Wildcats latest transfer portal exit might lead to expensive recruiting battle

Kansas State men's basketball might run into some problems with the latest member of the 2025-26 roster opting to enter the transfer portal. It's not just another guard or a presence on the wing, this time it's at center.

Kansas State loses C Dorin Buca to portal, creating major roster gap

First it was P.J. Haggerty, the Wildcats starting point guard for the entirety of last season. Next, it was a handful of others including Taj Manning, David Castillo and Abdi Bashir Jr. Now, it's big man Dorin Buca.

Last season, Buca appeared in 27 games averaging just 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds. His size, however, created problems for opponents in the paint. Logging two or more blocks on seven different occasions, it's easy to see why.

But his exit doesn't just leave a gap in the roster at center. It poses a problem for the Wildcats in recruiting one of the most expensive positions in the portal. And when strong talents play at center, they're not easy to come by.

The "big man" market was recently evaluated by Adam Finkelstein and CBS Sports on April 10 following the demand from former Kansas center Flory Bidunga. According to the headline, Bidunga's asking price sits right around $5 million, and it likely won't come from Kansas.

Bidunga isn't alone, either. A separate report by Kevin Sweeney and Sports Illustrated back in March mentions talents like Bidunga, Michigan's Aday Mara and Texas Tech star JT Toppin. It doesn't explicitly state what the asking price might be, but hammers in on some predictions.

"That could, in part, be driven by many of the top NBA prospects weighing to stay in school or turn pro," an excerpt from the article reads. "One high-major assistant ballparked that as many 25 players could make $4 million next season, though that number got pushback from GM No. 2, who said he’d be surprised if more than 10 hit the $4 million threshold."

What that could mean for Kansas State next season

There's a lot to unpack for the Wildcats ahead of next season, and now finding a reliable big man is also on that list. Depending on the NIL resources available in Manhattan, that could mean staying away from talents like Bidunga or other big names and recruiting from the lower ranks.

First-year head coach Casey Alexander hasn't shied away from flipping recruits from schools like Belmont or pursuing portal players like Brock Vice from Murray State. After all, Alexander did spend a considerable amount of time coaching at the mid-major level.

Recruiting from those ranks could prove easier, and land talents more likely to stick around for future seasons. If that's the case, it falls right in line with Alexander's statements about not wanting to flip a roster every season.

That approach could make roster building more sustainable, especially when replacing departing veterans and developing long-term contributors.

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