T.J. Otzelberger led Iowa State to its third Sweet 16 in five seasons. The Cyclones turned heads with wins over Tennessee State and Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament’s opening rounds. Though a hard-fought battle, their spirited run ended with a 76-62 loss to Tennessee, falling just short of the Elite Eight.
The Cyclones finished the season 29-8, including a 12-6 mark in the competitive Big 12 Conference. Otzelberger’s leadership earned him a 10-year extension, securing his place in Ames through 2036. Riding the wave of postseason momentum, anticipation and excitement are building for Otzelberger’s sixth season at Iowa State, and here’s a look at the state of the roster after a number of transfer-portal moves.
Iowa State Cyclones’ 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker
The offseason has been eventful for Otzelberger. Aside from signing a long-term extension, there has been plenty of roster turnover due to the transfer portal and NBA Draft.
Let’s break down which the players transferred, who is returning, and which newcomers joined Iowa State for the 2026-27 college basketball season.
Confirmed Departures
- Tamin Lipsey – Exhausted Eligibility
- Joshua Jefferson – Exhausted Eligibility
- Nate Heise – Exhausted Eligibility
- Eric Mulder – Exhausted Eligibility
- Mason Williams – Committed to Seattle
- Cade Kelderman – Committed to South Dakota
Lipsey left Ames with many memories after helping the Cyclones reach four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including two Sweet 16 appearances in 2024 and 2026. This past season, the 6’1″ guard played in 34 games and posted career-high averages of 13.5 points and 5.1 assists per game, along with 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.
Jefferson also delivered a memorable campaign for Iowa State this past season, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals. The 6’9″ forward shot 47.1% from the field and 34.5% from beyond the arc over 35 games.
Heise was a consistent contributor for the Cyclones despite spending most of the season on the bench. The 6’5″ guard appeared in 37 games and started five times under Otzelberger, averaging 5.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.
Mulder saw action in 20 games this past season and never really took off after transferring from Purdue Fort Wayne ahead of the 2025-26 season. He averaged just 3.8 minutes per game and averaged just 1.0 point and 1.6 rebounds for the Cyclones.
Williams did not play for Iowa State last season because of a hip injury that required surgery. The Eastern Washington transfer entered the transfer portal and ultimately committed to Seattle on April 23.
Kelderman suited up in 18 games for the Cyclones this past season, averaging 0.9 points, 0.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 4.0 minutes per game. He entered the transfer portal and committed to South Dakota on April 15.
Players Leaving in the Transfer Portal
- Milan Momcilovic
- Dominick Nelson
Momcilovic entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, and he is widely regarded as the best player in the portal. He is projected as a second-round pick in the NBA Draft, but he received an invite to the NBA Draft Combine and is hoping that a strong pre-draft process can improve his stock.
He has until May 27 to withdraw from the draft and return to college. The 6’8″ forward was widely regarded as the best shooter in college basketball last season, averaging 16.9 points and 3.7 3s on 50.6% from the field and 48.7% from deep to go along with 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 0.8 steals per game.
Nelson played 24 games for the Cyclones this past season after transferring from Utah Valley. He averaged 3.7 points in 8.3 minutes per game. Nelson entered the transfer portal for the second straight season on April 7.
Expected To Return
- Blake Buchanan
- Killyan Toure
- Jamarion Batemon
- Dominykas Pleta
- Xzavion Mitchell
- Anthony Rise
Buchanan started in 36 of 37 games for Iowa State, averaging 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 24.5 minutes per game. The 6’10” forward from Virginia shot 63.6% from the field and 49.4% from the free-throw line.
Toure excelled during his freshman season at Ames, starting in all 37 games for the Cyclones. The 6’3″ guard averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 46% from the field.
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Batemon played efficiently as an off-the-bench contributor for Iowa State, appearing in all 37 games and averaging 6.6 points and 1.2 rebounds. He shot 38.8% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc.
Pleta had a strong freshman season for the Cyclones, averaging 4.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 35 games during the 2025-26 season. Next season, the 6’11” German forward is expected to see an increase in playing time from the 11.3 minutes he just averaged.
Mitchell returned to Ames after playing seven games as a freshman. The 6’6″ guard averaged 1.0 point, shooting 25.0% from the field and 33.3% from long range.
Meanwhile, the 6’0″ Rise suited up for 11 games and totaled 2 points and 6 rebounds for Iowa State over the season.
Incoming Transfer Players
- Ryan Prather Jr. (from Robert Morris)
- Tre Singleton (from Northwestern)
- Jaquan Johnson (from Bradley)
- Taj Manning (from Kansas State)
- Leon Bond (from Northern Iowa)
Prather was one of Robert Morris’ key offensive weapons, averaging 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 33 games last season. The 6’5″ guard, who made 2.5 3-pointers per game last season, is unlikely to see similar minutes with the Colonials, but he is expected to bring his impressive 3-point accuracy and free-throw shooting to Iowa State. He announced his commitment to Iowa State on April 12.
Singleton had a strong freshman year at Northwestern, playing 25.0 minutes per game and averaging 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. The 6’8″ forward shot 47.7% from the field for the Wildcats this past season. He announced his commitment to play for the Cyclones on April 11.
Johnson committed to Iowa State on April 11 after two seasons at Bradley. The 5’11” guard had an excellent sophomore season with the Braves, averaging 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.5 steals in 34 games.
Manning started in 17 of 30 games for Kansas State, averaging 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds. The 6’7″ forward, who shot 48.5% from the field and 69.7% from the free-throw line, committed on April 11.
Bond expressed his commitment to play for Iowa State on April 10. The 6’5″ forward appeared in 36 games for Northern Iowa, averaging 11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He shot 47.3% from the field and 75.0% from the free-throw line this past season.
Incoming Freshman
- Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan
- Jackson Kiss
- Christian Wiggins
- Yusef Gray Jr.
Rinaldo-Komlan is a four-star recruit from Geneva, Ohio. The 6’10” big man plays center at SPIRE Academy and ranks as the 12th-best center in the Class of 2026 and No. 6 in Ohio, according to 247 Sports. He received offers from Kansas and Dayton but ultimately chose Iowa State for his collegiate career.
Like Rinaldo-Komlan, Kiss is a four-star recruit who plays center at Utah Prep. The 6’8″, 230-pound Kiss is ranked No. 14 among centers in the class and is the fifth-best high school prospect in Utah.
Wiggins, a four-star guard at Wayzata High School, signed with Iowa State on November 12, 2025. The 6’4″ Wiggins is the 18th-ranked shooting guard in the Class of 2026 and the second-best player in Minnesota.
Gray is a three-star point guard at West Allis Central High School. The 6’3″ prospect is rated the 25th-best point guard in his class and No. 1 in the state of Wisconsin, per 247 Sports.
It’s clear Iowa State will have a new-look roster when the 2026-27 college basketball season gets underway, but Otzelberger is hard at work to ensure that the team can remain competitive even after losing some key pieces.
