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Four-Star Big Man Sam Funches Sets Official Visit to Kansas State
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kansas State is making a solid impression on 2026 four-star big man Sam Funches, a towering 6‑foot‑11 forward from Gluckstadt, Mississippi.

Funches has penciled in an official visit to Manhattan from August 29 to 31, signaling serious mutual interest between the prospect and the program.

 

Funches currently ranks among the nation’s top 50 recruits, No. 48 on one board, No. 50 on another, and holds the title of Mississippi’s top junior. He’s already taken trips to Kansas, Ole Miss, and California, and is planning visits to Vanderbilt, Xavier, Mississippi State, LSU, Gonzaga, alongside the Wildcats.

This K‑State visit drops right before fall camp, and it gives head coach Jerome Tang and staff a critical chance to sell their vision in person. Funches has a deep offer list that includes Power Five and high‑major programs like Alabama, Creighton, Indiana, Michigan, and more.

What sells Funches to K‑State is more than just his size. He’s shown nimble footwork on the NXT Pro Circuit with Puma and the ability to stretch the floor with pick‑and‑pop skills and a soft touch around the rim. Combine that with his track of official visits, and it’s clear he sees K‑State as a place to grow, and potentially start, right away.

If Funches follows through on his Kansas State visit, the Wildcats could position themselves well in a crowded recruiting class. At 6‑11 with versatile offensive tools, he fills a need at the rim and could be a future cornerstone in Tang’s system.

The late August weekend will tell whether K‑State made the right pitch or Funches heads elsewhere.

This article first appeared on Heartland College Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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