Summer workouts are already giving Iowa State basketball a new look, and the biggest changes are still ahead. The Cyclones are heading toward a 2026-27 season that will look a lot different, with Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic all gone and three major rotation spots suddenly open.
That means more will be asked of the players already in the program, especially Jamarion Batemon, Killyan Toure, Blake Buchanan and Dominykas Pleta. Iowa State is bringing in five transfers as well as several developmental players, but the shape of the roster is clear enough: the Cyclones have plenty of defense, experience and lineup flexibility, yet the offense still needs answers. They have to find scoring, create better spacing and get enough production from the frontcourt to stay near the top of the Big 12.
For Batemon, the assignment is pretty straightforward: shoot more and rebound more.
The Milwaukee native showed real promise as a freshman, averaging 6.6 points in just 15.6 minutes per game while knocking down 54 3-pointers and shooting 37% from deep. That kind of efficiency is exactly why Iowa State views him as a player with real upside.
But the next leap is about volume. He took 3.9 3-pointers per game despite limited minutes, and with Momcilovic no longer in the mix, Batemon is the most obvious candidate to become the Cyclones’ top perimeter scoring threat.
There’s another piece to the job, too. Batemon averaged only 1.2 rebounds and grabbed four offensive boards in 37 games, and while nobody is asking him to become a force on the glass, a bigger role comes with bigger expectations. If he hunts his shot more aggressively and starts helping more on the boards, he could become one of Iowa State’s most important offensive pieces.
In Other News...
Iowa State May Have Found The Defender This Season Depends On
Iowa States defense is already trying to sort itself out under a new head coach, with Jimmy Rogers taking over after Matt Campbells departure and a roster that has taken some hits along the way. For a program that still wants to get back to a bowl game this fall, the margin for error is thin, and that makes the search for dependable defenders especially important as the Cyclones reshape their identity.
One name worth watching is Montreze Smith Jr., the linebacker who arrived after transferring from Duke and built his case at the FCS level. He showed enough there to get attention, and Iowa State is clearly hoping that production can translate into a bigger role in Ames, where the defense may need someone like Smith to become a steady presence if the Cyclones are going to meet their goals. [Read more 🡒]
Leon Bond III Could Be The Answer To A Real Cyclones Need
Leon Bond spent two seasons at Northern Iowa building the kind of rsum that usually travels well, especially for a program that values toughness and versatility. He made his name as a slasher and defender, picked up MVC All Defense and All MVC Tournament recognition, and showed he can take over a game offensively with a 37-point burst against Montana. For Iowa State, that blend of edge and production is exactly the sort of profile that can help fill a real roster need.
The challenge now is the jump to Big 12 competition, where every possession gets tighter and every matchup asks more of a wing like Bond. His defensive reputation and ability to pressure the rim give the Cyclones something they did not always have last season, but the question is how quickly that package translates against bigger, deeper lineups. If it does, Bond could end up being more than a useful addition, and the kind of piece that changes how Iowa State can play. [Read more 🡒]