Manhattan ? With only a few weeks remaining before the start of team practices, Kansas State men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins on Tuesday announced the addition of yet another player to his roster.

Jermaine Maybank, a senior point guard who is already enrolled in the university’s graduate College of Education, will be eligible this season under a new NCAA bylaw that permits student-athletes who are enrolled in a graduate-degree program with eligibility remaining to participate immediately.

The 6-foot-4 Maybank averaged 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds last season at St. John’s, where he graduated with a degree in sports management in May. He received a medical red shirt the previous year after hurting his right knee during a preseason practice.

“Jermaine is a welcome addition to our program,” Huggins said in a statement. “He will add more depth to our backcourt, and certainly his experience and talent will be valuable assets to this year’s team.”

Kansas State is short-handed in the backcourt after guard Mario Taybron was dismissed for violating the program’s substance-abuse policy and forward Cartier Martin was suspended for unspecified conduct violations. Huggins also missed out on junior-college recruit Stefhon Hannah, who chose Missouri over Kansas State at the last minute.

The Wildcats begin formal practices for the 2006-07 season Oct. 13. Their season-opener is Nov. 11 against William & Mary.