K.J. Windham Enters Transfer Portal, Second Northwestern Player to Leave

The Northwestern sophomore guard K.J. Windham has entered the transfer portal, per League Ready and later reported by Sam Kayser on Wednesday, becoming the second Northwestern player to do so following Cade Bennerman's departure.

The decision marks a disappointing end to what appeared to be a promising trajectory for the sophomore guard, whose role mysteriously shrank this season after a standout freshman campaign.

During the 2024-25 season, Windham averaged 5.9 points and 2.0 assists per game as a freshman, including an impressive run during the second half that propelled the Wildcats. He stepped up following injuries to Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach, delivering a career-high 20 points off the bench against Oregon in February 2025.

Notably, Windham played over 20 minutes in eight of Northwestern's final nine games that season, establishing himself as a key rotation piece in crunch time. His explosiveness and scoring punch off the bench became invaluable assets as the depleted Wildcats fought to stay competitive.

Despite that standout freshman season, which created expectations he would step up and support the 'Cats' offense this year, Windham's role unexpectedly shrank to just 14 games played in 2025-26. Though he delivered a shining season debut against Mercyhurst with 11 points — his highest output of the season — and posted seven points against Oklahoma State during the Thanksgiving Classic at the United Center and eight points in an 86-82 loss to Ohio State, he never received a larger role with increased minutes as the season progressed. He was essentially benched, appearing in only three games in 2026.

The dilemma surrounding Windham became a recurring theme throughout the season. Though Northwestern coach Chris Collins mentioned confidence issues as the reason for limiting his playing time, this created a chicken-or-egg problem that Windham might not build confidence without receiving game minutes, while Collins distributed playing time to other reserves.

Windham last appeared in the homestand finale during a 66-70 loss to Purdue. A week later, Northwestern wrapped up the season after losing to the same opponent in the Big Ten Tournament's third round. Though Windham said he planned to return to Northwestern for next season while aiming to become a better player who could match up at the Big Ten level, he ultimately decided to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.

His departure represents a significant loss of depth for Northwestern for the next season and raises questions about the program's ability to retain young talent. Windham showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman — now another program might benefit from his potential.