Iowa State’s freshman class is already shaping the conversation in Ames, and not just because of who is healthy. The Cyclones got real production from their first-year group in the 2025-26 season, with Killyan Toure starting every game in the backcourt next to Tamin Lipsey, Jamarion Batemon giving the team a boost off the bench, and Dominykas Pleta earning a bigger role as the year went on.
That kind of early contribution sets the bar high for the next wave of newcomers. But the path hasn’t been clean. Injuries have slowed several freshmen before they could fully establish themselves, including Yusef Gray Jr., who dealt with a shoulder injury during his senior year of high school and is still working through a labrum tear.
Even so, Gray has managed to make an impression this summer. “He was able to return last week so it’s been a lot coming at him in a short period of time.
Yusef’s a competitor, he’s a guy that defensively takes tremendous pride, guarding the basketball and making plays for his teammates. Somebody that we have a lot of confidence in.
Now it’s just about getting the reps and him building the confidence in the program through the reps every day,” head coach T.J. Otzelberger said via Bill Seals of Cyclone Report (subscription required).
That’s the part Iowa State is trying to bank on now: getting Gray healthy enough to stack reps and learn the system without interruption. The staff clearly likes what he brings, especially on defense, where his intensity already stands out. That matters in Otzelberger’s program, where that edge on the defensive end is non-negotiable.
Gray still has ground to make up, but the summer gives him a chance to do it. He’s been able to work with teammates on the court, which is a step forward after the rehab process took priority. The bigger question is how much he can close the gap before training camp arrives.
The backcourt picture is crowded, too. Toure and Batemon are back from last season, while Jaquan Johnson and Ryan Prather Jr. were added through the transfer portal. Gray can absolutely push for a role, but he’s competing with players who already have college experience on their side.
And he’s not the only freshman dealing with a setback. The only fully healthy incoming freshman in the Class of 2026 right now is center Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan. Christian Wiggins suffered an Achilles injury during practice and will miss his entire first year in Ames.
For Iowa State, that leaves the freshman class in a strange spot: some players are already making noise, others are fighting just to get back on the floor, and the rotation is still very much in flux. If last year taught anything, though, it’s that roles can change fast in Ames.
In Other News...
Dominykas Pleta May Be Forcing A Bigger Iowa State Role
Dominykas Pleta arrived in Ames with the usual freshman learning curve in front of him, but the early returns from summer work have given Iowa State a reason to think bigger about his second season. T.J. Otzelberger has been encouraged enough by Pletas development to talk openly about a possible step forward in the frontcourt, where Blake Buchanan already gives the Cyclones a steady option and the staff is still sorting out how the pieces fit together.
Pletas summer drew strong reviews for the kind of growth that tends to earn more trust from a coaching staff, and that matters on a roster that also brought in Taj Manning and Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan to compete for minutes inside. The Cyclones have four key returners coming back for 2026-27, but the real question now is how much of a larger lane Pleta has carved out for himself, and whether that progress is enough to move him from depth piece to a more regular part of Iowa States rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State May Need Omari Hayes Sooner Than Anyone Wanted
Iowa State is heading into the season with a very different look, and the offense may lean on new faces sooner than expected. Jaylen Raynor is set to take over at quarterback, while transfer wide receiver Omari Hayes arrives from Tulane with a chance to become a central piece of the passing game as the Cyclones try to sort through a roster full of turnover.
The timing matters because this is not a group that can afford much patience in the Big 12. With so many new players needing to come together, Iowa State may have to find out quickly whether Hayes can be more than just a promising addition and become the reliable target the offense needs while the rest of the pieces settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Campbell Era At Iowa State Just Reached Its Breaking Point
Matt Campbells move out of Ames closes a defining chapter for Iowa State, where he spent years building a program that became one of the Big 12s most stable and respected operations. His comments at Big Ten media days offered a glimpse of how he sees the next step, stressing the challenge of adapting his coaching approach to a new environment while keeping the focus on process and people, the same pillars that helped shape his rise with the Cyclones.
The transition, though, is bigger than one coach changing jobs. Campbell has already brought two dozen former Iowa State players with him, a sign that the culture he built in Ames is following him into a new setting and giving him familiar pieces to work with from the start. Penn States opening stretch also gives him some breathing room early, which could matter as he tries to turn a new roster and a new routine into something that looks like his program. [Read more 🡒]