There are two very different ways to evaluate the seven basketball transfers who have committed to play for Kansas State under new head coach Casey Alexander next season:
- by their upside, and
- by their past production.
At this early stage of his tenure, it’s clear Alexander prioritizes the first category. Judged strictly by recruiting pedigree and perceived potential, this group looks promising. Isaiah Abraham, Matt Gilhool, Brandon Rechsteiner, JT Rock, and Jaden Schutt were all former four-star recruits. They come with real talent. Schutt originally signed with Duke, choosing the Blue Devils over Michigan State and Florida. Abraham began at UConn, picking the Huskies over Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. Rock held offers from Kansas and Purdue before choosing Iowa State. Had any of these players committed to K-State out of high school, fans would have celebrated. But their recent decisions to transfer in didn’t generate the same excitement, even though Alexander clearly believes he can get them performing like the highly rated prospects they once were. Beyond that belief, though, there’s little evidence on paper that they are ready-made stars.
If you judge K-State’s newcomers based on what they actually produced at their previous schools, the picture is far less impressive. Only Colorado State transfer Brandon Rechsteiner averaged double figures last season. Brock Vice has been in college for three years but has never averaged more than two points. LSU transfer Matt Gilhool didn’t play at all. Altogether, the incoming class combined for just 38 points and 14.8 rebounds per game last year. Numbers like that won’t land K-State on any early preseason top-25 lists, even when factoring in returning guard Andrej Kostic and two incoming freshmen.
That doesn’t mean next season is doomed. Alexander came from Belmont with a clear plan to elevate the Wildcats, and he appears to be sticking to it. He has consistently won 20+ games without relying on transfer-portal stars. Maybe he can replicate that formula in Manhattan. It’s also worth remembering that K-State previously leaned heavily on proven transfer production — spending big on players such as Coleman Hawkins from Illinois and PJ Haggerty from Memphis — yet the Wildcats still missed the NCAA Tournament three straight years and six of the last seven.
Alexander seems intent on building a roster of players who can shoot and thrive in his fast-paced system. With five scholarships still open, there’s plenty of room to upgrade the roster this offseason. Whether that translates into noticeable improvement in Year 1 will depend on which matters more in the long run: proven production or raw potential.
K-State Basketball Roster Outlook
Incoming Transfers (7)
Isaiah Abraham (6’7″ wing from Georgetown)
• Last season: 4.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG
• Background: Former 4-star recruit with offers from UConn, Georgetown, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia
Matt Gilhool (6’11” forward from LSU)
• Last season: Redshirted
• Background: Former 4-star recruit with offers from LSU, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Maryland, Penn State, Washington
Dezdrick Lindsay (6’6″ wing from Oregon)
• Last season: 5.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG
• Background: Junior college prospect
Brandon Rechsteiner (6’1″ guard from Colorado State)
• Last season: 12 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.2 RPG
• Background: Former 4-star recruit with offers from Clemson, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Virginia Tech
JT Rock (7’1″ center from New Mexico)
• Last season: 6.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG
• Background: Former 4-star recruit with offers from Creighton, Iowa, Iowa State, Purdue, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Jaden Schutt (6’5″ guard from Virginia Tech)
• Last season: 7.7 PPG, 1.6 RPG
• Background: Former 4-star recruit with offers from Duke, Michigan State, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisville, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Wisconsin
Brock Vice (6’10” forward from Murray State)
• Last season: 2 PPG, 1.8 RPG
• Background: Former 3-star recruit with offers from Appalachian State, Belmont, Creighton, Saint Louis, Tulsa
Returning Players (1)
Andrej Kostic
• Last season: 5.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG
• Background: Former Serbian professional player
Incoming Recruits (2)
Jaylen Alexander
• Background: 3-star recruit with offers from Auburn, Belmont, UAB
Devin Hutcherson
• Background: 3-star recruit with offers from Belmont, Georgia Tech, Mississippi
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