Former Kansas State forward Taj Manning has found a new home.
After four years as a Wildcat, Manning officially landed with a Big 12 rival in Iowa State. He averaged 4.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in the 2025-26 season.
Manning's team impact went beyond the box score, being hailed for his defensive intensity, rebounding, and role as the team's glue. He'll be a relatively simple replacement in terms of production, but the impact and veteran presence will be difficult to replicate.
Iowa State has been active in the transfer portal, likely acquiring Manning to get some forward depth after Milan Momcilovic declared for the NBA Draft.
Here are the other Kansas State players who have entered the portal:
NEW HOMES
PJ Haggerty, Junior Guard
2025-26 STATS: 23.4 PTS, 5.3 REB, 3.8 AST
NEW TEAM: LSU
Haggerty was the country's third-leading scorer during the regular season. As the Wildcats' leading scorer, he was often the team's only source of offense, single-handedly keeping them in most of their conference matchups.
STILL IN THE PORTAL
Dorin Buca, Junior Center
2025-26 STATS: 3.2 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1.3 BLK
Buca anchored the Wildcats' paint production on both ends of the court. A fan favorite among the Wildcats, he made the most of the limited minutes he got. His offensive presence created great plays on the perimeter and some highlight dunks on his own. On the defensive side, his size was perfect for protecting the paint and blocking shots.
Abdi Bashir Jr., Junior Guard
2025-26 STATS: 13.2 PTS, 2.2 REB, 2.3 AST
It was only a matter of time before Kansas State's stars entered the transfer portal, delayed by the news of much smaller names headlining the losses. One of the country's best shooters, he shot 44.4 percent from 3-point range.
Exavier Wilson, Freshman Guard
2025-26 STATS: N/A
David Castillo, Sophomore Guard
2025-26 STATS: 10.3 PTS, 1.9 REB, 1.8 AST
Castillo has announced his intentions to leave the school, making him the second player to depart from last year's roster. He rose in production in his second season, especially in the non-conference slate.
Stephen Osei, Sophomore Forward
2025-26 STATS: 0.7 PTS, 1.0 REB
Osei barely saw the court for the Wildcats last season, logging just nine playing minutes with two points, three rebounds, and three turnovers.
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