Kansas State men’s basketball is set for a major overhaul next season. Even with first-year head coach Casey Alexander doing what he can to keep the group together, it appears none of last year’s starters plan to return.
Kansas State shooter Abdi Bashir Jr. enters the NCAA transfer portal
At this point, there’s no indication that Abdi Bashir Jr. will be back in Manhattan. Per a report from On3’s Joe Tipton, Bashir has officially submitted his name to the NCAA transfer portal.
Bashir averaged just over 13 points per game last season and was one of only two starters to shoot at least 40% from beyond the arc. He didn’t play after Kansas State’s Jan. 17 matchup with Oklahoma State due to a reported foot injury.
He recorded a season-best 26 points against Nebraska in the Hall of Fame Classic and put together six straight double-digit scoring performances heading into the start of Big 12 play.
Why Alexander’s early retention struggles may not be disastrous
It’s common for coaching transitions to disrupt roster continuity, especially when the transfer portal opens. Since last season’s team was recruited by former head coach Jerome Tang, many departing players simply may not align with the new vision.
There’s no sign that Alexander pushed to keep last year’s roster intact or discouraged players from exploring their options. During his introductory press conference, he stressed the importance of retention, though it wasn’t expected to be a guarantee in his first year.
Given today’s recruiting environment—and the added complications of a coaching change—holding onto players was always going to be difficult.
Even so, Alexander has already secured two commitments: Jaylen Alexander and Devin Hutcherson. Both are promising young additions capable of filling the roles left behind by departing starters. Time will tell which other targets the Wildcats add from the portal.
