A significant wave of roster movement has hit Kansas State men’s basketball, with multiple players from the 2025–26 squad officially placing their names into the NCAA transfer portal. The departures span across different positions and experience levels, signaling a notable reshaping of the team’s depth chart just as the program looks to stabilize under new leadership.
The most recent exit could prove to be one of the most impactful yet, as it comes from the frontcourt. Unlike the earlier losses of guards and wing contributors, this departure directly affects the team’s interior presence, an area that is often the backbone of both defense and rebounding. With eight players now entering the portal overall, the Wildcats are beginning to face a growing roster challenge that extends beyond just backcourt scoring or perimeter depth.
Kansas State’s roster turnover continues to build as more names are confirmed in the transfer portal, and the latest addition only adds to the concern for the program’s future lineup construction.
Kansas State loses key piece to portal, creating major roster gap
The Wildcats first saw P.J. Haggerty, their starting point guard from last season, decide to move on. That was followed by several other departures, including Taj Manning, David Castillo, and Abdi Bashir Jr. Now, the latest loss is a key interior piece, Dorin Buca.
Last season, Buca appeared in 27 games, averaging 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest. While his offensive production was modest, his physical presence inside the paint consistently disrupted opponents, especially as a rim protector. On multiple occasions—at least seven games—he recorded two or more blocks, showing his ability to alter shots and anchor stretches of defense.
His departure leaves Kansas State with more than just a statistical gap at center. It also creates a difficult roster-building challenge in today’s transfer market, where quality big men are among the most expensive and sought-after assets in college basketball.
Recent evaluations of the transfer market by Adam Finkelstein and CBS Sports highlighted just how costly elite frontcourt talent has become. One example discussed was former Kansas center Flory Bidunga, whose market value was reported to be around $5 million, underscoring the premium placed on proven interior players.
Additional reporting from Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated also pointed to a rising trend in big-man valuations, mentioning players such as Bidunga, Michigan’s Aday Mara, and Texas Tech standout JT Toppin. While exact figures vary, industry projections suggest a sharp rise in NIL-driven prices for high-impact frontcourt players. As one assistant coach noted, a growing number of top talents could command multi-million-dollar deals, though opinions differ on how many will actually reach the highest financial tiers.
What that could mean for Kansas State next season
With these departures, Kansas State now faces a pressing need to rebuild its interior rotation. However, the financial realities of the transfer portal may force the program to rethink its approach, especially when competing for elite-level centers whose price tags are increasingly out of reach for many programs.
First-year head coach Casey Alexander has already shown a willingness to recruit aggressively from mid-major programs and identify undervalued talent, including players from schools like Belmont and Murray State. His background in the mid-major ranks has also shaped a more developmental approach to roster construction.
Targeting lower-profile transfers could offer Kansas State a more sustainable path forward, prioritizing continuity and player retention over constant high-cost roster turnover. That strategy may ultimately align with Alexander’s broader vision of building a stable core rather than rebuilding the roster from scratch every offseason.