Will McNair Jr.

K-State Men's Basketball vs. West Virginia, February 26, 2024. FINAL: KSU 94, WV 90

(Photo: Lexi Doherty/K-State Sports)

Photo by: Lexi Doherty/K-State Sports

Position:
Center
Ht./Wt.:
6-11 / 265
Class:
Fifth Year
Hometown:
Philadelphia, Pa.
High School:
Martin Luther King Jr
Prev School:
New Mexico State / Mississippi State

FEATURES (click on headline for link)

McNair Kept Going (K-State Sports Extra, March 8, 2024)
McNair Bet on Himself, and it's Paying Off (K-State Sports Extra, Dec. 15, 2023)

CAREER OVERVIEW

Transferred to K-State in September 2023 after 1 season at Mississippi State (2022-23) and 3 seasons at New Mexico State (2019-22).
Saw action in 149 games with 48 starts in his college career at New Mexico State, Mississippi State and K-State, leading teams to a 104-49 (.680) record with a pair of 25-win seasons, two regular-season conference championships (2020, 2022), one tournament championship (2022) and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2022, 2023).
Scored more than 700 points (4.8 ppg.) in his college career on 56 percent (312-of-557) shooting from the field to go with nearly 600 rebounds (3.8 rpg.) and more than 100 blocks (0.7 bpg.) while averaging just under 17 minutes (16.4 mpg.) per game.
Totaled 27 career double-digit scoring games, including a career-high 18 points at UTEP (12/3/21) while playing at New Mexico State.
Registered 3 double-doubles in his career… Posted a 12-point, career-best 15-rebound effort vs. Indiana State (11/21/21) and a 14-point, 14-rebound performance vs. Seattle (2/21/22) while playing at New Mexico State… Earned his first double-double at K-State with a season-high 17 points and a season-tying 10 rebounds at No. 14/15 Kansas (3/5/24).
Played his best all-around season of his college career at K-State in 2023-24, playing in 33 of 34 games with 19 starts… Averaged 8.0 points on a team-best 62.4 percent (116-of-186) shooting with 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 22.8 minutes per game… Scored in double figures in 13 games, including a season-high 17 points at No. 14/15 Kansas (3/5/24).
Helped Mississippi State return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 with a 21-13 overall record, including an 8-10 mark in SEC play, in his lone season in Starkville… Was one of six players to see action in all 34 games, averaging 3.3 points on 45.2 percent (47-of-104) shooting with 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 12.6 minutes per game.
Played in 82 games with 37 starts in his New Mexico State career, helping the Aggies win 64 games and earn a pair of WAC regular-season championships (2020, 2022) to go with a run to the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Averaged 4.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 15.5 minutes per game his 82-game career with New Mexico State, hitting on 55.8 percent (149-of-267) from the field… His best season as an Aggie came during the school’s remarkable run during the 2021-22 season, as the squad won 27 games, captured both the WAC regular-season and tournament championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after an upset of UConn… Ranked fourth on the team in scoring (6.6 ppg.) and third in rebounding (5.0 rpg.) while hitting on 54.9 percent (101-of-184) from the field.
Originally from Philadelphia, McNair split his high school career between Parkway Center City Prep School and Martin Luther King High School, where his teams averaged more than 19 wins during his junior and senior seasons.

Career-High Points: 18 at UTEP (12/3/21) while at New Mexico State
Career-High Rebounds: 15 vs. Indiana State (11/21/21) while at New Mexico State
Career-High Assists: 5 vs. Indiana State (11/21/21) while at New Mexico State
Career-High Blocks: 3, three occasions
Career-High Blocks: 5 at Texas Tech (1/13/24) while at K-State

AS A SENIOR AT K-STATE (2023-24) | 8.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Helped guide the Wildcats to a 19-15 overall record, including a tie for ninth in the Big 12 with an 8-10 mark, and a trip to the NIT.
Saw action in 33 of 34 games with 19 starts, averaging 22.8 minutes per game… Came off the bench in the last 13 games after starting the previous 19.
Averaged 8.0 points on a team-best 62.4 percent (116-of-186) shooting with 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game… Connected on 53.7 percent (29-of-54) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 13 games, including a season-high 17 points at No. 14/15 Kansas (3/5/24) on 7-of-9 field goals… Finished with 3 double-digit scoring games in the last 5 games, including 15 points at Iowa (3/19/24) on 7-of-10 shooting in the NIT First Round… Tallied 13 points in wins at LSU (12/9/23) and vs. West Virginia (2/26/24).
Earned his first (and only) double-double as a Wildcat at No. 14/15 Kansas (3/5/24) with a season-high 17 points and a season-tying 10 rebounds.
Finished third on the team in all 4 rebounding categories… Totaled 177 on the season, including 132 on the defensive end… Twice grabbed double-digit boards with 10 at No. 21/19 BYU (2/10/24) and at No. 14/15 Kansas (3/5/24).
Led the team in blocked shots (39), ranking eighth in the Big 12… Posted a career-best 5 blocks at Texas Tech (1/13/24) while he had 4 vs. No. 7/8 Iowa State (3/14/24).
Saw action in all 18 Big 12 games… Averaged 7.9 points on a team-best 64.6 percent (62-of-96) shooting in league-only games with 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 25 minutes per game… Connected on 51.5 percent (17-fo-33) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 7 Big 12 games (5 wins), including in back-to-back games vs. No. 25/21 BYU (11 points, 2/24/24) and West Virginia (13 points, 2/26/24).
Coached by Jerome Tang.

