Brandon Rechsteiner hasn’t wasted any time making himself impossible to ignore at Kansas State.
The point guard has already stacked back-to-back 26-point games, first against Cal State Northridge and then again in Tuesday’s 89-82 win over Creighton at Bramlage Coliseum. For a player still settling into Manhattan, that’s a loud entrance.
If the name is still new to you, there’s plenty to catch up on with the Colorado State transfer who is quickly becoming the centerpiece of Casey Alexander’s first K-State roster.
Rechsteiner comes from wrestling royalty. His father is Scott Steiner, the WWF, WCW and WWE star better known as Big Poppa Pump.
That world has always been around him. His cousin wrestles professionally, he goes to WrestleMania every year and he talks about current stars like he’s known them for years.
John Cena has even told him he’d like to see him in the ring someday.
Basketball is the priority for now, though Rechsteiner hasn’t ruled out another path down the line.
“I’m focused on basketball,” Rechsteiner said. “But it’s wherever life takes me. I will take WWE over a regular job.”
Alexander’s interest in him didn’t start this fall. The K-State coach first recruited Rechsteiner out of high school in 2023, back when Alexander was at Belmont.
Rechsteiner chose Virginia Tech, but the relationship stuck. When Alexander arrived at Kansas State in March and Rechsteiner entered the portal after his breakout season at Colorado State, the fit came together fast.
“Just having that prior relationship was nice,” Rechsteiner said. “I visited Belmont and my dad met Casey.
He was somebody who my dad liked. That was big for me.
So it was easy.”
Alexander’s style also made the pitch simple. His up-tempo offense suits a guard who can score with or without the ball, and Alexander made no secret of what he expected from the start.
“I told him I wanted him to come to K-State and play 30 minutes a game and start at point guard and be our leading scorer,” Alexander said. “I’m glad it’s working out that way so far.”
The scoring touch has been obvious from the jump. Alexander has been adamant that there’s no debate about who owns the top shooting label on this roster.
“There is not a consensus?” Alexander said. “Rechsteiner is the best shooter on the team.”
The numbers back that up. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard made 49 threes in two seasons at Virginia Tech, then shot 40% from deep while averaging 12 points a game at Colorado State. Through three games in purple, he’s already knocked down 16 shots from beyond the arc.
Teammate Jaden Schutt has seen enough to understand why the ball keeps finding Rechsteiner when the game opens up.
“It was amazing to watch,” Schutt said. “He’s a really talented player. When he gets going, it’s almost Steph Curry-like.”
But the story isn’t just about jumpers. Rechsteiner is starting at point guard for a reason, and Tuesday’s win showed the full package. He added five rebounds and four assists against Creighton, including a strong drive that pulled three defenders into the lane before he kicked it to Isaiah Abraham for a dunk.
Alexander says the edge underneath all that skill is what stands out most.
“What I admire the most in players is just a general level of toughness and competitiveness,” Alexander said. “He excels at that.
It’s definitely his greatest strength. Brandon thinks he can do anything.
That’s why he’s a good player. He’s pretty elite as far as belief in himself.”
That confidence showed after Kansas State answered its opening loss to South Dakota State with a much-needed bounce-back.
“It feels amazing,” Rechsteiner said. “We worked so hard, and we were so upset that we dropped that first one. So just coming together and still believing and getting this win, it feels great.”
Even with the statement win, there’s still plenty for Kansas State to clean up. The Wildcats turned it over 22 times against Creighton, and those mistakes turned into 30 points for the Bluejays. Alexander didn’t hide his frustration.
“It’s a team problem,” he said. “We have got to do a better job of slowing ourselves down and just making simple plays, even at the expense of what we could get offensively. It’s an epidemic right now.”
If Rechsteiner helps steady that part of the game, the rest of the formula is easy to see: him pushing the pace, Schutt giving K-State two-way minutes, Timo Malovec adding depth and Alexander’s offense humming in stretches like it did against Creighton.
If the hot hand keeps rolling, Kansas State has a chance to stay in the fight in the Big 12.
In Other News...
Kansas State Faces A Costly QB Decision With TCU Up Next
Kansas State is still sorting through one of the most important decisions on its schedule, with Collin Klein not ready to name a starting quarterback for the upcoming meeting with TCU. Sophomore Dillon Duff and junior Blake Barnett are both in the mix, and Klein said the competition will continue in practice as the Wildcats try to steady themselves after Avery Johnsons injury helped trigger a recent losing streak.
The possibility of using both quarterbacks adds another layer to a situation Kansas State would rather have settled by now. With TCU next and the offense still adjusting to life without its starter, Klein is weighing not just who gives the Wildcats the best chance to move the ball, but how much flexibility he wants to keep available once the game begins. [Read more 🡒]
K-State Just Gave Fans A Real Reason To Feel Better
After a flat opening loss to South Dakota State, Kansas State has started to steady itself with back-to-back wins over Cal State Northridge and Creighton. The early response mattered, because it showed the Wildcats could absorb an ugly start and come back with more pace, better shot selection and a sharper edge on offense. Brandon Rechsteiner has been at the center of it, leading the way with 26 points in both victories while K-States three-point shooting took a noticeable step forward.
For a team trying to build confidence early, that kind of bounce-back is exactly what coach Casey Alexander wanted to see. He pointed to the progress and readiness the Wildcats showed after the opener, and the next question is whether this stretch is the start of something more stable or just a brief correction. Either way, K-State has already given its fans a much better reason to feel optimistic than it had after game one. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Pushing For A Young Tight End Fans Should Watch
Kansas States recruiting board keeps expanding, and one of the more intriguing names to surface is Caden Palmquest, a young tight end from Aledo High School in Texas. Collin Klein has extended a scholarship offer to Palmquest, who is already committed to SMU but is drawing attention from programs that like his upside and long-term potential. He is also hearing from Arkansas, Baylor and Oregon State, a sign that the Wildcats are competing in a crowded race for a prospect who is still early in his high school career.
For Kansas State, the offer fits a broader push across multiple positions and recruiting classes as the staff keeps working to build out its future board. Tight end is always a position worth tracking in this offense, and Palmquest is the kind of name that can linger on the radar for a while as the recruiting process unfolds. The Wildcats have made clear they want to stay involved, and for fans following the next wave of targets, this is one to keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]