Kansas State men’s basketball underwent significant roster turnover following the 2025–26 season. That included the departure of center Dorin Buca, leaving a major void at one of the toughest positions to fill on any roster.
Kansas State seeing tremendous potential upside in New Mexico transfer JT Rock
The market for “big men” in college basketball has become increasingly expensive. An earlier report from CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein projected that players like former Kansas center Flory Bidunga could command as much as $5 million, numbers that, in his words, “reset the big man market.”
That kind of money changes the equation for players. If elite centers can earn at that level in college, there’s less urgency to declare for the draft purely for financial reasons. Simply put, if the money is already there and eligibility remains, there’s a real incentive to stay.
But for programs like Kansas State, figures anywhere near that $5 million mark just aren’t realistic. Even across much of the Power Four, that level of spending isn’t sustainable. That’s where players like Rock enter the picture.
He spent a redshirt season at Iowa State under T.J. Otzelberger, surrounded by one of the nation’s top programs. Even without in-game action, Rock saw what a winning environment looked like and developed alongside proven talent.
That Cyclones roster featured players like Milan Momcilovic, Tamin Lipsey, Tre King, and Hasan Ward, just to name a few. All were key pieces of a team that won the Big 12 Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16.
And that’s the part the price tag won't show. Players like Rock bring something different. Development, toughness, and experience that's earned behind the scenes. In a market increasingly driven by money, those traits are harder to find, but just as valuable.
JT Rock's forecasted role with Kansas State men's basketball
There’s an obvious role for Rock down low if he cracks the starting five. Get him on the floor, work him in the midrange, and feed him when you need a reliable bucket. The key, though, will be his minutes.
If coach Alexander uses Rock the same way Jerome Tang used Buca, primarily off the bench, that shifts things. With forwards like Andrej Kostic and Isaiah Abraham, the lineup leans more toward perimeter scoring, adding firepower from beyond the arc.
Finding the right balance between interior presence and outside shooting will factor into Kansas State’s success. If Rock proves himself in that role, there’s plenty for fans to be excited about.
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