Good Morning, Illini Nation: Final word on Coleman Hawkins

Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood’s team and college basketball at large:

Coleman Hawkins arrived in Manhattan, Kan., last week. The start of one final season of college basketball for Kansas State after four years at Illinois. Hawkins' decision to play that final year for the Wildcats simply gives him and Brad Underwood even more in common. The Illini coach played for Kansas State and later returned as an assistant coach under Bob Huggins and Frank Martin.

"I wanted him to go where he felt like he could be a major contributor," Underwood said of Hawkins. "Obviously, I know a lot of people there. The Wildcats are always close to the heart as a former player and coach there. Happy for him and happy for them.

"They've getting a really, really good player. I've said it. Coleman is a savant when it comes to basketball. He'll help them and help those players in terms of his knowledge, his understanding. His ability to manage a scouting report is as good as anybody I've had. He's in a good place."