Kansas State men's basketball is going to look a lot different next season. Despite first-year head coach Casey Alexander's efforts, it doesn't appear that any of last season's starters intent to stick around.
Kansas State sharpshooter Abdi Bashir Jr. announces entering the NCAA transfer portal
Right now, Abdi Bashir Jr. doesn't show any signs of returning to The Little Apple. According to a tweet from On3's Joe Tipton, Bashir has officially entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
NEWS: Kansas State guard Abdi Bashir Jr. is entering the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3. ⁰⁰The 6-7 junior averaged 13.2 PPG this season, shooting over 44% from three. Only played in 18 games due to injury. https://t.co/QHn25N2D2C pic.twitter.com/SccTsbMPqD
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 5, 2026
Last season, Bashir averaged just over 13 points per game and was one of two starters to average 40% or better from three-point range. He didn't see any action after the Jan. 17 game against Oklahoma State due to a reported foot injury.
Bashir scored a season-high 26 points in the Hall of Fame Classic against Nebraska during the nonconference schedule. He logged six consecutive games in double figures leading up to the first two games against Big 12 opponents.
Why Alexander's retention rate might not be the end of the world
Coaching changes have potential to shake up rosters, especially right when the transfer portal opens. Because last season's roster was recruited under the direction of former Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang, most outgoing transfers likely don't see the vision.
Nothing indicates that Alexander said anything about pursuing last season's roster, or their possibility of returning. Retaining players was an emphasis in his introductory press conference, but not something that was expected his first time around.
In the modern landscape, recruiting is already hard enough. Combine that with the coaching change, and any sort of retention in his first year already looked like an uphill battle.
At the time of publication, he's already landed two commitments in Jaylen Alexander and Devin Hutcherson. Both are young, qualified talents capable of filling roster spots vacated by last season's starters. Only time will tell who else the Wildcats pursue in the transfer portal
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