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.

The Kansas City Chiefs remain focused on chasing a potential three-peat, but the franchise took one final moment on Thursday to celebrate yet another successful season.

Following the conclusion of mandatory offseason minicamp, Kansas City held its second straight red carpet ceremony. They also revealed their Super Bowl LVIII rings, forever commemorating a historic moment in team history. While this event is nothing new to Andy Reid’s club, it’s something no one takes for granted given the challenge of routinely winning at the highest level.

Speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon, Reid shared his message to the team regarding the ring ceremony and the club’s mindset once it passes.

“I said that at the first minicamp or the first OTA, whatever you want to call it,” Reid said. “It goes by fast. Once you get through that parade, you’re kind of off and heading in the direction of the new season. But I don’t want to slight tonight, because there’s a lot that goes into that and there’s a lot of hard work that’s gone into it, and this is kind of the reward for it. But I think the guys know it’s going to be nice to get the ring, but they’ve moved on.”

Friday is for turning the page, but Thursday was for painting the town red (and gold). With that in mind, let’s take a look at some highlights from the red carpet and subsequent ring ceremony.

Travis Kelce shows up in style (and silence)

Reids on the red carpet

Chiefs brass chimes in on Kansas STAR bonds (THREAD)

Patrick Mahomes flashes his championship bling

Justin Reid shares an up-close look at his Super Bowl LVIII ring

Trent McDuffie has only known winning championships

Read More: Andy Reid Provides Mixed Update on Joe Thuney’s Injury Recovery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Business owners are excited about the impending sale of the Country Club Plaza. The Kansas City mayor said the sale is ready to happen.

Some store owners have been located on the Plaza for years, others are thinking about filling a vacant storefront with word of the sale.

Mayor Quinton Lucas calls it one of the most exciting things bound to happen in Kansas City this year.

In spite of being well beyond the Dallas based buyer’s original goal of closing the deal by the end of 2023, Lucas said it will happen soon.

“It is imminent, it is impending and it’s exciting,” Lucas said.

“Everybody’s excited about this sale,” owner of Larissa’s Plaza Tailor Shop Michael Naumov said.

For more than 20 years, Naumov and his family have owned Larissa’s Plaza Tailor Shop. He said several vacant store fronts now plague the plaza.

“I don’t think I’ve seen this many empty stores, since Houston’s closed and Zacolo’s closed, and Chuy’s closed, “and a lot of restaurants closing and leaving,” he said.

He hopes the impending sale of the Plaza means new life and more foot traffic.

“We’re a small independent family-owned business. So, for us it’s a little easier,” Naumov said. “for more corporate bigger stores, restaurants it’s a lot hard, it definitely affects it.”

Lucas said the deal will be signed soon.

He went to Dallas in the spring to mee with the owners of Highland Park Village, the potential buyers. Lucas said people can expect the ownership group to bring back unique brands and local businesses, along with more office space and housing.

“I think exciting for us to be able to say how can we look at a regeneration of retail opportunities, dining opportunities, or public safety, which the group, Highland Park Village in Dallas, has spent a lot of time working on, and I really think it really will be a public private partnership.”

He also believes public safety will be a priority.

“I think it really will be a public-private partnership, not just in funding and looking at any type of support that they may look at from the city of Kansas City, but also, in how we can do safety better, how through more private security, working closely with KCPD, to make sure everyone can feel safe when they’re on the Country Club Plaza,” Lucas said. “So I think this is one of the most exciting things that is bound to happen in Kansas city this year.”

Domhnall Molloy is a co-owner of the Summit Restaurant Group. They just opened a ninth restaurant in the Kansas City metro and own eateries like 3rd Street Social and Summit Grill.

He said they’ve looked at the plaza a few times, but never made the jump due to expensive hurdles that worked against them.

Molloy said he’s hopeful that could change with new ownership of the Plaza.

“Hopefully with the new ownership, maybe they’ve got a better deal, and they’re able to make rent more aligned with the market and hopefully we can get some more independent restaurants back on the Plaza,” Molloy said.

“I definitely just want to see more businesses,” Naumov said, “less empty stores.”

He’s looking forward to a change in ownership of the Plaza.