AMES - Iowa State did not go shopping in the transfer portal for filler, and Tre Singleton fits the profile the Cyclones keep chasing.
When T.J. Otzelberger and his staff dip into the portal, the target is obvious: players who can help win right away. That’s the lane Singleton steps into as Iowa State reloads for the 2026-27 season with five transfers - Ryan Prather Jr. from Robert Morris, Leon Bond III from Northern Iowa, Taj Manning from Kansas State, JaQuan Johnson from Bradley and Singleton from Northwestern - alongside a returning group that includes fourth-year center Blake Buchanan, second-year guard Jamarion Batemon, second-year guard Killyan Toure and second-year forward Dominykas Pleta.
On paper, it looks like another preseason Top 25 team for Otzelberger.
Singleton arrives after starting 31 of 33 games for Chris Collins at Northwestern last season, putting up 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Iowa State’s staff saw him as a possible answer for the hole left by All-American Joshua Jefferson, who was taken by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA Draft in late June.
The fit is rooted in the same kind of frontcourt playmaking Jefferson brought to Ames. Singleton isn’t Jefferson, and Otzelberger made that clear, but the Cyclones believe the second-year player can still create advantages with his passing, his rebounding and his ability to attack defenses.
"I chose Iowa State because it fits me as a person," Singleton said when asked why he committed to Iowa State. "I think everybody in this country knows that Coach T.J. is a really tough guy, and he does everything the right way. So, just having those program indicators, doing everything the right way."
Otzelberger said the focus should be on Singleton becoming his own player rather than trying to stack him up against Jefferson.
"I think Tre needs to focus on being the best version of Tre that he can be," Otzelberger said. "Joshua certainly had a remarkable couple of years for us.
Happy and thrilled for what he's done and the position he's put himself in. But, I think it's best to stay away from any comparisons to other guys because each guy [is his own player].
Tre needs to be the best version of himself. There's differences between him and Joshua."
Still, the overlap is easy to see. Singleton views himself as a strong rebounder and passer, and Iowa State expects that skill set to matter in a frontcourt that could move the ball well. Buchanan’s assist rate ranks No. 6 among returning Big 12 players who are at least 6-foot-8, and Singleton’s assist rate should land among the top 10 in that same group.
That kind of passing from the frontcourt could give the Cyclones one of the league’s best playmaking big-man combinations.
Singleton also brings a transition game that should translate quickly. Jefferson helped fuel Iowa State’s second-fastest tempo under Otzelberger because of his knack for turning defensive rebounds into offense, and Singleton has shown similar value. Last season at Northwestern, he ranked in the 70th percentile as a transition scorer, producing just under 1.000 points per possession and shooting 47.2% on those chances, according to Synergy.
"On the offensive side, we see him as somebody that can create advantages for us, make plays," Otzelberger said. "He's a gifted passer; he takes a lot of pride in making the right plays."
In Other News...
Otzelberger Just Sent A Clear Summer Message About Iowa State's Roster
Summer is where Iowa State starts sorting out what kind of team it wants to be, and T.J. Otzelberger made it clear the process is already well underway. With roster turnover in the mix, the Cyclones have spent these workouts focused on development and on keeping the same identity that has defined the program, while new faces like Tre Singleton and Leon Bond continue settling in alongside returning players such as Blake Buchanan.
Otzelberger also pointed to the way Christian Wiggins has handled a season-ending injury, calling his response a positive example for the group as it builds toward the fall. The staff likes the energy of the summer so far, with players getting integrated, roles starting to take shape and young guys like Yusef Gray back on the court after his own long recovery, even as the bigger question remains how all of that will translate once the real games arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Suddenly Has A Health Question It Cannot Afford
Iowa States offseason has already been defined by turnover, with the Cyclones having to replace key pieces from a roster that helped carry the program through the previous year. The departures of Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Nate Heise, along with Milan Momcilovics transfer to Kentucky, have left T.J. Otzelberger sorting through a new rotation before the next season even begins. In that kind of transition, every healthy body matters, especially in the backcourt where continuity can be hard to find.
So the latest health note around Killyan Toure is worth watching, even if the early signs are encouraging. Otzelberger said the guard has been working through a shoulder issue that surfaced a few months ago, but he has returned to practice and is expected to be available going forward. The only other availability question right now involves two incoming freshmen who are rehabbing injuries, leaving Iowa State with a few moving parts as it tries to settle a roster that already looks very different. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States No. 1 Future Class Faces Its Biggest Summer Stage Yet
Iowa States 2027 recruiting class is about to get its biggest summer spotlight yet, with the group ranked No. 1 nationally by 247Sports set to take the floor at Peach Jam starting July 14. Josiah Harrington and Donovan Davis will be there with Team Herro in the Nike EYBL, while Jack Kohnen is headed in with Brad Beal Elite, giving Cyclones fans an early chance to watch the core of that class compete on one of the most watched stages in grassroots basketball.
Peach Jam always has a way of turning summer momentum into something bigger, and this years event should be no different for Iowa States future haul. The tournament format guarantees a heavy dose of high-level games, and the schedules for both Team Herro and Brad Beal Elite will determine just how much attention these three draw over the course of the week. With Team Herro coming in after a strong EYBL run, the intrigue only grows from there. [Read more 🡒]