Kansas State men’s basketball head coach Casey Alexander hasn’t hidden his Belmont roots since arriving in Manhattan. In fact, he has kept those connections close with several former recruits and staff ties still around him. But one key piece has been missing from the puzzle.
That gap just became glaringly noticeable as one of his highest-profile former players in the transfer portal is now off the board, and this one may sting more than the last.
Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski commits to Duke Blue Devils
Drew Scharnowski and Tyler Lundblade were both pivotal pieces of Alexander’s roster last season at Belmont. Scharnowski, a 6-foot-9 forward from Burlington, Illinois, spent the last two seasons playing for the Bruins. He averaged 10.7 points during the 2025-26 season while also pulling down an impressive six rebounds per game.
BREAKING: Belmont transfer forward Drew Scharnowski has committed to Duke, @JoeTipton reports. https://t.co/JZR8BhboNa pic.twitter.com/p3TmKQBQgN
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) April 19, 2026
When the transfer portal window opened, it quickly became clear that Scharnowski had no intention of sticking around. His departure came ahead of the Kansas State head coaching news, and he was not the only one. Lundblade, who recently committed to Tennessee, had already landed elsewhere.
That quickly put eyes on Scharnowski, who is now set to play for head coach John Scheyer at Duke. Prior to his commitment, he was the No. 41-ranked player in the portal and No. 10 power forward in this year's window.
Wildcats already pursuing other names elsewhere
Scharnowski's decision shouldn't come as a surprise. The Wildcats have already pursued other names at the forward position, including Matt Gilhool, Oregon transfer Dezdrick Lindsay and Georgetown's Isaiah Abraham.
Would the fit have been made, it's likely that a decision would have come much sooner. Unfortunately for Wildcats fans wanting to see a resurgence of their favorite mid-major star, they'll have to tune in elsewhere.
Andrej Kostic, who played the forward position under former head coach Jerome Tang, also remains on the Wildcats roster. According to his profile, he'll likely be transitioning into playing as a guard next season.
For the Blue Devils, the Scharnowski's decision could play dividends following the departure of Cameron Boozer, a consensus pick in this seasons's NBA Draft. He's likely to either fill that spot, or start for one of the best frontcourts in the country.
Meanwhile in Manhattan, Elias Rapieque is still undecided about his future with Kansas State. Should he choose to return, the forward position only gets more crowded. If that's what Scharnowski opted to avoid, it was the right move.
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