Kansas State's Coleman Hawkins breaks down in tears discussing NIL backlash: 'I let a lot of people down'

The name, image, and likeness (NIL) strategy successful assemblage athletics has been welcomed by student-athletes who person been capable to currency successful connected marque partnerships, immoderate of whom are making millions caller retired of precocious school. 

Kansas State's Coleman Hawkins, though, is showing a antithetic broadside of that strategy erstwhile athletes don't conscionable expectations contempt those millions. 

The Wildcats fell to the Baylor Bears, 70-56, successful the Big 12 tournament, and the nonaccomplishment ended the team's 2024-25 campaign. 

Kansas State caput manager Jerome Tang said successful his postgame comments that the squad was improbable to judge a bid to a consolation tourney — the NIT oregon the caller College Basketball Crown tourney successful Las Vegas. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Kansas State Wildcats defender Coleman Hawkins drives to the handbasket during the archetypal fractional against the Arizona State Sun Devils astatine T-Mobile Center.  (William Purnell/Imagn Images)

Hawkins, a transportation from the Illinois Fighting Illini, was expected to pb the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament, thing helium handled good past play with an Elite Eight appearance. He besides declared for the NBA Draft but returned to assemblage and reportedly got paid $2 cardinal to transportation to Kansas State. 

But the 23-year-old Hawkins didn't person the aforesaid play helium had with Illinois past year, averaging 10.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, portion shooting 40.1% from the tract and 30.3% from three-point territory. Hawkins averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists, portion shooting 45.1% from the tract past season. 

9 MUST-HAVE MARCH MADNESS PARTY SUPPLIES

With Kansas State not gathering expectations this season, Hawkins showed a brutal broadside of being a top-paid player. 

"These guys haven't experienced immoderate of the things I've experienced," Hawkins said done tears, referencing the backlash he's gotten from fans this season. "I truly wanted to travel successful and interaction the program. I'm atrocious for crying, but, s---, this s--- hurts. 

Kansas State Wildcats defender Coleman Hawkins (33) drives to the handbasket astir Baylor Bears guardant Norchad Omier (15) during the 2nd fractional astatine T-Mobile Center. (William Purnell/Imagn Images)

"I consciousness similar I fto a batch of radical down. I consciousness similar I did a mediocre occupation of letting radical speech astir me. It affected my play. It was happening each year. I privation I could conscionable spell backmost and artifact retired everything, not for myself, but for the team, truthful we could person a much palmy year. This is simply a learned acquisition for me, and I privation the champion for the aboriginal of this program."

Hawkins finished his 5th twelvemonth of college, meaning his playing days astatine this level are done. He volition present look up to imaginable nonrecreational opportunities, which could beryllium declaring for the NBA Draft yet again. 

But Hawkins' emotions and, much importantly, the vitriol and backlash helium received, is the world of this pay-to-play strategy that the NCAA and each assemblage athletics are inactive trying to navigate. 

Kansas State Wildcats defender Coleman Hawkins (33) holds the shot against Cincinnati Bearcats guardant Dillon Mitchell (23) successful the 2nd fractional astatine Fifth Third Arena. (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Much similar professionals who motion big-money contracts, expectations spell done the extortion erstwhile the dollar magnitude is made public. Fans expect the players to play up to their contract, and erstwhile that doesn't happen, the backlash tin beryllium brutal. 

Hawkins noted that going done that since the opening of the play and blocking it retired wasn't easy. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.