Iowa State’s backcourt picture for 2026-27 took a hit before the season even got here.
Incoming freshman Christian Wiggins, the highest-rated player in the Cyclones’ Class of 2026, will miss the entire 2026-27 campaign after suffering a torn Achilles in practice last Friday, June 26. T.J. Otzelberger said Wiggins has already had successful surgery and is expected back with the team around this time next year.
That news lands hard for a player just beginning his college career. Instead of spending his first season carving out a role and getting live reps in Otzelberger’s system, Wiggins will spend the year rehabbing.
Wiggins was the lone four-star recruit in Iowa State’s 2026 class after Jackson Kiss decommitted and signed with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. The injury also comes at a time when the Cyclones were looking at real opportunity in the backcourt, with not much proven production returning and several new pieces in the mix.
Jaquan Johnson, a transfer from the Bradley Braves, is one of the offseason additions who could be in line for minutes. With Wiggins now out and Yusef Gray Jr.’s status also in question after a torn labrum in his shoulder late in his senior year, Iowa State’s guard rotation is already looking thin.
Otzelberger said Gray’s injury could lead to a redshirt in his first collegiate season, though he still has a chance to play depending on his timeline. If Wiggins is unavailable and Gray’s availability remains uncertain, the Cyclones may lean on Killyan Toure, Jamarion Batemon and Johnson to handle backcourt minutes. Ryan Prather Jr., a transfer from the Robert Morris Colonials, is also expected to see significant action as a combo guard.
Iowa State is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, reaching the NCAA tournament for the fifth straight year under Otzelberger and making the Sweet 16 for the third time in that span. But even with that momentum, the injury bug has already made itself felt in Ames.
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For Iowa State, the appeal of these honors is in how different they are and how equally valuable they felt. Jeffersons impact came on the court, where he paired consistency with rare production, while Kirwa made her mark on the track by winning at the national level and reshaping the school record book before most freshmen have settled in. The only question now is how much more both athletes can still add to their legacies, because the way each season unfolded left the Cyclones with a lot to look forward to. [Read more 🡒]