Oklahoma State Cowboys Men's Basketball 2026-27 Starting Lineup Projection

With the transfer portal mostly settled and early signing period in the books, it’s time to start projecting what Oklahoma State’s starting lineup could look like next season under Coach Steve Lutz.

This isn’t a finished product yet, but if the Cowboys go with their most talented and experienced group, since Lutz arrived in Stillwater.

Here’s how I see the starting five shaking out...

C: Julius Halaifonua (7-0)

The big fella from Georgetown should slide right into the starting center spot.

Last season with the Hoyas, he averaged 10 points in just 20 minutes per game while shooting an impressive 61% from the field. That’s efficient.

He’s not going to blow your mind with gaudy numbers, but a 7-footer who can score at that rate is going to be a difference-maker in the Big 12. The one area he has to improve is rebounding, he only pulled down 4.4 boards per game last year.

Somebody needs to remind this dude he’s 7 feet tall.

If he starts attacking the glass more consistently, he’ll be a problem.

F: Jordan Burks (6-9)

Jordan Burks is locked into one of the forward spots. The UCF transfer started all 33 games last season and put up 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

He was one of the better free-throw shooters in his conference and shot 37.3% from three.

This will be his fourth school, so experience is definitely not going to be an issue. He should be ready to step in and contribute right away.

Burks gives Lutz a versatile scorer who can stretch the floor and make plays in big moments.

F: Latrell Allmond (6-8)

This one feels like a no-brainer.

Latrell Allmond is a McDonald’s All-American and he’s arriving in Stillwater as a 19-year-old with plenty of upside.

He’s improved his outside shot and his ability to slash and finish at the rim. You don’t bring in a talent like Allmond to ride the bench.

He’s going to start and should give OSU some serious athleticism and scoring punch on the wing.

G: Kashie Natt (6-3)

Kashie Natt is one of my favorite additions on paper.

This dude averaged 8.3 rebounds per game last year at Sam Houston, as a 6-3 guard.

What are you, Russell Westbrook? That’s straight-up unicorn stuff.

On top of that, he still dropped 10.8 points per game and shot 38% from three. He’s got layers to his game like Shrek would say, scoring, rebounding, and perimeter shooting.

He’s going to bring toughness and versatility to the backcourt.

G: Kayne Clary (6-0)

The only returning starter from last year’s squad is Kayne Clary, and he should be the floor general again.

Clary started 31 of 34 games last season. He led the team in assists (4.6 apg), was the third-best three-point shooter (44 made at 35.5%), and showed he can make plays for others while knocking down shots.

He knows the offense, he’s a good passer, and his experience is going to be huge for a team that’s bringing in a lot of new faces.

Overall Thoughts

This projected starting lineup has nice size, good athleticism, and a solid mix of experience and youth.

You’ve got a legit 7-footer, two 6-8/6-9 wings who can score, and a backcourt that can shoot and rebound.

The biggest question marks will be chemistry and how quickly the new pieces gel with Clary. If Julius starts crashing the boards like a man his size should, and if Burks and Allmond bring the scoring everyone hopes for, this group has the potential to be dangerous.

Lutz has done a good job adding talent through the portal and in high school recruting.

It’s still early, but this projected five gives Oklahoma State something to be optimistic about going forward from here.