Purple Reign and JHX Hoops are set for another TBT meeting Friday in Manhattan, Kan., with the Kansas State alumni squad and the Kansas Jayhawks-based group tied 1-1 in the series.
The matchup returns to Bramlage Coliseum and will air on FS2, with streaming available on Fubo. JHX won the most recent game 84-80 in Topeka, while Purple Reign took the first meeting 81-60 in Manhattan.
Both teams are built around familiar names from the state’s two biggest college programs, and both sides are led by former NBA players. Purple Reign is anchored by Michael Beasley, one of the top players in Kansas State history.
After one season in Manhattan, he was selected No. 2 overall by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft, one pick behind Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. Beasley went on to average 12.4 points in the NBA, with stops on the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and two separate runs with the Heat.
He was also recently named one of the top 10 athletes to play in the state of Kansas.
JHX counters with Mario Chalmers, the former Kansas guard who helped lead the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA title. Chalmers hit the famous 3-pointer in the upset of Memphis, a Tigers team led by Rose.
After college, he became a second-round pick by the Heat and started at point guard on Miami’s championship teams in 2012 and 2013. He also played alongside LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade on what is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
JHX Hoops’ roster includes Zeke Mayo, Marcus Garrett, Carlton Bragg Jr., Frank Mason III, Kevin Young, Tyshawn Taylor, Mario Chalmers, Darnell Jackson, Jacob Hanna, Andrew Orr, DJ Burns and Tra-Deon Hollins.
Purple Reign’s group features Dajuan Gordon, Carter Diarra, Shaun Williams, Austin Trice, Xavier Sneed, Jacob Pullen, Michael Beasley, Brandon Childress, John Florveus and Tyonte Robertson.
In Other News...
Kansas State Just Sent A Surprising Message About Andrej Kosti
Andrej Kostic arrived at Kansas State with the kind of profile that can quickly turn into a burden, especially for a young international player trying to find his footing in college basketball. The Serbian guard was the only freshman to play under Jerome Tang last season and averaged 5.2 points, enough to show promise but not enough to justify the kind of expectations that can follow a player with his background.
Now Casey Alexander is signaling a different approach, one aimed less at spotlight and more at steady development. The new coach has noted Kostics improvement, but the staff also wants to temper the outside buzz that can build around Serbian players, giving him a fresh start and a little less pressure as Kansas State tries to let his game grow on its own terms. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Faces One Brutal Question As Another Reset Begins
Kansas State is starting over again, this time with Casey Alexander taking over as head coach and a roster that looks almost entirely new after a disappointing 2025-26 season. It is the kind of reset that can bring hope in a hurry, but it also comes with the usual warning label in college basketball: new coach, new players, new expectations, and very little time to figure out how it all fits together.
Alexander has already acknowledged how much work is ahead in building something from scratch, and he does at least have the benefit of a fresh start. Still, not everyone around the sport is buying into an immediate turnaround, with college basketball insider Jon Rothstein among those who sound skeptical about how quickly this group can improve. For Kansas State, the bigger question now is not whether the rebuild is real, but how long it will take before there is anything tangible to show for it. [Read more 🡒]