It was no real surprise that Andrej Kostic ended up as the only Kansas State basketball player from the 2025-26 roster to stay with the Wildcats after Casey Alexander became head coach.
No one on the team suited Alexander’s fast-paced, high-scoring offense better than Kostic. The Serbian sharp-shooter had a modest first season at Bramlage Coliseum, posting 5.2 points and 1.7 rebounds over 23 games, but he finished the year on a positive note. His three-point shooting ability was never in doubt. That’s why Alexander was keen to meet with Kostic after landing the job—and why the freshman guard was willing to engage. “He was open and receptive to conversation,” Alexander said. “Our staff worked hard to put together video and show him exactly how we play, the big picture. We also wanted to show him, ‘Look, here’s why we think you’d be great for us. A fresh start will help you become the player everyone in Manhattan wants you to be.’
“It’ll be a process, but he was very open. I think he trusted that we had his best interests at heart.”
The Wildcats lost nine players to the transfer portal after Jerome Tang was fired in February. Four have already committed to other power-conference schools. Alexander said he invited each of them to talk about a future together at K-State and was open to keeping more than one as he rebuilt the roster.
In the end, only he and Kostic connected. “A lot of guys had made up their minds before I was even introduced,” Alexander said, “let alone after.”
It will be fascinating to see how Kostic responds to a new coach next season, but it could be exciting. Last year at Belmont, Alexander’s team shot 41% from deep on a whopping 819 three-point attempts. Four players hit at least 44 triples. One of them, now at Tennessee, Tyler Lundblade, drained 112.
Kostic could easily help Alexander space the floor. He made 30 of 80 threes (37.5%) last season. His best outings included four threes at home against Kansas and three in two other Big 12 games. He seems a natural fit for an offense built around perimeter shooting. Though he played sparingly under Tang, his role grew under interim coach Matthew Driscoll, allowing him to average 7.4 points over his last seven games.
If Kostic wants more minutes, he’ll need to improve defensively. But his offensive potential is clear—his performances against international competition once led some experts to project him as an NBA Draft pick before he arrived in Manhattan.
It sounds like he’ll be motivated to have a stronger season after a year in the Little Apple. “I give the people of Manhattan a lot of credit for his decision to stay,” Alexander said. “He feels loved here and very appreciated. That was a big part of this.”
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