Iowa State Basketball: Why Joshua Jefferson is the most important team transfer for 2024-25

When T. J. Otzelberger took over as head coach at Iowa State this program was coming off a 2-win season. They’ve matched that total twice in the NCAA Tournament alone, as Otzelberger’s third season last year resulted in another trip to the Sweet Sixteen. It’s fair to say that good times are happening for the Cyclones but the best just might be to come in Ames.

While a few players transferred and a few more graduated, all four of Iowa State’s double-digit scorers from last season will return. Leading scorer and all-around playmaker Keshon Gilbert is back, as are backcourt partners Curtis Jones, a great shooter, and nifty point guard Tamin Lipsey. One of the big surprises of last season was freshman Milan Momcilovic and we’re going to see what kind of leap he takes into his sophomore year.

With a few holes to hill, the Iowa State coaching staff keenly utilized the Transfer Portal, though they clearly didn’t need as big a splash as other schools. Among the additions were Brandton Chatfield, a talented power forward from Seattle as well as Dishon Jackson, another big man from Charlotte who had decent production. Former Northern Iowa combo guard Nate Heise stays in the state of Iowa as backcourt depth, though there’s one player that stands out among the group.

Joshua Jefferson is a Las Vegas native who comes to Iowa State after a pair of seasons out at Saint Mary’s. A 6’8 forward, Jefferson played sparingly as a freshman but really emerged in his sophomore season with the Gaels. In a year where Saint Mary’s won both the regular season and tournament titles in the WCC, Jefferson averaged 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds, making marked improvements as a full-time starting forward.

What’s made Iowa State lethal in recent seasons has been their defensive intensity and Jefferson certainly adds to that figure. He actually led the WCC in several defensive metrics and has been a solid rim protector. Additionally, he figures into the equation with his ability to score all over the court. The outside shooting figures weren’t prolific, but he can both cause havoc in the paint and step outside the arc.

The most important factor here is that the Cyclones don’t need Jefferson to come to town and be a hero. There’s already most of an impressive and experienced starting lineup in Ames. These new pieces add impactful depth, and this help in the frontcourt is extremely important. A valuable defender who can score in bunches and likely slide into key minutes in the frontcourt proves Jefferson’s worth to the Cyclones.

We’re not going to predict the level of production to expect from Jefferson, but you can expect a great season from this Iowa State unit. Last year saw prolific play in a tough Big 12 and a 2-seed in the Big Dance. Could these Cyclones play well enough to win the Big 12 and potentially grab a top seed in the NCAA Tournament? Will Jefferson gel nicely with the rest of this lineup and provide a needed spark at times?