The coaching carousel has a ruthless effect on roster stability, and that couldn’t be more true at Kansas State. With the Wildcats’ head coaching search underway, it’s time to look into who’s in, and who’s likely out for the 2026-27 season.
Majority of transfers, other roster moves start with a decision from P.J. Haggerty
P.J. Haggerty was a lone bright spot for Kansas State throughout the majority of this season. He was among the nation's leading scorers, and occupied a spot atop that list since conference play began.
He led the Wildcats in scoring 18 straight games ranging from the end of December all the way through February 28 against TCU. Those kinds of roles aren’t easy to fill, either.
When players like that leave rosters, it’s deflating. For Kansas State, it would not only mean uncertainty around a new head coach, but potentially losing out on an NBA-caliber talent from 2025-26.
For a lot more, here's the latest around the college basketball coaching carousel, per @MattNorlander. Twenty schools are undergoing coaching changes already. https://t.co/FeJA7v1bFw
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 8, 2026
Haggerty has tested the transfer portal before – first at TCU, then at Memphis and pending now and when the transfer window opens, potentially the Wildcats, too. That’s not to say it's a guarantee, but in the day and age where coaches bring in their own players, it’s the likely option.
Nate Johnson, Khamari McGriff among senior transfers out of eligibility
Two key starters played their final season of eligibility in 2026, including both Nate Johnson and Khamari McGriff. Their names are among the ranks of Marcus Johnson and C.J. Jones, whose college careers also ended Tuesday night.
The list of potential returners could include Abdi Bashir Jr., David Castillo, Andrej Kostic, Elias Rapieque, and Taj Manning. But the unfortunate truth is this – it’s unlikely that the dysfunction felt by the players this season convinces them to come back.
A move in the transfer portal likely starts with Haggerty, and if not for him, the question is who? The answer for fans, however, is right in front of them.
Kansas State coaching change means more than just new faces on staff
Coaching staff changes and roster overhaul quickly became the norm in 2024 after the NCAA changed its rules on the transfer portal. Take Indiana head coach Darren DeVries, for example. He’s coached on three staffs, bringing his son, Tucker, along with him at every stop.
Ben McCollum, the current head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, has a couple of players including Bennett Stirtz who followed him all the way from Division II Northwest Missouri State. Many of them even went on to make an appearance in the NCAA March Madness Tournament in 2025.
What does that mean for Kansas State? Bring in a new head coach, and he likely brings his players with him. If that coach becomes projected frontrunner Jerrod Calhoun, it means converting a number of would-be former Aggies to the Wildcats.
It’s also unclear how many transfers will fill those vacancies, or how many players from the candidates’ current teams might follow them to Manhattan. Depending on who lands the job, a complete overhaul may be on the horizon
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