MANHATTAN — When Andrej Kostic stepped onto the court as a freshman, flashes of brilliance hinted at why some scouts had him pegged as a potential NBA Draft pick. At 6-foot-6 with a quick release and deadly accuracy from beyond the arc, he looked like the future of Kansas State basketball. But the Wildcats' struggles meant Kostic never got the consistent minutes to prove it. His limited role became just another frustration in a season full of them.

When head coach Jerome Tang was let go, many assumed Kostic would follow him out the door. After all, why stay when a fresh start elsewhere could unlock the star potential everyone believed he had? That's where new Kansas State head coach Casey Alexander comes in — and his arrival might be the best thing that could have happened for the Serbian sharpshooter.

Alexander's offensive system at Belmont was a 3-point shooting machine, ranking among the nation's best over the last four years. It's a scheme tailor-made for a sniper like Kostic. "He was open and receptive to a conversation," Alexander said. "Our staff worked really hard to get video prepared to show him how we play big picture and how he could be good for us and get a fresh start and would allow you to be the player that I think everybody in Manhattan wants you to be."

That conversation worked. Kostic is now the only player from last season's roster returning for the 2026-27 campaign. When practice starts June 1, he'll be surrounded by 12 new teammates — including incoming freshmen Devin Hutcherson and Jaylen Alexander — but that's exactly what a clean slate looks like. For Kostic, staying in Manhattan with a coach who knows how to unlock shooters could be the turning point in a career that's just getting started.