AS A SENIOR AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (2022-23) | 3.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.5 BPG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Led the Bulldogs to a 21-13 overall record, including a tie for ninth in the SEC with an 8-10 mark, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Saw action in all 34 games with a start, averaging 12.6 minutes per game.
Averaged 3.3 points on 45.2 percent (47-of-104) shooting with 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game… Connected on 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 3 games, including a season-high 13 points vs. Ole Miss (1/7/23) on 5-of-7 shooting… Twice scored 10 points vs. Alabama (12/28/22) and Florida (1/21/23).
Totaled 112 rebounds on the year, including 81 on the defensive end… Grabbed a season-high 7 rebounds on 3 occasions, including vs. No. 10 Alabama (12/28/22).
Ranked third on the team with 17 blocked shots… Twice had a season-high 2 blocks, including on the road at South Carolina (1/31/23) and at home vs. Texas A&M (2/25/23).
Earned a start vs. Omaha (11/28/22), playing 16 minutes.
Posted 3 points and 6 rebounds in his first game vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (11/7/22).
Saw action in all 18 SEC games… Averaged 3.6 points on 52.9 percent (27-of-51) shooting in league-only games with 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 12.8 minutes per game… Connected on 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the free throw line.
All 3 double-digit scoring games came in SEC play.
Coached by Chris Jans.

AS A JUNIOR AT NEW MEXICO STATE (2021-22) | 6.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.0 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Helped the Aggies to a 27-7 overall record, including a WAC regular-season title with a 14-4 mark… Won the WAC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where they knocked off UConn in the first round before falling to Arkansas in the second round.
Saw action in all 34 games with 27 starts, averaging 22.9 minutes per game.
Averaged 6.6 points on 54.9 percent (101-of-184) shooting with 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.7 blocks per game… Connected on 52.8 percent (19-of-36) from the free throw line.
Finished fourth on the team in scoring (6.6 ppg.) and third in rebounding (3.0 rpg.) and field goals made (101)… Also was second in blocked shots (25).
Scored in double figures in 9 games, including a career-high 18 points in a road win at UTEP (12/3/21) on 9-of-12 shooting in nearly 26 minutes… Also had 17 points vs. UTRGV (1/8/22).
Collected two double-doubles, including 12 points and 15 rebounds vs. Indiana State (11/21/21) and 14 points and 14 rebound at Seattle (2/21/22).
Totaled 169 rebounds on the year, including a team-best 56 offensive boards… Twice registered double-digit rebounds, including a career-high 15 vs. Indiana State (11/21/21).
Posted 25 blocked shots, including a season-high 3 at New Mexico (11/30/21).
Saw action in 17 WAC games with 12 starts… Averaged 5.6 points on 51.2 percent (44-of-86) shooting in league-only games with 4.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 21.2 minutes per game… Connected on 40 percent (6-of-15) from the free throw line.
Coached by Chris Jans.

AS A SOPHOMORE AT NEW MEXICO STATE (2020-21) | 3.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.4 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Helped the Aggies to a 12-8 overall record, including a 7-6 mark in WAC play… Made a run to the WAC Tournament Final before falling to top-seed Grand Canyon.
Saw action in all 20 games with a start, averaging 12.9 minutes per game.
Averaged 3.1 points on 57.4 percent (27-of-47) shooting with 3.2 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game… Connected on 50 percent (7-of-14) from the free throw line.
Scored a season-high 12 points vs. Cal Baptist (2/6/21), connecting on 5-of-6 field goals, including the first 3-pointer of his career.
Made his first college start at Cal State Northridge (12/28/20), finishing with 3 points and 6 rebounds in 32 minutes.
Totaled 64 rebounds on the year for an average of 3.2 per game… Was fourth on the team with 21 offensive rebounds… Twice finished with a season-high 8 rebounds.
Played in 13 WAC games… Averaged 3.0 points on 68 percent (17-of-25) shooting in league-only games with 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 11.2 minutes per game… Connected on 50 percent (4-of-8) from the free throw line.
Coached by Chris Jans.

AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT NEW MEXICO STATE (2019-20) | 1.8 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.1 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Helped the Aggies to a 25-6 overall record, including a perfect 16-0 mark as the WAC regular-season champions… Ended the year on a 19-game winning streak that ranked second nationally… The WAC Tournament and NCAA Tournament were canceled due to COVID-19.
Saw action in 28 of the team’s 31 games, averaging 8.3 minutes per game.
Averaged 1.8 points on 58.3 percent (21-of-36) shooting with 1.6 rebounds per game… Connected on 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the free throw line.
Ranked second on the team in blocked shots (12).
Scored in double figures in his first college game, posting 11 points on 4-of-5 field goals with 7 rebounds vs. Western New Mexico (11/5/19) in 17 minutes.
Played in 13 WAC games… Averaged 1.2 points on 40 percent (6-of-15) shooting in league-only games with 1.2 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 8.2 minutes per game… Connected on 75 percent (3-of-4) from the free throw line.
Coached by Chris Jans.

AS A FRESHMAN AT NEW MEXICO STATE (2018-19)

Was redshirt as a true freshman.

HIGH SCHOOL

Played his junior and senior seasons at Martin Luther King High School in Philadelphia, Pa. … Helped the Cougars advance to consecutive PIAA Class 5A State Tournaments, including a trip to the second round to cap a 21-10 record as a junior in 2017.
Spent his first two years at Parkway Center City High School, leading the Bulldogs to the second round of the PIAA Class AA Tournament as a sophomore in 2016 and the first round as a freshman in 2015.

PERSONAL

William Gerald Scott McNair Jr. was born on May 25, 2000, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Parents are William Thomas and Kimberly Davis… Has four siblings (Tyrell, Tyron, Janayah and Zamire), including twin brothers.
Completed his bachelor's degree from New Mexico State in May 2022… Working towards an undergraduate certificate in conflict resolution.