Kansas State Basketball Loses First Player In Transfer Portal

Kansas State forward Macaleab Rich is expected to transfer, announced Thursday afternoon.

Mar 2, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats forward Macaleab Rich (23) misses a dunk during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

Kansas State men's basketball suffered its first loss in the transfer portal Thursday.

Sophomore wing Macaleab Rich announced he will transfer with the Wildcats, per On3Sports.

NEWS: Kansas State small forward Macaleab Rich is entering the transfer portal, he told @On3sports.

The 6-7 sophomore averaged 5.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game this season. https://t.co/E9ohBmQAqk pic.twitter.com/60VEcpLT0J

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 3, 2025

Rich averaged 5.9 points and 2.2 rebounds this season. He was solid as a relief player off the bench but never received much playing time.

CBS SPORTS ANALYST 'CAN'T BLAME' PLAYERS LIKE COLEMAN HAWKINS GETTING NIL DEALS

The Kansas State men's basketball team was one of the most expensive in the nation this season.

And yet, the Wildcats fell way short of their NCAA Tournament expectations, highlighted by forward Coleman Hawkins' $2 million NIL deal.

NIL deals have been a point of contention among college fans and analysts who are skeptical about paying large amounts to collegiate players.

CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson, who has covered college sports for years, spoke with Kansas State Wildcats on SI to provide insight on the development of NIL deals over the years.

"It's no doubt impacting it now, and I think it's only going to continue to impact the sport," said Wolfson, who is part of CBS Sports' partnership with Wendy's during this NCAA Tournament. "Not only in football and basketball but some of the other sports as well. I think that's why you're seeing kind of chalk this week. It's really hard with a lot of players moving from the mid-majors to the Power Four and Power Five conferences, trying to make those moves and get that money. Everybody's looking for some NIL money, a different move, some different exposure."

Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.