Nobody truly knows yet what Kansas State’s basketball roster will look like in Casey Alexander’s first season at the helm. The transfer portal has barely opened, and at this rate the Wildcats may only return a single player from last year. It could take some time before Alexander fills out 15 scholarships, but it’s fair to admit the early signs are… unsettling.
Right now, K-State has just four confirmed players for next season, and none project as immediate game-changers. Andrej Kostic is coming back for his sophomore year in Manhattan, which could benefit both sides assuming someone teaches him how to defend at a Big 12 level. Power forward Brock Vice is transferring from Murray State, an intriguing move considering he averaged just two points per game off the bench last season. High school additions Jaylen Alexander and Devin Hutcherson are talented, but unproven.
Bottom line: Alexander may not have landed a single starter yet. That’s not necessarily a red flag. He might simply be building depth before chasing impact players. With 15 roster spots to fill, not everyone will be a star. Fit matters just as much as flash, especially for a coach installing a brand-new system. Still, the clock is ticking for Alexander to secure genuine contributors.
More concerning than who K-State has landed is who they’ve missed. Many assumed Alexander’s arrival would trigger a wave of Belmont transfers following him to Manhattan. Instead, Tyler Lundblade committed to Tennessee, Sam Orme chose Nebraska, and several other Bruins decided to stay put. If Alexander wants to benefit from his Belmont ties, he’ll need to move quickly on Drew Scharnowski and Brigham Rogers.
Building a modern college basketball roster is a marathon, not a sprint. No one should panic yet. But it’s equally true that K-State fans haven’t had much to cheer about so far. On to your questions:
Q: Could Taj Manning transfer closer to home and reunite with Mark Turgeon at UMKC?
Unlikely. Insiders say Iowa State is the program to watch. First Dylan Edwards switched sides in the Sunflower Showdown; now Manning could flip to the other side of the Farmageddon rivalry. Abdi Bashir might be eyeing St. John’s, while PJ Haggerty reportedly has Memphis and LSU interest. Former Wildcats may land in stronger spots than expected.
Q: Please tell me Brock Vice is a walk-on and not a scholarship player.
No sugarcoating it: a transfer who averaged 2 points and 1.8 rebounds doesn’t inspire immediate excitement. But Vice does bring some positives. Alexander recruited him out of high school before he chose Creighton, so there’s familiarity. His limited Murray State highlights show better skill and athleticism than his stats suggest, and at 6’10” he has physical tools to work with. He’s clearly a project, but potentially a useful hustle guy or depth big—if that’s all K-State expects from him.
Q: Who are some realistic transfer options for K-State, and when might the next commit drop?
Names worth monitoring:
- Dedan Thomas (LSU)
- Tylen Riley (Tulsa)
- Colby Garland (San Jose State)
- Tijan Saine (Weber State)
- Blake Buyuktuncel (Nebraska)
- Chol Machot (Charleston)
- Drew Scharnowski (Belmont)
- Jack Karasinski (Bellarmine)
- Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (UNLV)
- Brett Dicker (Liberty)
Additionally, visitors expected in Manhattan this weekend include Isaiah Abraham (Georgetown), JT Rock (New Mexico), Brigham Rogers (Belmont), and Jade Schutt (Virginia Tech). If these visits go smoothly, commitments could come quickly possibly within days. The top target appears to be Jade Schutt, a 6’5″ guard who averaged 7.7 points at Virginia Tech after beginning his career at Duke. Rogers would bring helpful familiarity from the Belmont pipeline.
Q: Which K-State football players are standing out in spring practice?
It’s early, but Jay Harris and Joe Jackson are making noise at running back. Harris, a 6’1″, 215-pound transfer from Oregon, looks the part his biceps practically did their own press conference. Jackson appears poised to build on last season, and Rodney Fields should be a factor as well. Ask again at the end of the month for a fuller report.
Q: Will you cover the 2028 Olympics? And will any Wildcats compete?
The Olympics probably aren’t on the docket, though there’s a strong chance of covering the World Cup when it lands in Kansas City. Unfortunately, both events are priced well beyond what most fans can reasonably pay. The cheapest U.S. Men’s National Team World Cup ticket is hovering around $1,500 a staggering number before flights and hotels.
As for Olympians, K-State is on the rise under new track and field coach Travis Geopfert, and several athletes could qualify. Basketball also offers possibilities David N’Guessan or Andrej Kostic could represent their respective countries in future games.
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