Marques Hayden Signs With K-State

Even though he recently gave a verbal commitment to Kansas State, talented power forward Marques Hayden officially visited Oklahoma this weekend. But Hayden remained true to his first commitment and signed a letter of intent with Kansas State today (November 19, 2001).

Hayden, a 6-7, 230 pound power forward from Putnam City H.S. in Oklahoma City, committed to Kansas State a couple of weeks ago after taking fall trips to K-State, Miami and UConn. Then he decided to take on more trip -- to Oklahoma. Hayden had said it was a courtesy visit.

Despite the trip, Hayden had told us he was still likely to sign with Kansas State, but admitted that there was a possibility something could change with his recruitment after his weekend trip to Norman. It did not change.

"Coach [Kelvin] Sampson asked me to just give them a chance, come down and look at the campus and everything else," Hayden said in our last interview. "That's why I am signing Monday at 10 o'clock."

Hayden did sign this morning at 10 AM Central Time.

Hayden played with the Athletes First program this past summer, which had quite of collection of high major talent. One of his teammates on that squad, DeAngelo Alexander, plans to sign with Oklahoma this week, and another one, forward Kevin Bookout, will decide between OU and Oklahoma State. Bookout, as of posting this story, has not made a decision, according to Kevin's family.

Hayden said he picked Kansas State for a number of reasons, and still feels that the Wildcats are the team to beat for his services.

"Kansas State is an up and coming program," Hayden said. "Me and Kansas State have a lot of things in common. As a player, I feel I am underrated, and as a program, I think Kansas State is underrated."

"Jim Wooldridge graduated from Putnam City," Hayden continued. "He was on the 1973 team with Alvan Adams and they won the states. It does not get any sweeter than that, one of his hometown cooking boys going there. I think I am going to contribute to the team immediately and I liked Manhattan a lot too."

Hayden averaged 18 points per game as a junior at Putnam City, who is nicknamed "Mad Dog."