Report: Former Samford forward Achor Achor commits to Kansas State

According to Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68, former Samford forward Achor Achor has committed to Kansas State. A big win for Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang, adding one of the best available players out of the NCAA transfer portal. Achor will have two more years of eligibility remaining, choosing to spend them in Manhattan.

“Kansas State has landed Samford transfer Achor Achor, source told @thefieldof68,” Goodman said via X. “Achor averaged 16 points and 6 boards last season.”

Achor spent the last two years at Samford, being a first-team All-SoCon selection for the 2023-2024 season. He averaged 16.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, leading the Bulldogs in both categories.

Folks around the country learned about Achor during the NCAA Tournament, being a huge part of Samford’s near upset of Kansas in the first round. Scoring 23 points and securing eight rebounds was nearly enough to see them through.

Kansas State fans will certainly appreciate putting up a good performance against Kansas, hoping Achor can have two of them during the 2024-2025 season. There might not be a quicker way into their hearts than showing out in the Sunflower Showdown.

In total, Tang has brought seven transfers into the program this season. He’s hoping to put together a better third season in charge after falling short of expectations last year and making the NIT. After all, the bar was set quite high by making the Elite Eight in 2023.

Other schools were in the mix to add Achor, with an official visit taking place to Auburn earlier in the month. Auburn and Samford are separated by just over 100 miles and would have been a nice addition for head coach Bruce Pearl.

The Tigers do have some frontcourt depth, though. Johni Broome is one of the best returning players in the SEC, while Dylan Cardwell is back for his fifth season of college basketball. While Achor would have been a big piece of the rotation, Pearl likely would have rocked with the two guys coming back for the starting spots.

Louisville and Oklahoma were thought to be in pursuit as well.

Per the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings, Achor was the No. 86 overall player to enter this cycle. At the forward position, he ranked at No. 17.

On3 is higher on Achor than the rest of the industry, having him at No. 17 in the country and No. 4 at the forward position.