Coleman Hawkins chooses Kansas State, reportedly secures $2M NIL deal

Coleman Hawkins - a former Illinois forward and one of the top players in the offseason's transfer portal - will play for Kansas State next season, he told ON3's Alex Weber on Friday.

Hawkins will receive what's considered the largest NIL deal in college basketball, with $2 million worth of deals negotiated, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The 6-foot-10 senior entered the portal and the NBA draft process before pulling out of the draft right at the deadline.

Playing for a Fighting Illini squad that advanced to the Elite Eight, Hawkins was an All-Big Ten member last season, averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 36.9% from 3-point range.

His versatile inside-out game with NBA potential will provide a boost for a Kansas State team that made the Elite Eight two seasons ago in head coach Jerome Tang's first campaign before missing the 2024 field entirely with a 19-15 record.