Iowa State’s offseason haul is already drawing attention, and Tre Singleton is the transfer starting to separate himself from the rest of the group.
The Cyclones brought in five portal additions over the offseason - Jaquan Johnson, Leon Bond III, Taj Manning, Ryan Prather Jr., and Singleton - while also adding three recruits in Yusef Gray Jr., Christian Wiggins, and Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan. There are plenty of newcomers in Ames who could make noise, but Singleton has already landed on CBS Sports’ list of 10 breakout candidates heading into the 2026-27 season.
That list only included players who averaged fewer than 10 points per game last season, and Singleton qualifies cleanly. As a freshman at Northwestern, he posted 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. For a first-year player, those numbers stand out, and they help explain why he’s getting noticed now that he’s in an Iowa State uniform.
The other players on CBS Sports’ breakout list were Jaylen Petty of UCLA, Tate Sage of Iowa, Darren Harris of Indiana, Matt Able of North Carolina, Mercy Miller of Houston, Davis Fogle of Gonzaga, Ruben Prey of St. John’s, Kohl Rosario of Kansas, and Jaden Toombs of SMU.
There’s also a clear opening for someone to step forward in Ames. Iowa State lost all three of its star players this offseason. Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey headed to the NBA, while Milan Momcilovic entered the portal before signing with Kentucky.
That turnover creates room for new faces to grab bigger roles. Killyan Toure was already a key defender last season and could be ready for a stronger offensive season.
Jamarion Batemon provided quality shooting off the bench and may move into the starting lineup, where his scoring could climb. Blake Buchanan and Dominykas Pleta are also candidates to take another step after solid seasons.
Still, Singleton is the one drawing the loudest buzz. With his size and a skill set that could fit well under T.J.
Otzelberger, he looks like a player who could quickly become a major piece for the Cyclones. If that happens, Iowa State may have found the kind of transfer who can help push the program toward its ceiling - even the Final Four, something it has not reached since 1944.
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