Massive Roster Shakeup: Where Departing K-State Basketball Players Are Headed
The Kansas State men’s basketball team is set for a dramatic transformation next season, with a near-complete overhaul of its roster.
As Head Coach Jerome Tang pushes forward with a full-scale rebuild, here’s a look at where the outgoing Wildcats have landed so far:
Dug McDaniel
Starting point guard Dug McDaniel entered the transfer portal on April 14, a move that caught fans and coaches off guard.
The speedy playmaker has committed to the University of Memphis, where he’ll look to follow the path of former Wildcat Nae’Qwan Tomlin and play under former NBA guard Penny Hardaway—possibly en route to a pro career.
McDaniel averaged 11.4 points and 4.9 assists per game last season.
Brendan Hausen
Known for his sharp shooting, Brendan Hausen wasted no time finding a new team. After drawing interest from several programs, he committed to the University of Iowa, where he’ll play his final college season under newly hired head coach Ben McCollum.
A transfer from Villanova, Hausen averaged 10.9 points per game and shot 38.8% from beyond the arc last season, starting every game for K-State as a junior.
Ugonna Onyenso
Big man Ugonna Onyenso is headed to Virginia. The 7-footer began his college career at Kentucky under John Calipari before transferring to Kansas State, where he contributed 2.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game as a junior.
He’ll join a revamped Cavaliers squad under first-year head coach Ryan Odom.
Baye Fall
Former McDonald’s All-American Baye Fall is transferring to Rutgers. The 6-foot-11 forward, who has two years of eligibility remaining, played in just four games for the Wildcats last season, averaging 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds.
After starting his college career at Arkansas, Fall has shown flashes of high potential but is still seeking consistency at the college level.
Achor Achor
Forward Achor Achor will suit up for Mississippi State next season under head coach Chris Jans.
A transfer from Samford, Achor averaged 7.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in just 13 minutes per game during his limited time at K-State. Though expected to step into a larger role, he left the program midseason for personal reasons, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Still in the Portal:
Several former Wildcats are still exploring their options:
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C.J. Jones, a guard who played in all 33 games (starting nine), averaged 5.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He entered the portal on April 21.
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Ashton McGee, a 6-foot-7 high school forward from Mississippi, reopened his recruitment. The three-star prospect had originally committed to K-State over Ole Miss and others.
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Macaleab Rich, a high-flying forward, played in 13 games as a sophomore after appearing in 16 as a freshman. He averaged 5.9 points and 2.2 rebounds last season.
Who’s Returning?
Kansas State currently returns just three players from last season:
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David Castillo (point guard)
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Mobi Ikegwuruka (forward)
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Taj Manning (forward)
New Additions:
Despite the departures, Coach Tang has already begun to reload through the transfer portal, adding several key pieces:
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Nate Johnson, MAC Player of the Year and guard from Akron
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Andrej Kostic, a 6-foot-5 guard from Serbia
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Abdi Bashir, a 6-foot-7 guard from Omaha
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Khamari McGriff, a forward from UNC Wilmington
Kansas State finished the 2024–25 season with a 16–17 overall record and a 9–11 mark in Big 12 play, tying for ninth place in the conference.
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