Colemand Hawkins has been a productive four-year contributor in the front court for the Illinois Fighting Illini. After testing the NBA Draft waters each of the last two years, Hawkins is ready for the next step of his carer, but it doesn’t involve turning pro or returning to the Illini.

Hawkins has committed to Kansas State in the transfer portal, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. Hawkins is signing a $2 million deal with Kansas State’s NIL collective, which is believe to be the richest deal for a transfer in the history of the portal.

This is not the first $2 million deal we’ve seen the transfer portal this year, and where the number officially comes in — if it’s ever made public — will determine that. Regardless, the bar has been set for transfer portal money in 2024, and it’s only going up from here.

The Washington Huskies also agreed to a $2 million deal with former Utah State forward Great Osobor through their NIL collective earlier this offseason. It’s remarkable the way the numbers continue to rise. Indiana’s $1 million deal to big man Oumar Ballo set the bar earlier in the offseason. Arkansas followed it by signing Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis to a $1 million deal.

Hawkins has seemingly come out ahead by delaying his decision. It’s easy to understand why Kansas State thought he was so valuable. Hawkins is one of the best floor-spacing big men in college basketball. At 6’10, he he hit 36.9 percent of his three-pointers on 160 attempts this season. He ended the year averaging 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Hawkins may not be the type of highly physical big man we are used to seeing in college basketball, but his ability to open up driving lanes for his teammates, handle the ball on the perimeter, and make some live dribble passing reads makes him so much more valuable than his numbers might otherwise indicate.

Kansas State has hit the portal hard this offseason, in the process likely spending a huge amount of money. The Wildcats have also brought in former Kentucky big man Ugonna Onyenso, former Michigan guard Dug McDaniel, Arkansas’ Baye Fall, Samford’s Achor Achor, Villanova’s Brendan Hausen, UIC’s CJ Jones, and JUCO All-American Mobi Ikegwuruka.

Kansas State went 19-15 and missed the tournament last season. In 2023, the Wildcats reached the Elite Eight behind the loaded transfer class. After fighting off suitors for head coach Jerome Tang all offseason, the Wildcats have paid up and are ready to play ball.