Lutz and the Oklahoma State Cowboy basketball team have been somewhat active in gaining new Pokes for the 2026-2027 basketball season
Will Oklahoma State make the NCAA Tournament in 2027?
STILLWATER, Okla. — As the transfer portal window heats up, Oklahoma State men’s basketball head coach Steve Lutz has struck quickly to help build the Cowboys’ roster.
The program announced commitments from North Carolina transfer Luka Bogavac and Sam Houston standout Kashie Natt, two high upside additions who could be the difference makers in Lutz’s need to return the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27 season.
The moves come at a critical and needed time. Oklahoma State endured a frustrating 2025-26 campaign that fell short of March Madness expectations, largely due to glaring defensive deficiencies.
The Cowboys ranked near the bottom of KenPom in defensive efficiency, struggling with poor perimeter defense, rebounding lapses, and an inability to force turnovers consistently.
Opponents frequently exploited these weaknesses, leading to blowout losses in Big 12 play and missed opportunities in close games. Lutz has been vocal about the need for a tougher, more physical identity, one that defends and rebounds at a high level every night.
Enter Natt and Bogavac, who address those exact needs while adding some skill and experience.
Is Kashie Natt the next Oklahoma State defensive anchor?
Kashie Natt, a 6’3 guard from Rayville, Louisiana, arrives in Stillwater as the reigning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year.
After dominating at the NAIA level with LSU Alexandria, where he earned two-time All-American honors, RRAC Player of the Year, and averaged a double-double of 19.9 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting 47.7% from the field, Natt took his game to Sam Houston for the 2025-26 season.
There, he posted 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and a team leading 2.0 steals per game in 26.4 minutes, earning All-CUSA Defensive Team honors and helping stabilize a Bearkats squad in transition.
What Natt brings to Oklahoma State cannot be overstated. His elite athleticism, length, and instincts make him a lockdown perimeter defender capable of guarding multiple positions. At a program that hemorrhaged points on the defensive end last season, Natt’s steal rate and rebounding prowess (especially on the defensive glass) will immediately upgrade the Cowboys’ transition defense and half-court stops.
Offensively, he’s a versatile scorer who attacks the rim, finishes through contact, and spaces the floor at 38.3% from three. For a team that needs to complement its returning guards like Kanye Clary and Ryan Crotty, Natt provides toughness and physicality that fits Lutz’s vision of a gritty, tournament-ready squad.
In 2026-27, expect Natt to start and log heavy minutes, potentially emerging as an All-Big 12 caliber defender who helps OSU climb out of the defensive basement.
Luka Bogavac brings perimeter scoring and Fallah’s international flair
Luka Bogavac, a 6’6, 215-pound wing from Mojkovac, Montenegro, adds size, shooting, and European polish to the backcourt.
After developing professionally in the competitive ABA League with SC Derby Podgorica, where he averaged 14.9 points per game and shot efficiently from deep in 2024-25, Bogavac spent the 2025-26 season at North Carolina.
In 33 games off the bench for the Tar Heels (24.3 minutes per game), he averaged 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while knocking down 34.9% of his threes on solid volume. He led UNC in made threes for the year and showed flashes of playmaking with a strong assist to turnover ratio.
Bogavac’s journey from Montenegro’s pro ranks to Tobacco Road and now the Big 12 demonstrates his adaptability and upside.
At OSU, his length and shooting stroke will stretch opposing defenses, creating driving lanes for Clary and cutting opportunities for bigs like Benjamin Ahmed.
Defensively, his 6’6 frame allows him to switch onto wings and forwards, adding another layer to the improved scheme Lutz is installing. As a projected senior, Bogavac brings immediate veteran leadership and scoring ability, qualities that could see him average double figures while starting alongside Natt in the backcourt.
His ability to create off the dribble and knock down open threes will be vital in Big 12 battles where spacing comes at a premium.
Roster Turnover and Lutz’s Rebuild Strategy
The additions come after significant portal departures that forces a reset for Lutz.
Losses include guards Jaylen Curry (10.1 PPG), Vyctorius Miller (10.8 PPG and strong 3-point shooting), Isaiah Coleman, Daniel Guetta, and forward Robert Jennings II.
While the Cowboys retain a solid core, including returning contributors like point guard Kanye Clary, center Benjamin Ahmed and guard Ryan Crotty, plus a promising high school signing class, Lutz is filling gaps through the portal like he did last year.
Lutz goal has been clear though. Construct a balanced, deep roster capable of competing in the Big 12 and punching a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Bogavac and Natt represent the first two dominoes in that plan, providing perimeter scoring, defensive tenacity, and size that were missing last season.