Iowa State’s backcourt took a hit this offseason, and now there’s fresh concern around one of the players expected to help carry the load.
Killyan Toure reportedly suffered a shoulder injury while taking part in an elite camp hosted by NBA All-Star Damian Lillard, according to Travis Hines of the Des Moines Register. The update adds another layer of uncertainty for a Cyclones team that already had to absorb major personnel changes.
Toure’s situation is worth watching closely because T.J. Otzelberger said only a few weeks ago that the guard had been dealing with a shoulder issue earlier in the offseason, though he had worked through it.
He had already returned to the court, and Otzelberger indicated that if there were games being played, Toure would have been available then. The question now is whether this is a fresh setback or a flare-up of something that was already there.
Either way, the timing is far from ideal for Iowa State. Toure is projected to take on a major sophomore-year role after stepping into the spot vacated by Tamin Lipsey, who exhausted his eligibility. That’s a significant ask for any player, and the Cyclones were counting on Toure’s defensive presence to anchor that transition.
His reputation on that end is already well established. Toure has drawn praise from teammates, coaches and opponents, and Lipsey went as far as calling him the best point-of-attack defender in the country.
He can guard multiple spots and bring immediate energy to that side of the floor. As a freshman, that defensive impact was his biggest calling card.
In year two, Iowa State was expecting more from him as a playmaker and as an offensive threat.
The good news for the Cyclones is that there’s at least some depth to work with if Toure needs time. Jaquan Johnson, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was brought in as a Lipsey replacement. Iowa State also added Ryan Prather Jr. through the transfer portal, a guard known for handling the ball with elite ball security and an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio.
There’s also optimism around Jamarion Batemon, who is expected to take a leap in his second season in Ames. And incoming freshman Yusef Gray Jr. could earn a role if he’s healthy enough himself.
Still, Iowa State would clearly prefer to have Toure available. For a team that already lost Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, Nate Heise and Milan Momcilovic from last season’s mix, another setback in the backcourt is the kind of thing that changes the conversation fast.
In Other News...
Iowa State Fans Will Feel Rocco Becht's Next Chapter
Rocco Becht is part of a transfer quarterback class that already has college football fans looking ahead to 2026, with the Iowa State signal-caller drawing attention for the next stop in his career. The profile of seven quarterbacks landing in major roles puts Becht in familiar company alongside names such as Darian Mensah, Sam Leavitt, Drew Mestemaker, Byrum Brown, Dylan Raiola and DJ Lagway, each expected to matter immediately at their new schools.
For Cyclones fans, Bechts inclusion is a reminder that his time in Ames has made him one of the more recognizable quarterbacks in the transfer conversation. His move to Penn State gives him a chance to carry that momentum into a bigger spotlight, and it also leaves Iowa State followers watching closely to see how his game translates in a new setting after becoming such an important figure for the program. [Read more 🡒]
Malaki Ta'ase Brings Iowa State A Different Kind Of Motivation
Malaki Ta'ase arrives at Iowa State with the kind of background that already makes him easy to notice. The Washington State transfer is heading into his third college football season, but his life has expanded well beyond the field over the past several months, as he and his wife, McKinley, welcomed their daughter, Charleston, about seven months ago. Ta'ase has been balancing the demands of football and family while settling into a new program, a new home and a new routine.
For Ta'ase, that shift comes with a different perspective than the one he brought when he first broke into college football and earned All-Conference USA freshman honors at New Mexico State. He grew up as one of 10 siblings, met McKinley during his time there and married her in April 2025, so he is no stranger to having a full household. Now, with fatherhood in the mix, Iowa State is getting a player whose motivation has been reshaped in a very real way, even as his next step on the field remains the story still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]