The NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal is officially open, and for the Kansas State Wildcats, that signals the start of a crucial offseason reload. With so much roster turnover, fans are already asking the big question: Which transfer targets should K-State prioritize and how urgently should they act?
Three Transfer Targets Kansas State Needs to Pursue Aggressively
As it stands, only one player from last year’s roster is set to return sophomore Andrej Kostic, who spent most of last season coming off the bench. He confirmed Monday that he intends to stay.
Meanwhile, the bulk of last season’s starting group has already entered the portal: P.J. Haggerty, David Castillo, Taj Manning, and Abdi Bashir. Two additional contributors, Stephen Osei and Exavier Wilson, have also submitted their names.
That leaves Kostic as the lone returnee, joined only by two incoming high school signees head coach Casey Alexander brought in: Jaylen Alexander and Devin Hutcherson. With time slipping away, Kansas State must work quickly to secure more additions through the portal.
Murray State’s Brock Vice Brings Much-Needed Versatility
Alexander has already landed his first portal commitment: Brock Vice, a forward from Murray State. Vice played in 30 games last season, posting a season-best 12 points against Drake. He saw limited minutes during the Racers’ NIT loss to the Nevada Wolfpack, and previously spent time at Creighton and North Texas.
Vice comes from the same conference Alexander coached in at Belmont, and while he hasn’t earned major accolades yet, he hasn’t had consistent opportunities at his previous stops. Entering his junior year, he offers size, flexibility, and untapped potential.
Former Belmont Standout Drew Scharnowski Could Be in Play
Alexander has not hesitated to bring familiar faces with him to Manhattan and another former Bruin may soon be on his radar.
Drew Scharnowski, who averaged 10.7 points across 30 games for Belmont last season, was one of two Bruins to hit the portal (along with Tennessee commit Tyler Lundblade). While Lundblade committed elsewhere, his move opens the door for Scharnowski to reunite with Alexander at Kansas State.
The 6-foot-9 forward shot an impressive 68.1% from the field, thriving in the paint and midrange. After spending his first two college seasons under Alexander, the fit is obvious.
Colorado Guard Isaiah Johnson Could Reinforce K-State’s Backcourt
Colorado transfer Isaiah Johnson was expected to contribute right away in Big 12 play and he exceeded those expectations, averaging more than 16 points and 3 assists. Since entering the portal, he has quickly risen to the top of multiple schools’ wish lists.
With K-State losing nearly its entire guard rotation, Johnson could fill multiple roles. He creates space, scores at all three levels, and defends well—traits Kansas State sorely needs.
Landing him, however, would require beating out several major contenders, including reported early leaders Iowa and Kansas. His decision is still upcoming, leaving the Wildcats with a chance to make their pitch.
