Jaycee Cruz - Men's Basketball Coach - Kansas State University Athletics

Jaycee Cruz

Title:
Graduate Student Manager
Email:
jayceecruz@k-state.edu
Phone:
(785) 532-6531

Jaycee Cruz is in his second season as a graduate student manager in 2023-24 for head coach Jerome Tang.

Cruz helped the Wildcats to a remarkable first season in 2022-23, as the team defied preseason expectations to win 26-games and advance to the school's 13th trip to the Elite Eight. The 26 wins are the third-most in school history, trailing the school-record 29 in 2009-10 and the 27 in 2012-13, and just the eighth 25-win campaign.

Cruz assisted in the development of a pair of All-Americans in 2023 Bob Cousy Award winner Markquis Nowell and forward Keyontae Johnson, who became the first duo in school history to each earn the recognition from The Associated Press when they were selected to the Third Team. Both players were named to the All-Big 12 First Team, while Johnson was the league's Newcomer of the Year.

A native of Toronto, Cruz came to K-State after spending time with famed trainers Vaughn Compton and Hank Hibbeler in Scottsdale, Ariz., assisting with player development. Compton and Hibbeler specialize in helping train college players as well as professional and NBA players.

Among the professional players that Cruz helped train, the list includes Oshae Brissett (Syracuse/Boston Celtics), Drew Eubanks (Oregon State/Phoenix Suns) Devon Hall (Virginia/Lega Basket A EuroLeague’s Olimpia Milano), Chandler Hutchison (Boise State/NBA G-League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce), Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin/Atlanta Hawks), Isaiah Miles (St. Joseph’s/Greek Basket League Promitheas Patras), Nate Renfro (San Francisco/NBA G-League’s Austin Spurs) and Richard Solomon (California/VTB United League’s Zenit Saint Petersburg) as well as college players Oakland Fort (Northern Arizona) and Javon Ruffin (Colorado).

Cruz also has experience as a writer and editor for The Northway, a Canadian media platform that seeks to highlight basketball talent north of the border and bring exposure to diamonds in the rough.

Cruz previously spent time in the college ranks at Arkansas, where he served as graduate teaching assistant (2017-19) and a student-athlete development intern (2018-19). He assisted the Director and Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development in helping student-athletes execute their academic, career and personal development while acting as a liaison between the athletes and the athletics department. He planned and helped execute events such as a networking night, resume writing and mock interviews.

Upon earning his master’s from Arkansas in 2020, Cruz spent time as a Market Research Account Coordinator for 4media group U.S. (2019-20) and as a Data Analyst and CRM Manager at Partners International Canada (2020-22).

Cruz earned a bachelor’s degree in communications studies from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario in 2017, while he earned a master’s degree in communications from Arkansas in 2020. He is pursuing a second master’s degree from K-State in Counseling and Student Development.