PARSONS — The Labette Cardinals have welcomed Jermaine Maybank, a former Kansas State player from the 2006-07 season, to their men’s basketball coaching staff as the newest assistant under head coach Jason Hinson.
“He’s interviewed for this position before and has always impressed,” Hinson remarked. “He adds immediate credibility to the program with his experience playing under Hall of Fame coaches and competing at high levels overseas. The players will respect his background, and I’m eager to see the impact he’ll have.”
Maybank spent three of his four collegiate years in Kansas, initially at Independence Community College, then St. John’s, before transferring to Kansas State.
“Kansas is where I spent three significant years,” Maybank expressed. “This feels like home to me. I have a passion for the conference and this state, so I wanted to return and make a difference.”
At Kansas State, Maybank played under Bob Huggins, who is credited with changing the trajectory of the Wildcats’ program during his brief tenure.
That season, Maybank started three games and achieved a career-high of 26 points at Allen Fieldhouse against the Kansas Jayhawks.
“That year was pivotal in revitalizing the program,” Maybank noted. “Huggins brought a new energy that shifted the culture of K-State basketball, and our team in 06-07 was central to that change.”
Kansas State earned a spot in the NIT that year before Huggins left for West Virginia, leading to Frank Martin’s promotion from associate head coach. Martin’s first recruiting class included future NBA second overall pick Michael Beasley.
After graduating, Maybank played professionally in Brazil and Australia, where he became a permanent resident and where his son continues to live.
Joining Hinson’s staff, Maybank aims to reignite the program following a challenging 10-21 season for the Cardinals in 2023-24. Labette previously won the Kansas Jayhawk Conference title in 2020-21 but has seen limited success since then.
“I know they’ve had some success but faced difficulties last year,” Maybank commented. “I want to provide a spark. I understand the aspirations of these players and how to prepare, having played in this conference and advanced to the next level. I hope to show them they can achieve their goals, which will greatly benefit the program.”
Hailing from The Bronx in New York City, Maybank hasn’t made any long-term plans beyond the 2024-25 season.
“We’ll take things one practice at a time,” he said. “Our goal is to represent Parsons and Labette Community College with pride. I aim to support Coach Hinson’s vision and advocate for the Jayhawk Conference, one of the toughest in the nation.”
In addition to adding a new assistant, Labette will have an entirely new roster this winter, with Hinson optimistic about recapturing past successes.
“We’re aiming to win the conference this year,” Hinson stated. “From there, we’ll see how it unfolds. We’ll compete daily, improve, and it’s going to be an exciting year.”
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