Wildcats’ New Additions Point to Promising Big 12 Outlook Ahead of Season

The 2026-27 Kansas State men's basketball roster already looks poised for success thanks to first-year head coach Casey Alexander's newest additions. Compared to last season's roster, things already appear to be moving in a different, but positive direction.

New Wildcats roster built for immediate success

Transfer portal exits aren't anything new in the modern landscape of college basketball, but there's a difference between basic exits and roster overhaul. Following the coaching change at Kansas State, it became clear that overhaul was the right adjective.

Only one member of the last season's roster, Andrej Kostic, opted to return following Alexander's hire. Unlike the others faced with making a similar decision, it's possible that he's made the right move, both for development and the team's 2026-27 outlook.

And while he stayed, the Wildcats still face a significant challenge in replacing what they lost. That group includes one of the nation’s top scorers last season in P.J. Haggerty, along with former starters David Castillo, Taj Manning, Khamari McGriff, and Nate Johnson. Additionally, last season’s primary bigs, Marcus Johnson and Dorin Buca, will not return.

That opens the door for a group of names next season, including but not limited to Dezdrick Lindsay, Montana Wheeler, Brandon Rechsteiner, Isaiah Abraham and Timo Malovec. Official starters haven't been named, and are always subject to change throughout the season.

What's interesting, however, is the pursuit of three separate centers on this year's roster. That includes New Mexico transfer JT Rock, Xavier transfer Pape N'Daiye and Murray State center Brock Vice. All stand 6'10" or taller, and add depth to a position that only Buca occupied the majority of last season.

Why these names could define next season

A clear trend emerged in this transfer portal cycle: size. While former head coach Jerome Tang didn’t neglect it, he rarely treated it as a top priority. This time around, size isn't limited to the centers, either.

The majority of guards also stand 6'5" or taller, with the lone exceptions being Rechsteiner and Wheeler. And even where those two lack size, they make up for in versatility. Signs point away from this roster running through one player, and more about team play and diversification.

For the fans, that might not mean having one of the nation's leading scorers. Instead, expect the majority of points spread between starters with more point totals in double figures. That team element, it's what makes this group so special.

Again, the overwhelming majoirty of players on this season's roster came from the mid-major level. On paper, that means they're used to swinging the rock and playing unselfish basketball. In conferences like the Big 12, especailly with teams like Kansas State, doing that on an elite level is the difference maker.

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