Skip to main content
Kansas State

Kansas State adds Italian big Dorin Buca

On3 imageby: Drew Galloway08/19/25galloway__drew
BUCA1

Kansas State is not finished adding players to its 2025 basketball roster. Italian big man Dorin Buca has committed to K-State.

Center has been a position of need this off-season for Kansas State. Remember, Tyreek Smith is still in the appeals process for getting a waiver to play this season for the Wildcats. Smith transferred to Kansas State just before the season began at Memphis last season and his eligibility for this season is still in limbo. Khamari McGriff was added from UNC Wilmington earlier this off-season and is already in Manhattan, but Kansas State needs more depth at the position for 2025.

Buca has been playing professionally in Italy for Akern Libertas Livorno in the Serie A2 League in Italy. For Akern Libertas Livorno, Buca averaged 5.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while averaging 16.7 minutes in the 43 games he played this season. He also averaged just over one block per game this season including a game with five blocked shots versus Piacenza. The Italian posted double digit rebounds four times this season including a season high 12 on two occasions. Buca also posted double-digit points in seven games this season including a season high of 15 versus Piacenza.

Last season he played with Akern Libertas Livorno in the Serie A3 League. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 3.6 points and 3.4 rebounds while playing 11 minutes per game in the 30 contests he played in.

Kansas State is no stranger to going the international route to land players this off-season. K-State has already landed Serbian guard Andrej Kostic and German wing Elias Rapieque. Both players are expected to arrive in Manhattan shortly.

Overall, the Italian would be the 15th player on Kansas State’s roster pending on Smith’s waiver appeal. He is also the 12th player added by the Wildcats this offseason.

You may also like