It's one of those YouTube clips you're just not sure is on the level.
In the clip, shirtless Kansas State guard Denis Clemente (15.0 ppg, 3.5 apg, .405 FG, .366 3PT, .798 FT) takes six choppy steps and launches a shot from behind the baseline on the court at Bramlage Coliseum into the scoreboard that hangs above the center circle. The ball hits the scoreboard, takes one bounce off the floor and swishes through the net.
"It's legit," coach Frank Martin said. "He's made it three times."
OK, so it's not the most useful shot to have in your repertoire.
Fortunately, Clemente, a 6-1 senior, has a full array of ways to score, which he put on display last year in his first season in Manhattan after transferring from Miami.
He ranked 11th in the Big 12 in scoring and 10th in assists. Despite the fact Clemente was allowed to practice with the team in 2007-08 while he sat out, Martin thought it took a while for the Puerto Rico native to shake off the rust. "Denis, like all transfers early in the year, was trying to feel comfortable about his game and our team and figure out what he could and couldn't do and get himself acclimated to playing again," Martin said. "That redshirt year is difficult. As the year progressed, he got better and better. He had a heckuva year."
If you check K-State's stats carefully, you'll see Martin was dead-on. Clemente's scoring average in Big 12 play jumped to 18.4 points per game, good for fifth in the league in conference-only games. He dropped 44 points on No. 12 Texas in a shocking upset of the Longhorns, hitting all 12 of his free-throw attempts and all six of his three-point attempts. He had 33 against No. 8 Missouri, and he added 26 against No. 16 Kansas.
All of those efforts came in an eight-game stretch in the middle-of-the-league schedule.
Martin believes more of the same is on the way. "He has had as productive a spring and summer as any player I've ever been around," Martin said. "His body weight is up to about 180, and he has worked on his game religiously. He's a much better player than he was one year ago, and we expect him to continue to be our leader."
PLAYERS
Clemente teams with 6-0 junior Jacob Pullen (13.9 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.6 spg) to form a backcourt that is a handful for any tandem in the Big 12. Like Clemente, Pullen proved capable of some breakout scoring performances. He went for 20 or more on eight occasions, including a career-high 32 in a first-round NIT win over Illinois State.
Pullen led the Wildcats in three-pointers with 75 (in 224 attempts, .335). He led the team in steals (54) as well. He has earned Martin's admiration for developing his game as much on one end as the other. "Jacob showed tremendous growth from his freshman to sophomore year," Martin said. "And he's not a young kid anymore. He's a seasoned veteran, something we haven't had since we've been here. He knows what we want as a staff. He's a way better athlete with his conditioning, strength and explosiveness than he was two years ago. He's a combo guard, and he has made himself into a big-time defender."
What Martin would like to see more out of from Pullen is steadiness on the offensive end. He followed up four of his 20-plus games with single-digit scoring games. "Offensively he had some great, great moments last year," Martin said. "With more maturity he can find that more consistent number rather than a great game then a bad game."
Two starters return in the frontcourt.
Senior center Luis Colon (4.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg) brings a sizable presence to the lineup (6-10, 265). Colon has improved steadily, and he was able to break into the starting lineup last season after Michael Beasley and Bill Walker departed early for the NBA. He averaged 18.2 minutes per game, which makes his numbers look better when you consider the playing time. He and Pullen were the only Wildcats to start all 34 games last season. "Luis has earned his stripes," Martin said. "I know I can trust him. I see how much he has improved from last year to this year."
Dominique Sutton (7.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.1 spg) was in the same freshman class with Pullen, Walker and Beasley. The 6-5 junior is the team's leading returning rebounder. Like Pullen, he has made strides through his first two seasons, and now Martin is ramping up his expectations. "He's another one that's a seasoned vet now," Martin said. "He made tremendous strides last season. He's another one who has had a great summer, very productive in terms of strength, conditioning, agility and speed. He and Jacob went overseas on the East Coast All-Stars this summer. The team was undefeated and the two of them were the leading scorers. I think both of them will continue to spread their wings."
