Kansas State released its roster for the 2025-2026 basketball season, which features plenty of new faces for the Wildcats this season.
Head coach Jerome Tang has been aggressive every year in the transfer portal, and this year was no different, bringing in lots of talent.
The headliner of the class is guard P.J. Haggerty, who was third last year in the NCAA in scoring and is the highest returning scorer in the nation. Haggerty is an attacking guard capable of scoring at all levels and will be a main factor in determining how far the Wildcats will go.
Other transfer guards K-State brought in are Abdi Bashir Jr. and Nate Johnson. Bashir Jr. is a sharp-shooting guard who made the most 3-pointers per game in college basketball last year. He has good size and ability to stretch the floor and will be a key piece for the ‘Cats.
As for Nate Johnson, he was the MAC player of the year and defensive player of the year and will be a major role player that will do it all for K-State this season offensively and defensively.
Transfer bigs include Marcus Johnson, Khamari McGriff and Stephen Osei. Osei will redshirt this season to develop and become a potential key piece of the future. Johnson and McGriff, however, will both play this season and make big impacts for the ‘Cats down low.
McGriff is a traditional power forward who can be physical in the post and has good athleticism to contest shots and rebound well against bigger competition. As for Johnson, he is a stretch player who will be mostly outside the arc, but is dangerous from three and will force the defense to stretch out.
This year, different from past offseasons, K-State didn’t look just to the transfer portal to improve but also looked overseas and grabbed three players: Elias Rapieque, Dorin Buca and Andrej Kostic.
Kostic is a great three-point shooter and is also seen as an NBA draft prospect. When he was young, he showed great poise and potential overseas. If he maximizes his abilities, teams will have a difficult time dealing with Haggerty and Kostic in the back court.
Rapieque is a forward who has good size and weight and can do a little of everything. He can score, defend and handle the ball when needed in the front court. Rapieque won’t constantly need the ball to succeed, as his effort gives him plenty of opportunities to make plays as they happen.
As for Buca, he was the last signing of the class and plays like a traditional center. K-State needed a big man and they got one in the 7-foot-1 center. Buca is a good rebounder and can be physical down low to make things tough for opposing players finishing around the rim.
K-State also brought in a freshman from Columbia, Mo., Exavier Wilson. Wilson is a point guard who has a high ceiling and has impressed the coaching staff so far. Wilson may not see the court much in year one, but could be a big piece for the Wildcats’ future.
These athletes join returning players, C.J. Jones, David Castillo, Taj Manning and Mobi Ikegwuruka, who will look to lead as they return for coach Tang.
“I’m excited about this group,” Tang said. “They are high character, hardworking and a mature group. They take their craft seriously. They understand that how they do anything is how they do everything. They take care of business in the classroom, they conduct themselves right off the floor, and then when we step on the floor, they really get after it, and they like each other, and they’re fun to be around.”
K-State also added a new assistant coach, Bill Peterson, who has 47 years of experience coaching. They also hired North Florida head coach Matthew Driscoll, who will serve as the Associate Head Coach for the Wildcats.
The new coaching staff and players will have plenty of bonding to do, but with lots of talent, K-State will look to make noise and get back to the NCAA tournament this season.
