Amid all the losses, Kansas State finally got its first victory of the offseason.
And it wasn't even an announcement of an addition; it just wasn't another star loss. Freshman forward Andrej Kostic is staying in Manhattan, KS.
Kostic averaged 5.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and one assist this season, while shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point range. He never really got consistent time on the court. One of the many international players signed last season, Kostic was expected to be a high-impact player within the program. The Serbian wing received a hefty NIL deal ranging from $1 to 2.5 million. His ability to shoot the three and facilitate even away from the point guard position was something to marvel at.
Unfortunately, Kostic didn't have that level of impact within his first year, as the Wildcats ended 12-20 (3-15 in the Big 12). Still, he showed flashes of greatness that make fans excited for his return. He'll play perfectly into coach Casey Alexander's strategy of prioritizing the perimeter threat.
In the meantime, though, the program will have to make up for the losses of PJ Haggerty, David Castillo, and Abdi Bashir Jr. The team's biggest contributor, best shooter, and best bench player are all gone, while Nate Johnson exits the program as a senior.
In case you didn't notice, that's the entire starting backcourt from last season. It's another year where they have to completely alter the roster, though Alexander is hoping that doesn't become the standard during his tenure.
"I think we need to broaden," Alexander said in his opening radio interview. "We gotta have some more experience at this level, and that’s a given. We’ll have a really good staff, and one thing they’ll be is like-minded. We'll all be on the same page, pulling in the same direction, and all about the same thing. So they'll love everything I’ve already seen about K-State when they get here."
KStateRoundtable will continue to keep you all updated on the latest transfer portal moves.
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