New Kansas State Wildcats coach Casey Alexander wraps up first transfer portal session since replacing Jerome Tang
The Kansas State Wildcats recently finished the first transfer portal window under new coach Casey Alexander.
K-State Roundtable Sports writer Jayden Armant recently broke it down on the Sunflower Showdown podcast. Armant said Alexander took a different approach than when Jerome Tang was in charge.
Tang made an effort to go after big-name players who coveted larger NIL deals.
"Nobody really stands out," Armant said. "They didn't get any superstar big names. I think that's the direction Casey Alexander wants to go, more of a developmental program instead of the things the Wildcats have been doing the past few seasons, which is going to get all these stars and trying to create a team from there."
The additions are as follows: Timotej Málovec (sophomore forward), Montana Wheeler (freshman guard), Isaiah Abraham (sophomore forward), Matt Gilhool (freshman forward), JT Rock (sophomore center), Jaden Schutt, (junior guard), Brandon Rechsteiner (junior guard), Dezdrick Lindsay (junior forward), Brock Vice (sophomore forward).
This is likely far less than the Wildcats have spent in the past few seasons. More importantly, it seems Alexander is focused more on developing some chemistry on the roster.
"It shifts the roster every season," Armant said. "I don't think that's good for continuity purposes. You want to retain a roster. You don't want to have to keep turning it over every season."
Alexander wants to create a recognizable program where players want to stay on the team and continue to grow in Manhattan, KS, allowing him to develop them like he's done throughout his career.
"I would love for you to create a program that, you know what the identity of our team is, and you recognize faces from year to year," Alexander said in his opening press conference. "You know the style of play you're going to get, and it's super predictable. We have to be able to adapt, but I want you to see consistency. I want you to know our players, I want them to be in the community, I want them to be here consistently. I want to see some retention; I don't want to flip a roster over every season."
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of KStateRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com