After initially committing to Kansas State as a highly regarded high school prospect, David Castillo was widely expected to grow into a cornerstone player for the Wildcats over a full four-year college career. Many envisioned him steadily developing into a reliable and dynamic point guard who could lead the team deep into conference competition. However, that long-term plan has now been cut short midway through.
Castillo announced on Thursday that he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal, signaling his decision to continue his college basketball journey at a different program. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, will depart after spending two seasons with Kansas State in Manhattan.
During the most recent season, Castillo showed significant growth in his role and production. He appeared in every game and averaged 10.3 points along with 1.8 assists per contest, marking a notable jump from his freshman year. Despite this progress, his decision to leave does not come as a major surprise given the broader changes within the program.
Kansas State is currently undergoing a transition following a difficult 2025–26 campaign that ended with 20 losses and a near-bottom finish in the Big 12 standings. The program has since moved on from head coach Jerome Tang the coach who originally recruited Castillo and is now under the leadership of new head coach Casey Alexander. With that shift in direction, it is understandable that Castillo would seek a fresh start in a new environment.
Even so, his departure is likely to disappoint fans who followed his development closely. As a freshman, Castillo played in 32 games and started twice, averaging just 2.4 points in limited minutes but occasionally showing flashes of potential. In his sophomore year, he took on a much larger role, starting 16 games and logging over 28 minutes per game while increasing his scoring output significantly. He recorded a career-high 22 points in a game against Bowling Green and later added a 20-point performance in a win over Utah. However, his season ended on a quieter note, as he struggled offensively and failed to score more than eight points in the team’s final nine games.
Castillo is not the only player set to leave the program this offseason. He joins Stephen Osei, who has also announced his intention to transfer after a limited role during his lone season with the team. These departures are part of what is expected to be a broader roster overhaul as Casey Alexander prepares for his first year in charge.
Looking ahead, more changes are anticipated once the transfer portal officially opens on April 7. At present, Kansas State has only two players clearly committed for the 2026–27 season: Jaylen Alexander and Devin Hutcherson, both incoming recruits who had previously pledged to play under Alexander during his time at Belmont.
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