Iowa State’s biggest personnel puzzle this season isn’t really about scoring - it’s about creation. Replacing Joshua Jefferson means replacing the guy who made the offense go, the frontcourt hub everyone else worked around.
That’s why Jefferson’s departure looms larger than Milan Momcilovic’s, even with both stars gone from the Cyclones’ lineup. Momcilovic brought more than elite 3-point shooting, including post and mid-range work, but his core job was stretching the floor.
Iowa State has options there. Jamarion Batemon and Ryan Prather Jr. are among the players who can shoot it from deep.
Jefferson is a different problem entirely. He was the do-it-all offensive engine, the first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft who dictated how the Cyclones attacked.
In T.J. Otzelberger’s system, the challenge is finding someone - or multiple someones - who can manufacture shots and keep the offense organized without Jefferson doing the heavy lifting.
Tre Singleton is the name most naturally tied to that opening, but it’s not as simple as sliding him into the spot and expecting the same production. He could grow into that role because of his size and skill similarities to Jefferson, though that won’t happen overnight. For now, the bigger question is how Iowa State spreads the responsibility around.
One possibility is leaning more on big men Blake Buchanan and Dominykas Pleta, which would give opponents a different look by running sets through the frontcourt. Singleton should also get plenty of chances, likely in actions similar to the ones Jefferson handled over the past two seasons.
Tamin Lipsey, who is currently eligible for a fifth season, remains a gifted playmaker and can guide the offense. But he is more creator than scorer, and Jefferson brought a stronger scoring threat.
Jaquan Johnson, the Bradley transfer, is another option. He’s already accustomed to having the ball in his hands, posting a 28.1% usage rate in 2025-26, and he has the tools to help fill the shot-creation void.
The biggest bump, though, may come from Killyan Toure. He was seen as a rising star in men’s college basketball and was expected to take over for Lipsey as the lead ball-handler.
With more responsibility, he could become the player who takes on the most added creation work, especially once he’s back from his shoulder injury. As a freshman, he was more of a complement; now the Cyclones may need him to do much more on both ends.
Otzelberger is not going to find one perfect Jefferson clone. That much is clear. But Iowa State does have enough scorers and creators to build around, and the key will be finding who can generate the kind of pressure that lets everyone else play off him.
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Iowa State Faces A Brutal Test In Its Biggest Home Spot Yet
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The predictions around the room reflect just how hard this one is to sort out, with different writers landing on different score lines and outcomes. What unites the analysis is the sense that Iowa State cannot afford a slow start or many wasted possessions if it wants to protect home field in a game that already looks like a real barometer for where this team stands. [Read more 🡒]