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4. Iowa State Cyclones
2025-26 record: 29-8 (12-6)
Likely departuresÂ
- Joshua Jefferson (16.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 4.8 apg)
- Tamin Lipsey (13.5 ppg and 5.1 apg)
- Nate Heise (5.7 ppg and 4.0 rpg)
- Dominick Nelson (3.7 ppg and 0.9 rpg)
- Milan Momcilovic (16.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg)
- Mason Williams (13.9 ppg and 2.4 apg in 2024-25 at EWU)
Likely returnees
- Killyan Toure (8.6 ppg and 2.3 apg)
- Blake Buchanan (8.5 ppg and 5.7 rpg)
- Jamarion Batemon (6.6 ppg and 1.2 rpg)
- Dominykas Pleta (4.4 ppg and 2.3 rpg)
Roster additions
- Jaquan Johnson (16.9 ppg and 3.6 apg at Bradley)
- Ryan Prather Jr. (15.7 ppg and 3.6 apg at Robert Morris)
- Leon Bond (11.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg at Northern Iowa)
- Tre Singleton (7.6 ppg and 4.8 rpg at Northwestern)
- Taj Manning (4.2 ppg and 5.1 rpg at Kansas State)
Iowa State’s work was literally done in the first couple of weeks of the offseason, landing all five transfers at once. Johnson, the MVC Defensive Player of the Year, should keep the perimeter defense elite, while Toure and Batemon are both breakout candidates to watch.
Losing Momcilovic and Jefferson are big blows but Buchanan is back at center, while Singleton and Manning are solid depth in the frontcourt. Add Prather’s shooting on the wings, and the Cyclones should remain as one of the best all-around teams in the Big 12.Â
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