season that has featured 11 newcomers.
"He's playing like a third-year guy in the program that cares," K-State head coach Jerome Tang said. "But I'm going to say that about all these dudes. We made a change on our team where we've gone from being individuals to being guys who are playing for and with each other to now we have a team that's playing for K-State and I'm proud of that, I'm really, really proud of that, and David, obviously, is leading the way, because he's been here the longest."
N'Guessan's steady improvement over three seasons has been a testament to hard work while he has developed a voice over time as well.
"He's way more vocal and way more assertive," Tang said. "His actions speak really loud, you know? That's just a part of the growth process and you love to see that. Hopefully we can get more guys to stick around and see that evolution take place."
N'Guessan was born and raised in De Lier, The Netherlands, and grew up playing hoops. He hit a growth spurt — he went from 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-9 between ages 15 and 17 — that played a part in his decision to come to America to play high school basketball and potentially refine his talents at the collegiate level. He graduated from Mt. Zion Prep in Lanham, Maryland, as one of the top 40 power forwards in the nation. In March 2020, he chose to make Virginia Tech his initial college home over offers from St. Joseph's, VCU and Washington State.
At Virginia Tech, N'Guessan averaged 2.6 points as a freshman and 3.7 points as a sophomore.
He entered the transfer portal right before the May 1, 2022, deadline. His phone rang non-stop his first week on the market, as a bevy of Division I programs sought his talents. He visited K-State and revealed his top eight possible selections (K-State, Maryland, Georgetown, St. Joseph's, George Washington, UMass and Rhode Island) and returned to The Netherlands to spend time with his family and formulate his decision.
"Definitely the people and the relationships I have with the coaches set K-State apart, but also the people that I trust that have known the coaching staff for a long time was big, too," N'Guessan said upon arriving at K-State in August 2022. "I didn't hear anything but great things about them. The Big 12 is obviously a big-time conference."
This season, the Big 12 has tested N'Guessan and the Wildcats, who come off the loss to Arizona State and now travel to face UCF, 14-13 and 5-11, in a 6:00 p.m. tipoff Wednesday in Orlando, Florida.
"One game at a time," N'Guessan said. "We can't let (Arizona State) lead to a slow start at UCF because a slow start on the road can ruin the whole game for you. Coach mentioned in the locker room we have to wash this (loss) and do everything you can to get your body and mind ready for the next game."
N'Guessan, who ranks ninth nationally and tops in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (63.2%), isn't easily rattled.
Exactly where has N'Guessan most improved this season?
"His confidence," Tang said. "He doesn't let a missed shot affect him as much. It used to be if he missed a shot he didn't want to shoot again or if there was a bad play, it lingered. He's shown he has the ability to move onto the next play. That's really a big-time growth for him.
"Once again, I'm very proud of how he's evolved as a player and as a person."
He's a veteran determined to fight to the end.
"I mean, all you can think about is the next game and finishing out the season strong," N'Guessan said. "I still think we have a really good team that can make a late run, and that starts with the next game on Wednesday against UCF. It's just one game at a time and then make some noise in the Big 12 Tournament and go out and win that."
Players Mentioned
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