Iowa State is set to add another name to the rafters, and this one comes with a date attached.
Melvin Ejim’s No. 3 jersey will be retired Saturday, Feb. 27, at halftime of the Cyclones’ game against TCU, Iowa State Athletics announced. The honor had already been revealed a few months ago, but now the program has locked in the moment when Ejim will return to Ames for the ceremony.
Ejim said the recognition means a great deal to him after four seasons in Ames.
"I had a special four years in Ames," Ejim said. "We accomplished so much as a team.
We worked hard to put Iowa State basketball on the map, and we are starting to see the fruits of our labor we put in to set the foundation for the program. I'm thrilled to see all the success they have had with T.J.
(Otzelberger). I am so honored to have my jersey retired.
As an athlete, you always want to be recognized for the work you have put in. I took pride in representing Iowa State in a first class manner, and to be recognized with the other incredible Cyclones in the rafters is amazing."
Ejim’s resume in cardinal and gold is loaded. He was the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2014, when he averaged 17.8 points per game while shooting 50.5% from the field, 34.6% from 3-point range and 76.1% at the foul line. His effective field goal percentage of 55.5% led the Big 12.
That season also came with 8.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per game in 32.1 minutes. As a junior, he paced the Big 12 with 111 offensive rebounds, 326 total rebounds and 9.3 rebounds per game.
His place in Iowa State history is already secure. Ejim was inducted into the Iowa State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024, and he owns the program record for defensive rebounds with 677. He also leads the Cyclones with 374 offensive rebounds and ranks second in total rebounds behind Dean Uthoff.
Current Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, who recruited Ejim and served as an assistant during his time in Ames, said the forward’s impact went well beyond the box score.
"The character and work habits that Melvin showed while a Cyclone helped transcend our program after he left," Otzelberger said. "When he came in, he drew the line in the sand and said, 'we're going to start winning' and he did just that. Melvin is a great ambassador for our program, campus and community and I'm thrilled he's being honored with his jersey in the rafters."
Ejim is now playing overseas with Forca Lleide in the Liga ACB Spanish League. He also earned Finals MVP honors in 2017 after helping Reyer Venezia Mestre win the Italian League title.
His jersey retirement will make him the seventh men’s basketball player to be honored that way by Iowa State. And there’s a chance No. 3 won’t be the last time that number gets raised, with current star Tamin Lipsey trending toward meeting the criteria for the rafters as well.
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