As the title of the article states, Drew Scharnowski, a 6’9”, 230-pound rising redshirt-junior forward for the Belmont Bruins, recently entered the transfer portal. Joining his teammate, reigning MVC Player of the Year Tyler Lundblade (who I wrote about here).
This is obviously pertinent to Kansas State because its new head coach, Casey Alexander, was at Belmont last season. Scharnowski has spent three seasons with Coach Alexander, including a redshirt
in 2023-’24, and was one of the Bruins’ best players in 2026.
Why change something that’s working this well when you can move up a level and still play in the system that gave you that opportunity? Sounds like a win-win for Kansas State and Scharnowski. I’ll start filling out the paperwork.
Unlike most Belmont players, Scharnowski does all his damage around the basket. He was 32nd in the nation in 2-point percentage last season, hitting 69% of his 186 attempts. Not only did Drew hit his shots around the basket, but he also drew 6.4 fouls per 40 minutes of court time, good for 53rd in the country. He’s clearly not afraid to bang in the post, but while he was adept at getting the line, converting was an entirely different proposition. He converted on 61 of his 140 attempts (44%), which is shockingly bad, but that’s putting the cart before the horse. Let’s get him on campus first, and then fix his busted free-throw stroke second.
To make up for his difficulties at the line, he’s also one of the better passing big men in the country. That’s going to be a common theme with Casey Alexander players. Guys who can’t pass can’t play on his team. His 22% assist rate ranked 331st in the nation. Not bad for a center, especially considering that PJ Haggerty had a slightly higher 22.7 assist rate last season.
Not only does Scharnowski excel at scoring around the rim, but he’s also adept at stopping his opposition from scoring at the rim. His 7.8 block percentage was 47th in the country. He recorded two or more blocks in 11 games last season, including two games where he rejected five opponent offerings. He’s an explosive athlete who plays bigger than his listed 6’9” because of his ability to elevate.
Overall
Do you like explosive, versatile rim defenders who live to dunk on an opponent’s head, and can also pass?
If you answered yes, you’ll like Drew Scharnowski.
If you answered no, you should probably follow a different sport.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that Belmont was going to lose Scharnowski one way or another. Whether Coach Alexander stayed or left wasn’t going to change that. He’s another player that the Belmont staff conjured out of thin air and then developed into a high-level prospect, for someone else (such is life at the mid-major level these days). I would obviously prefer that someone else be Kansas State, but he’ll have plenty of options other than the Wildcats fighting it out for his services. This is no way is a forgone conclusion.
One small tidbit that might be of interest: Drew lists fishing as one of his favorite hobbies. As we all know, the K-State bass fishing team is elite.
Maybe that will help lure him to Manhattan…I’ll see myself out.
