Is this the best NBA prospect K-State’s had since Michael Beasley?

With the NBA Draft just days away, it’s worth asking: which Kansas State Wildcat is next in line to hear his name called?

The program has produced 53 NBA Draft picks over the years—including stars like Mitch Richmond, Rolando Blackman, and Michael Beasley.

More recently, Keyontae Johnson and Wesley Iwundu made the jump. Others, like Dean Wade and Barry Brown Jr., have carved out pro careers despite going undrafted.

So, who’s next?

K-State’s Roster Reset

After a 16–17 finish and back-to-back NCAA Tournament misses, head coach Jerome Tang is reloading the roster from the ground up.

Just three scholarship players return: point guard David Castillo and forwards Mobi Ikegwuruka and Taj Manning.

The rest of the lineup is a complete overhaul, built through the transfer portal and international recruiting.

Tang’s new class includes high-scoring Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty, MAC Player of the Year Nate Johnson from Akron, and Bowling Green’s Marcus Johnson, who averaged 16.2 points and 5.2 rebounds last season.

The Wildcats also added Khamari McGriff from UNC Wilmington, Abdi Bashir from Omaha, international prospects Elias Rapieque from Germany and Andrej Kostic from Serbia, along with 6'11" JUCO big man Stephen Osei, who is expected to redshirt. A couple of roster spots remain open.

There’s talent on this team, but one name stands out when it comes to next-level potential.

PJ Haggerty: The Surest Bet

The most NBA-ready player on the roster is PJ Haggerty, a scoring machine with a proven résumé.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game last season at Memphis. He shot 47.6 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three-point range, and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line while leading the Tigers to yet another NCAA Tournament appearance.

Haggerty brings exactly what K-State lacked last season: physicality, scoring punch, and the ability to draw contact and finish at the rim. He’s expected to run the offense and log big minutes right away.

At the NBA Draft Combine, he made a strong impression. He won the three-point star drill by hitting 18 of 25 shots and followed it up with a standout performance in the five-on-five scrimmage. Coming off the bench in his squad’s 83–80 win, Haggerty played a game-high 27 minutes, finished with 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting, went 1-for-2 from deep, and knocked down all three of his free throws. He also posted a +13, the highest on his team.

Haggerty picked Kansas State to prove he can run a team, and Tang is giving him that opportunity. If he delivers, he’ll be a strong candidate in next year’s draft.

Andrej Kostic: The Wild Card

If there’s a sleeper on the roster, it’s Andrej Kostic.

The 18-year-old Serbian guard arrives from KK Dynamic, where he played in 39 professional games and averaged 16 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.6 rebounds. A 6-foot-5 wing with a smooth shooting stroke, Kostic hit 36 percent from beyond the arc and 77 percent from the line, showing promise as a floor spacer and combo guard.

He also brings international pedigree. Kostic helped lead Serbia to a gold medal at the 2023 U18 European Championship and a silver in 2024, where he scored 23 points in the final. Despite his youth, he’s played in high-pressure environments and shown the poise to compete at a high level.

Kostic has the tools NBA teams covet—size, ball-handling, vision, and the ability to play both on and off the ball. His jump shot continues to improve, and his decision-making has taken big strides over the last year.

He should see meaningful minutes right away at K-State. If he adjusts quickly to the physicality and speed of the Big 12, scouts will be watching closely.

Final Word

K-State’s NBA pipeline has cooled in recent years, but this year’s group could reignite it.

PJ Haggerty is the headliner, a proven scorer ready to take the reins in Manhattan. Andrej Kostic is the intriguing long-term play, a young international talent with all the raw ingredients.

If Kansas State can bounce back and make some noise in the Big 12, both players could be in next year’s draft mix.