Five Things to Know: Dorin Buca

Pronunciation Guide

Dorin Buca > DOOR-reen BOO-cah

Today we conclude the series of "Get to Know" features on the newest members of the 2025-26 Kansas State men's basketball team. We finish with junior center Dorin Buca (Perugia, Italy/Akern Libertas Livorno), who is one of 10 newcomers, and one of 4 international players.

Head coach Jerome Tang recently announced the 14-member team, which can be reviewed here.

Buca's complete bio can be viewed here.

Buca is one of the tallest players in school history.

The 7-foot-2, 254-pound junior center is one of the tallest players in school history, measuring just one inch shorter than 7-foot-3 Jason Bennett, who played for the Wildcats from 2006-07. He is one of eight recorded players who measure at 7-foot or taller in school history.

Height	Name	Years
7-3	Jason Bennett	2006-07
7-2	Dorin Buca	2025-present
7-1	Joe Leonard	1997-2001
7-1	Nick Pino	1965-68
7-0	Davion Bradford	2020-22
7-0	Jordan Henriquez-Roberts	2009-13
7-0	Dax Jones	1996-97
7-0	Carlton Linguard Jr.	2020-22
7-0	Roger Suttner	1961-64

Buca is one of 5 international players on the K-State roster.

Buca is one of 5 international players on the K-State roster in 2025-26, which includes fellow juniors Mobi Ikegwuruka (Galway, Ireland) and Elias Rapieque (Berlin, Germany), sophomore Stephen Osei (Toronto, Ontario) and freshman Andrej Kostic (Belgrade, Serbia). The 5 international players are the most on any Wildcat team in school history.

Buca is the first-ever Italian-born basketball player at K-State. In fact, he is one of just 24 foreign-born players in school history, and one of just seven players from the European continent, along with his current teammates. Other European Wildcats include Dramane Diarra (Paris, France, 2003-05), David N'Guessan (De Lier, The Netherlands, 2022-25) and Ivan Sulic (Split, Croatia, 1999-2002).

Buca played for Akern Libertas Livorno this past season.

Buca played for Akern Libertas Livorno this past season in the Italian Serie A2, which is in the second-tier of the Italian professional basketball. He was one of three players to see action in all 43 games for Livorno Libertas, averaging 5.6 points on 60.8 percent (101-of-166) shooting with 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 16.7 minutes per game. He led the team in blocks, while he was second in field goal percentage (60.8), third in rebounding (5.3 rpg.) and fourth in field goals made (101).

Buca scored in 38 games with a season-high 15 points vs. Piazenza on 6-of-10 field goals on March 8. He also posted double figures in 6 other games. He also collected a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds vs. Cento on March 23. He registered 2 or more blocks in 14 games, including a season-high 5 vs. Piacenza on Dec. 22, 2024.

Buca was promoted to Livorno Libertas in 2023-24.

Buca was promoted to Livorno Libertas in 2023-24, helping the team to the 2024 Italian Serie B Cup Finals and the Italian Serie B Nazionale Group B Championship. He played in 43 of 47 games, where he averaged 3.3 points on 56.6 percent (60-of-106) shooting with 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 10.8 minutes per game. He scored in 32 games with a season-high 14 points vs. Brianza Casa on Nov. 4, 2023 on 6-of-8 field goals.

Buca began his career with Basket Perugia in the Italian Series C in 2019-20, spending two seasons before moving to Sana Basketball Academy Siena in the Italian Serie C in 2022-23.

Buca is the first Italian-born player at K-State.

Buca is the first-ever Italian-born basketball player at K-State. In fact, he is one of just 24 foreign-born players in school history, and one of just seven players from the European continent, along with current teammates Mobi Ikegwuruka (Galway, Ireland), Andrej Kostic (Belgrade, Serbia) and Elias Rapieque (Berlin, Germany). Other European Wildcats include Dramane Diarra (Paris, France, 2003-05), David N'Guessan (De Lier, The Netherlands, 2022-25) and Ivan Sulic (Split, Croatia, 1999-2002).

Buca, who was born in Galati, Romania, holds dual citizenship in Romania and Italy.

Tickets for the 2025-26 season are currently on sale with a variety of options and packages. Fans can purchase tickets by calling toll free at (800) 221.CATS (2287) and/or online at www.kstatesports.com/tickets.

How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Kansas State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Dorin Buca

Mobi Ikegwuruka

Andrej Kostic

David N'Guessan

Stephen Osei

Elias Rapieque

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