Wichita State Men’s Basketball: The Burgeoning 7-foot Star Who Spurned The Transfer Portal And More

After breakout season, Quincy Ballard wants even more for Wichita State basketball

When the new Wichita State men’s basketball team was introduced at Koch Arena during halftime of an AfterShocks game earlier this summer, the loudest cheers were undeniably for Quincy Ballard. The promising 7-foot player, who declined the transfer portal and lucrative NIL offers from power-conference programs to complete his career at WSU, appreciates the support he receives in Wichita but remains grounded. “I don’t believe in the hype,” Ballard said candidly. “I’m focused on staying in the gym and improving 1% every day.”

Fans aren’t the only ones eager to see Ballard in action; his new teammates are excited about the advantages his skills will bring. New point guard Justin Hill’s eyes lit up when asked if he’s ever shared the court with a lob threat like Ballard in pick-and-roll situations. “Never,” Hill replied. Meanwhile, sharpshooter A.J. McGinnis looks forward to capitalizing on open shot opportunities when defenders collapse to contain Ballard. “If they tag the roller, I’ll be ready to knock it down from the corner,” McGinnis said. “But I don’t know how you stop Ballard. His athleticism and ability to dominate the air are unlike anything I’ve played with before.”

Last season, Ballard established himself as a dominant force for WSU, setting records for dunks (58) and field-goal percentage (71.9%). During the offseason, the team tests each player’s maximum vertical jump, and this year, strength and conditioning coach Ashtin Meerpohl had to elevate the testing equipment to accurately measure Ballard. “We know his catch radius exceeds 13 feet,” Mills noted. “He’s quick to the rim and puts immense pressure on defenses. As teams adapt to him, it will create more open opportunities for others.”

While Ballard understands the frustration of rolling hard without receiving a lob pass, he knows it’s vital to keep the defense on its toes. “Even if I’m not the one scoring, my presence can create opportunities for others,” he said.

In the offseason, despite his clear roles as a lob threat on offense and a rim protector on defense, Ballard is looking to improve his game. Mills wants to see an increase in Ballard’s offensive rebounding numbers, which currently sit at a decent 9.0%, and to enhance his post moves with the guidance of assistant coach and former player Quincy Acy. Given that Ballard shot an impressive 72% last season, Mills believes it’s essential to leverage his scoring ability more frequently. He noted that Ballard only attempted 22 shots from post-up situations last season, and he’d like to see that number rise.

“We need to get more comfortable with feeding him the ball down low. He’s always going to be a lob threat and a strong defensive presence, but we need to do a better job of getting him post isolations and improving his offensive rebounding and finishing rates,” Mills emphasized.