MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of Kansas City area standout Taj Manning (Grandview, Mo./La Lumiere School [Ind.]) to a National Letter of Intent on the first day of the Fall National Signing Period on Wednesday (November 10). He will be a freshman at K-State in the 2022-23 season.
A 6-foot-8, 215-pound power forward, Manning currently plays for prep school powerhouse La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana after standout high school careers at both Grandview and Bishop Miege High Schools. He is rated among the top 200 prospects nationally (No. 191 by 247Sports), including the top-40 power forwards (No. 38 by 247Sports). He is a consensus 3-star prospect by both 247Sports and Rivals.
“We are really excited to welcome Taj and his family to K-State,” said Weber. “He is not just a great fit for what we were looking for in this recruiting class from a position standpoint, but just a great fit for our program.”
Manning transferred to the La Lumiere School after guiding Bishop Miege to a 22-1 overall record and their sixth Class 4A State Championship this past spring. The Stags dominated their competition, losing just one game all season (a 68-55 setback to Class 6A Blue Valley Northwest) and defeating their other 22 opponents by an average of 30.4 points per game. They won their five playoff games by an average of 42.6 points, including a 94-40 victory over Louisburg in the championship game. He registered a double-double in the state championship game, posting 18 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.