Wichita State Roster Update: Transfer Portal Outlook

Wichita State men’s basketball enters the 2026 NCAA transfer portal window with a roster strategy focused on retaining core players rather than initiating a full program reset. The portal officially opened on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 and is scheduled to close on April 21.

Head coach Paul Mills has shifted the program’s approach toward maintaining foundational pieces to build long-term success. This strategy is evidenced by the public commitment of several key players who have stated they will return for another season.

Redshirt freshman forward TJ Williams, along with Dillon Battie and Will Berg, announced their intention to return to the program. Sophomore center Noah Hill also confirmed his plans to return shortly after the initial announcements from the trio.

Roster Stability and Program Identity

The retention of these players allows Wichita State to maintain the identity that supported a late-season surge in the previous campaign. The team finished the final two months of its season with a 14-4 record, which contributed to a total season record of 24-12.

This core group was central to a defense-and-rebounding formula that led the Shockers to a second-place finish in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The team also reached the conference tournament championship game and advanced to the third round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

Mills has emphasized that player development and the bonds between the coaching staff, the athletes, and the community are more important than financial incentives. He stated that Good people make good players and expressed confidence that the program will emerge nationally in the near future.

Roster Vacancies and Departures

Despite the retention of core players, the roster faces gaps due to the departure of senior stars Karon Boyd and Kenyon Giles.

senior-to-be guard Dre Kindell announced on March 27, 2026, that he plans to enter the transfer portal. Kindell’s departure leaves Wichita State with three open spots on its 15-man roster for the 2026-27 season.

The loss of these guards creates a specific need for the program to address the guard position as they navigate the current transfer portal cycle.

Offseason Timeline and Objectives

The official start of the offseason activities began on April 8, 2026, with Paul Mills conducting individual meetings with each of his players. These sessions follow a series of exit interviews conducted after the team’s season-ending loss to Tulsa in the NIT.

The primary objective for the current cycle is to leverage the existing momentum of a 24-win season to return the program to national prominence. The stability provided by the returning core of Williams, Battie, Berg, and Hill is intended to serve as the framework for this growth.

The window for players to enter and leave the portal remains open until April 21, 2026, a period that Mills and the coaching staff will use to determine how to fill the remaining roster vacancies.