Kansas State guard PJ Haggerty is still very much in the mix-and still very much a Wildcat.
Despite a recent report suggesting otherwise, Haggerty has not opted out of the season over NIL-related issues. That initial claim, which gained some traction earlier in the week, has since been widely discredited. No official sources from Kansas State or Haggerty’s camp have confirmed any such development, and the program has made it clear: Haggerty is locked in.
The report, which surfaced Tuesday, claimed Haggerty was stepping away from the team due to unfulfilled Name, Image, and Likeness compensation and even hinted at potential legal action. But that narrative quickly unraveled. Kansas State assistant coach Jareem Dowling even took to social media to poke fun at the situation, signaling just how far off-base the report was.
And if you need any more proof that Haggerty’s not going anywhere, just listen to head coach Jerome Tang. After the Wildcats’ recent win over South Dakota, Tang didn’t hold back in praising Haggerty’s commitment-not just to the team, but to the grind of getting better.
“He really cares,” Tang said. “He cares about his teammates.
He cares about winning. He cares about becoming a better player.
He wants to improve, he wants to grow his game. From the outside, you can see he's a good player when he's someplace else, but you never know how invested a young person is till they get here.
So that's been impressive.”
And Haggerty’s investment is showing up on the court.
After a rocky stretch that included four straight losses, Kansas State has flipped the script with three straight wins. In their most recent victory, Haggerty looked every bit the star they hoped he’d be, pouring in 24 points and hitting 83 percent of his shots. He attacked the rim with confidence and efficiency, a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when he’s in rhythm.
That’s the version of Haggerty Kansas State will need as they head into the teeth of Big 12 play. The Wildcats are gearing up for a tough stretch that includes matchups with BYU, Arizona, and Houston-teams that won’t give up anything easy. But if Haggerty can maintain his aggressive play and continue evolving in Tang’s system, he could be a difference-maker down the stretch.
And it’s not just about scoring. Tang pointed to the team’s defensive growth as a key area of progress, even if it doesn’t always show up on the scoreboard.
“We’ve made progress,” Tang said. “It may not always show up there.
Like sometimes, you see the score and you’re like, ‘Why did we give up so many points?’ But I think the communication is getting better, the switching is getting better, and being in the right spot in ball screen coverages is getting better.
We’ve learned what type of coverage they are better suited for, especially our forwards, and so we’re coming along.”
Before the Wildcats dive into conference play, they’ve got one more non-conference test on the schedule: a Sunday afternoon matchup against Louisiana-Monroe. It’s a chance to fine-tune, build momentum, and keep the noise outside the locker room where it belongs.
For now, Kansas State has its eyes forward-and PJ Haggerty is right there with them.