Kansas State’s men’s basketball program is undergoing a major rebuild after a turbulent 2025–26 season that led to the dismissal of former head coach Jerome Tang. In the wake of that shake-up, the Wildcats saw a significant roster exodus, with eight players entering the transfer portal. Now under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Casey Alexander, who arrived from Belmont, the program is rapidly reshaping its squad with a mix of transfer additions and incoming high school talent.
So far, Kansas State has secured seven transfers and two freshmen recruits, bringing the current roster total to 10 scholarship players. Despite the progress, the rebuild is still ongoing, with five scholarship spots yet to be filled. Notably, Andrej Kostic stands as the lone returning player from last season, highlighting the extent of the team’s overhaul.
One of the most impactful departures is leading scorer PJ Haggerty, who transferred to Texas A&M after an outstanding individual campaign. Haggerty averaged 23.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition. His offensive production included several standout performances, such as a 37-point outing against Mississippi State and 34-point games versus both Baylor and Utah, making his exit a significant loss for the Wildcats.
Kansas State also lost Taj Manning to conference rival Iowa State, adding another layer of intrigue to the Farmageddon rivalry. Manning, who spent four seasons with the Wildcats, averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds last season while starting 13 games as a redshirt junior.
In addition to Haggerty and Manning, six other players entered the transfer portal: Abdi Bashir, Dorin Buca, David Castillo, Mobi Ikegwuruka, Stephen Osei, and Exavier Wilson. Among them, Buca an Italian forward contributed 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during his only season with the team.
Despite the departures, Alexander has moved quickly to replenish the roster. While only one of the incoming transfers Brandon Rechsteiner from Colorado State averaged double figures last season (12 points per game), several of the new additions arrive with strong recruiting pedigrees and untapped potential. Jaden Schutt began his collegiate career at Duke, Isaiah Abraham was originally committed to UConn, and both Matt Gilhool and JT Rock were previously rated as four-star prospects.
Kansas State’s transfer class may not yet feature proven high-volume scorers across the board, but it brings in a group of players with promising backgrounds and room for development. As Alexander continues to fill out the roster, the Wildcats appear focused on building a competitive team capable of rebounding from last season’s struggles.
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