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When the Purple and Black TBT team was announced, a few names stood out immediately. Kamau Stokes was one of those names. If you’re at all interested in Kansas State basketball (and I’m going to go out on a limb and guess you are if you’re reading this article) you’re already familiar with Kamau.
As a refresher, here are the basics.
Kamau Stokes
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6’1”
Home Town: Baltimore, Maryland
High School: Fork Union Military Academy
Kansas State Career: 2015-2019
Career Stats (Per Game)
Points: 10.4
Assists: 3.5
Steals: 1.1
Rebounds: 2.7
FG%: .367
3 PT%: .348
Career Stats (Totals)
Minutes Played: 3602 (22nd in Big12 History)
Points: 1242
Assists: 415
Rebounds: 318
Steals: 135
3-Pointers Made: 207
Wins: 88
Stokes is one of three Wildcats to finish his career with over 1,000 points, 200 3-point field goals, 400 assists, and 100 steals.
Post Kansas State
Kamau has been on a tour of Europe since leaving the thriving metropolis of Manhattan, Kansas. He started off in Poland, moved to Sweden and will by plying his trade in Hungary next season. I can think of worse fates than getting payed to play basketball while checking out the rest of the world.
Stokes hasn’t just been traveling around and earning a pay check, he’s been balling out and picking up rings. Last season he helped lead the Norrkoping Dolphins (there is an umlaut over the o, but I’m not sure how to go about adding it in this editor) to the Swedish Basketball League championship.
On the season he averaged 14.2 points, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.2 rebounds while averaging 25.3 points a game. He caught fire in the playoffs, and was especially good in the finals.
Our guy Kamau Stokes (@KansasState3) flirting with a triple double ... 9pts, 8rebs, 9asts @DolphinsBasket 1-0 in the FINALS ✅#FlexBasketball https://t.co/Bpnv7TptZA
— Julius Kim (@JuliusKim_) May 22, 2021
Double Double for our client Kamau Stokes @KansasState3 ... 12pts 10reb 4asts 2-0 in FINALS for @DolphinsBasket ✅ #BigGuard #FlexBasketball https://t.co/FLDyuiKJNQ
— Julius Kim (@JuliusKim_) May 24, 2021
⚡️There is one player you should stay tuned..his name @KansasState3 #eurobasket #sweden #BCL #basketballcl #eurocup #vtbl #plkpl #ligaendesa
— Christos Harpidis (@chrisalucard) May 27, 2021
Kamau Stokes with 21pts, 7asts, 4rebs. is one game away from being a champion in 1st division Sweden with @DolphinsBasket! #basketball pic.twitter.com/8SYidxOjhN
Please welcome the CHAMPION!! @DolphinsBasket got a sweep vs @SodertaljeBBK in the @sbl_herr finals (4-0)with a big performance by @KansasState3 ! The former @KStateMBB PG had an amazing season leading to a well deserved Championship! Proud of you Kamau . pic.twitter.com/o35vajPxlM
— Flex Basketball Management (@Flexbball) May 29, 2021
Säsongens sista segersång! #förNorrköping #dolphinsbasket #SBL #basketse pic.twitter.com/0QCFAnHOo6
— Norrköping Dolphins (@DolphinsBasket) May 29, 2021
After making his mark in Sweden, Kamau has his sights set on Hungarian basketball domination next season.
Signing Alert 2021-22
— Flex Basketball Management (@Flexbball) July 3, 2021
We're proud to announce that @KansasState3 signed with @EgisKormend ! Kamau comes from a huge season where he was League Champion with @DolphinsBasket . We're excited to see all his talent in Hungary to another Championship Run ! Congrats my guy ✍️ pic.twitter.com/E5jhKrI2wO
What To Expect in the TBT
Stokes is the exact type of player you want on your TBT team. He’s in peak physical condition, brimming with confidence, and capable of holding his own on both offense and defense. The TBT tends to be guard dominated, and having a young guard like Stokes lead the way is ideal.
The interesting thing about the TBT is occasionally get big names from the past who clearly haven’t been playing competitive ball outside of the local rec center. You can easily pick those guys out because they can’t guard anyone and tend to start sucking wind 2 or 3 minutes into a run. That won’t be an issue with for Stokes.
TBT Info
Purple and Black face off against the Omaha Blue Crew (Creighton) on July 16th in Wichita at 3 PM. If you’re in the area, it should be a fun game to check out in person.
I’m working on something with the TBT that I hope to get off the ground in the next couple days.
Stay tuned.