**Click the Video Player at right for a conversation with Shane Southwell about his college decision.**
Shane Southwell has known for some time where he wanted to play his college ball.
Now it’s official.
The 6-foot-7, 205-pound guard out of Manhattan Rice has committed to Kansas State.
“I’m committing to Kansas State University,” he said Monday. “I actually made it Friday but I probably knew that I was going to this school since early September.”
Marquette and Providence showed some interest early, but K-State and head coach Frank Martin have been his biggest fans.
“I went there last weekend [Sept. 25-26],” Southwell said. “The whole campus is beautiful. The teammates were great, the coaching staff was great. The fans were crazy. They love their basketball and their football.”
Southwell stayed with New York products Curtis Kelly, a former Rice standout, and Jordan Henriquez.
“It made me feel like it was family, like I had already been to the school,” he said. “It made me feel comfortable.”
The No. 123 prospect in the nation according to Rivals, Southwell is a versatile player who says he can play either guard spot at K-State.
“I will be playing point or shooting guard. I’m a combo guard,” he said.
Southwell plays the point at times for Rice, giving him an advantage over smaller guards.
“It helps a lot because I see the court better than the people 5-10 or 6-2,” he said. “I can post up smaller guards. When teams don’t know who I am they’ll put a 6-6 person on me who can’t guard me or is not quick enough.”
Moe Hicks, Southwell’s coach at Rice, says Southwell is a smart player who can play multiple positions.
“I think he’s a cerebral player,” Hicks said. “He’s very smart. He understands the game. He has a high IQ for the game. Some people struggle with Shane’s position but when you put him on the floor he does a lot of good things.
“He’s an asset. He has the ability to play more than one position. His versatility can give a team like Kansas State a lot of options.”
Southwell recently got a chance to interview LeBron James for BET and the reigning NBA MVP gave him this advice: “Just keep up the great work. You’re already tall enough. Just work hard, man. Work hard always and you’ll be a success.”
On the academic front, Southwell plans to take the SAT a second time next month.
“I”m taking my SAT again in November. I have to keep my grades up,” he said.
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