Belmont fans are probably going to hate Kansas State after these next few months.
In addition to longtime coach Casey Alexander leaving the school to be the Wildcats' next head coach, several stars are departing the program and even following Alexander to Manhattan, KS.
The latest was former Belmont commit Jaylen Alexander, a three-star 2026 class point guard from Oxford, AL. He attends Oxford High School, leading the team to a 30-4 record and a Class 6A state championship. Alexander was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Alabama, averaging 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.3 steals last season. He announced his commitment on Saturday afternoon, following former Bruins commit Devin Hutcherson to Kansas State as well.
The three-star guard also had offers from Auburn, Jacksonville State, and UAB.
He will be a great addition to a team that will likely regroup after Jerome Tang's departure. PJ Haggerty, Nate Johnson, and Abdi Bashir Jr. are likely to leave the program, putting Kansas State back to the drawing board for the third consecutive year. Alexander's two-way playmaking will be essential for a team needing more players who can compete on both ends of the court.
"Jaylen is a dynamic point guard with the size and skill to make an impact on both ends," coach Alexander said about the Oxford product. "He's a playmaker and a leader, two valuable characteristics of a lead guard."
He joins Hutcherson, the three-star wing who previously committed to the Bruins but left after Alexander departed. Hutcherson is a 2026 class prospect based in Atlanta, GA, currently attending Holy Innocents Episcopal School.
And the list will only continue to grow. Multiple assistants have either transitioned or been rumored to join coach Alexander at Kansas State, while last season's stars in the portal loom around. Senior guard Tyler Lundblade and sophomore forward Drew Scharnowski, both outstanding players in Belmont's rise to the conference's top spot, could be on the move to Manhattan, KS, next as well.
"It’s gonna be a mixture of the guys that were with me at Belmont, but several new faces as well," coach Alexander said in his opening radio interview. "I think we need to broaden. 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 and pulling in the same direction, and all about the same thing.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!