Kansas State’s 2027 recruiting board picked up another name on Thursday, and this one comes with a familiar Midwest footprint. The Wildcats extended an offer to combo guard William Powers, a St. Louis product who attends Westminster Christian Academy High School in Missouri.
Powers is still unranked, but he’s expected to settle in as a three-star guard. Kansas State is not alone in the chase, either. Belmont, Northwestern and Utah State are also among the schools that have offered him.
Powers announced the news himself on social media, writing, "After a great conversation with Coach Alexander and the rest of the staff, I am blessed to receive an offer from Kansas State University," Powers tweeted. "Thank you to Coach Alexander and the rest of the Kansas State staff for believing in me!"
The Wildcats currently have just one commitment in the 2027 class, but that number could grow as the staff keeps working through a group of prospects that includes several high-level targets.
One of the bigger names is four-star power forward Davis Cochran, who attends Brentwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee. Kansas State is among his eight favorites, alongside programs such as Tennessee, Cincinnati and Virginia. Cochran put up big numbers last season, averaging 22 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, 1.9 blocks and one steal.
Another guard on the board is Malik Olajuwon, who plays at Fort Bend Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. He averaged 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks last season, according to MaxPreps. Texas Tech, TCU and SMU have already offered, and Houston is expected to join the mix as well, given that his father starred there and became the top Draft pick in 1984.
Shooting guard remains a key piece in Casey Alexander’s plan, especially with the way his offense leans on the 3-point shot.
Kansas State is also keeping close tabs on Teke Deng, a big man at Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas. In three state tournament games, Deng averaged 19 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, and UNLV has already offered him. While the Wildcats’ frontcourt is mostly made up of underclassmen, adding depth there still matters, particularly after injuries left that group exposed for much of last season.
In Other News...
Wendell Gregory Carries Early Pressure In Kansas States New Era
Wendell Gregory arrives in Manhattan as one of the more notable pieces in Kansas States defensive rebuild, giving the Wildcats a proven transfer presence as they begin the first season under head coach Collin Klein. Gregory comes over from Oklahoma State with the kind of experience that can matter quickly, especially for a team trying to set a new tone after the transition from Chris Klieman to Klein.
Kansas State enters the year with modest outside expectations after being picked eighth in the Big 12 preseason media poll, but there is still belief that Klein can make an immediate imprint. Gregorys role becomes part of that equation, since the Wildcats need impact players to help the defense carry early pressure while the new staff sorts out what this next version of the program is going to look like. [Read more 🡒]
Casey Alexander Is Giving Kansas State Fans An Early Recruiting Look
Casey Alexander is already putting his stamp on Kansas States 2027 recruiting class, making early scholarship offers to four of the countrys top high school prospects while continuing to track two more. It is the sort of early groundwork that can shape a class long before signing day chatter really starts, and it gives Wildcats fans a first glimpse at the kind of talent the staff wants to identify and prioritize.
The names attached to those offers have been productive enough on the high school circuit to justify the attention, and Kansas State is clearly trying to stay ahead of the curve rather than chase prospects later. Fans will get another chance to connect with the program soon, too, with the Meet the Cats event set for Aug. 22 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, a useful reminder that recruiting buzz and fan engagement tend to move hand in hand in Manhattan. [Read more 🡒]
