American · Cheverly, Maryland, USA · Born 9 January 1989Kansas State forward who led the nation in rebounding and won Big 12 Player of the Year in his only college season, regarded as one of the best freshman campaigns in NCAA history.
Michael Paul Beasley Jr. was born on 9 January 1989 in Cheverly, Maryland, and arrived at Kansas State in 2007 as the top-ranked high school recruit in the country, having been named McDonald's All-American Game MVP. His single season with the Wildcats transformed a struggling program, helping Kansas State reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years. As a true freshman in 2007-08, Beasley averaged 26.2 points and a nation-leading 12.4 rebounds per game, earning Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors five times and Player of the Week honors four times across the season. He became just the fourth player in Kansas State history to win Big 12 Player of the Year and was named the league's Freshman of the Year in the same season - a rare double - while leading the Wildcats to a 21-12 record and their first tournament win in two decades. Beasley swept national freshman honors, winning the USBWA National Freshman of the Year award and the Pete Newell Big Man Award, and was named a consensus first-team All-American alongside a class that included D.J. Augustin, Tyler Hansbrough, and Kevin Love. He was also a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award. Beasley declared for the NBA draft after his single college season and was selected second overall by the Miami Heat in 2008. He went on to an 11-season NBA career across seven teams, later playing in China's CBA - where he was named Foreign MVP in 2016 - and continuing his career in the BIG3 3-on-3 league into his mid-30s.
Averaging 26.2 points and a nation-leading 12.4 rebounds in his single, dominant freshman season at Kansas State
How They Played
Ambidextrous, high-volume scoring forward with an unusually advanced offensive skill set for his position, dominant on the boards despite playing on the perimeter as often as in the post
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the greatest single-season freshman performances in college basketball history, whose one year in Manhattan transformed the Kansas State program and drew a generation of talent to the school
Career Honours
- 2008 Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year
- 2008 Consensus First-Team All-American
- 2008 NCAA Rebounding Leader (12.4 rpg)
- 2008 USBWA National Freshman of the Year
American Athletes