After a stellar multi-sport playing career with the Thunder 2022 graduate, Nate Awbrey, has joined the Kansas State University Men's Basketball team as a walk-on for the 2022-23 season. Awbrey will have one final year as a graduate transfer after the NCCAA granted all student-athletes an exception from their time in the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-2021 academic year. 

In his time at MCC, Awbrey was a multiport standout making multiple trips to national tournaments as an All-American midfielder on the soccer pitch and an All-Region guard on the hardwood. Most notably the basketball team during his senior season recorded a 24-9 record, winning the conference and conference tournament and making only the fourth trip in school history to the Final 4. Nate finished his basketball career as the 26th member of the 1,000 point club in program history and did so after recovering from an ACL tear suffered at the national basketball tournament during his junior season. 

Awbrey graduated from MCC in the spring of 2022 with a BS in Bible and Christian Ministry with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. In the classroom he was a two time NCCAA Academic All-American earning Scholar Athlete awards as both a junior and senior. Nate was also a finalist during his senior campaign for the NCCAA's Pete Maravich Award, which is given to the Men's Basketball student-athlete that best exemplifies what it means to be a Christian athlete in the classroom, on the floor and in the community. 

"Nate exemplifies what it means to be a Christian athlete. He is as competitive of a person as I've ever coached, but understands that life is about more than wins and losses. Off the floor he knows how to develop relationships with his teammates and knows how to lead well on the floor. I'm so excited for this opportunity for Nate and can't wait to see the impact he has with Coach Tang's team over at Kansas State," commented Head Coach Jordan Strom. 

For Awbrey this has been a whirlwind process that started with a desire to continue playing after the 2021-22 season. The opportunity that knocked just happened to be across the street. 

“The opportunity to get to walk-on at K-state is amazing. It has truly been a blessing and I can’t thank God enough for giving me the opportunity to continue my basketball career. I also want to thank Coach Tang and the entire coaching staff for giving me an opportunity to be a part of the team. They had plenty of things they needed to do to get things rolling when they got here and they still took the time to give someone like myself the chance to walk-on. I  also want specifically want to thank Coach Borne for walking through the entire process with me. K-state has an incredible staff of godly men who I am excited to be around and learn from," stated Awbrey. 

As for his experience at MCC, Nate has nothing but love for his former coaches and teammates and his time at MCC and he credits those with helping him become the man he is today. 

"It’s definitely an exciting time in my life right now, but I will never forget the memories that I have made at MCC. MCC gave me an incredible opportunity to play with my brother and play under him. And now we will get to see each other a couple times a year. I can’t thank Coach Condra and Coach Strom enough for always believing in me and pushing me to be the best version of myself on and off the court. However, if there is one thing I loved most about MCC it is the relationships I formed. I have lifelong friendships beyond the game of basketball and I am incredibly thankful for that. Now, I have two places to call home and they are right across the street from each other," said Awbrey. 

Nate and his teammates at K-State tip off their season November 1, 2022 at home in Bramlage Coliseum vs Washburn University in an exhibition contest while Awbrey's former squad get's rolling at home in the HAC on October 29, 2022 in a regular season matchup with Southwestern Adventist University.