Five things fans should know about Kansas State’s incoming class of basketball transfers

The Kansas State Wildcats men’s basketball program saw eight players enter the transfer portal after former head coach Jerome Tang was dismissed midway through a difficult 2025–26 season. New head coach Casey Alexander, who arrived from Belmont Bruins men’s basketball, has begun rebuilding by adding seven transfers and two high school recruits. Andrej Kostic remains the lone returning player, leaving five roster spots still available.

Here are the main takeaways from K-State’s still-developing transfer class:

• Top departure: Leading scorer PJ Haggerty transferred to Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball, bringing his averages of 23.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game to the SEC. He earned All-Big 12 honorable mention and delivered standout performances, including 37 points against Mississippi State Bulldogs men’s basketball and 34-point games versus both Baylor Bears men’s basketball and Utah Utes men’s basketball.
• Rival addition: Taj Manning committed to Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball, crossing over in the “Farmageddon” rivalry after four seasons with K-State. As a redshirt junior, he averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds while starting 13 games.
• Additional exits: Abdi Bashir, Dorin Buca, David Castillo, Mobi Ikegwuruka, Stephen Osei, and Exavier Wilson also entered the portal. Buca, an Italian big man, posted 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in his lone season in Manhattan.
• Quick rebuild underway: Alexander has already added seven transfers and two high school signees, bringing the roster to 10 players with five scholarships still open.
• Promising newcomers: While only one incoming transfer Brandon Rechsteiner, who averaged 12 points per game at Colorado State Rams men’s basketball—put up double-digit scoring numbers last season, several others come with strong recruiting pedigrees. Jaden Schutt began his career at Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball, Isaiah Abraham originally committed to UConn Huskies men’s basketball, and both Matt Gilhool and JT Rock were once rated as four-star prospects.