The probable fifth starter, at least in the early going, is Jamar Samuels (8.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg). The 6-7 sophomore burst from the gates after redshirting in 2007-08. He finished fourth on the team in scoring and among the leaders in rebounding. He appeared in all 34 games, even making a couple of starts.
"Jamar is basically your highly competitive athlete," Martin said. "That's what he is. We chose to red-shirt him because he was too thin and we had too many guys at his position. It didn't make any sense for him to burn a year of eligibility. As a freshman this past year, he had some great moments for us. "He has put on about 20 pounds [to 215]. We're excited about him. He has a better understanding now, of the game and of what we want. He knows how tough it is to succeed in the Big 12. He has grown physically and mentally."
There will be a lot of competition in the frontcourt. Several newcomers will factor into the mix, and it's possible one or more could shake up the starting lineup.
Transfer Curtis Kelly (2.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 7.6 mpg at Connecticut in 2007-08), a 6-8, 237-pound junior, is coming eligible after sitting out last season per NCAA rules. He's another wide body who can bang on the inside and help on the boards.
Martin says at the very least Kelly passes the airport test: He definitely looks the part getting off the plane. "He's like a linebacker who looks good in shorts and a cutoff," Martin said. "He looks great. But when they put the pads on, that's when you determine can you play. Running, physically, everything looks great. We need to see what he can do when he's asked to go out there. I think he'll be fine. "Like I said about Denis, all transfers take a little time, but Curt has put in the time. He's down to 236, 237, from 260 when he first got here. He has put in the time to make himself better. He can be a presence at the rim. He can score, rebound, block shots. He has a high skill level and high IQ as a power player."
In addition to Kelly, a couple of members of a freshman class ranked No. 20 nationally by Rivals.com will see some minutes up front. The highest-ranked player in the class is 6-9 forward Wally Judge (18.5 ppg, 17.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, .645 FG, Arlington Country Day/Jacksonville, Fla.), a double-double machine in the prep ranks. He posted double-doubles in 30 of 32 games. "Not too many 6-9 guys run like he does," Martin said. "He runs like the wind. He's explosive and big. He's a huge talent."
Jordan Henriquez (11.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.5 bpg, The Winchendon School/Winchendon, Mass.) is a 6-11 post with tremendous length and size. He also runs well and should be a good fit for Martin's system.
The guards in the recruiting class also have some potential to break through -- maybe not into the starting lineup but in important backup roles. The best among them is shooting guard Rodney McGruder (23.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, .515 FG, .420 3PT, .781 FT, Arlington Country Day/Jacksonville, Fla.), a high school teammate of Judge. "Rodney is a 6-5 athletic wing that has ability to shoot the ball and has this demeanor and approach to work ethic and everything that not too many 18-year-olds have," Martin said.
The class is rounded out by Nick Russell (17.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, Grace Prep/Arlington, Texas), a 6-4 combo guard, and Martavious Irving (15.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.4 spg, .552 FG, .437 3PT, Boyd Anderson HS/Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), a 6-3 wing.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
BACKCOURT: B+
BENCH/DEPTH: C+
FRONTCOURT: B+
INTANGIBLES: B-
Martin has no worries in the backcourt.
Yes, Clemente and Pullen can have trouble against bigger guard tandems, but they create problems, too.
Last year defensive rebounding and depth were the big questions for the Wildcats. Now they return four starters and five of their top six players, and they add an excellent recruiting class. If Judge and McGruder deliver big freshman seasons, it's not hard to imagine K-State as an NCAA tournament team.
"We'll be reliant upon guys that haven't played for K-State yet," Martin said. "But we're expecting them to give us tremendous depth. They should and will, but they've never worn a K-State uniform. How fast and how well and how they adapt will be the story of our season."
