Iowa State Basketball Adds Fifth Transfer Player

The Cyclones have been busy in the transfer portal, landing five new players for next season.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:49am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in vibrant colors, conceptually representing the dynamic changes to Iowa State's basketball roster.Iowa State's transfer portal haul signals a new era of roster-building in college basketball.St. Louis Today

The Iowa State Cyclones basketball program has been very active in the transfer portal, adding five new players to the roster over the past weekend. This includes the recent commitment of Robert Morris guard Ryan Prather Jr., who averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last season. The Cyclones are looking to reload after losing key contributors like Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, and Nate Heise from their NCAA tournament team.

Why it matters

Iowa State is looking to build on its strong 2025-26 season, where the team was a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated in the Sweet 16. With several key players departing, head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been aggressive in the transfer portal to quickly reload the roster with experienced talent.

The details

Over the past weekend, Iowa State hosted five transfer players on campus and was able to land commitments from all five. The latest addition is Robert Morris guard Ryan Prather Jr., who will provide scoring punch and perimeter shooting to help replace the production lost from the departures of Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, Nate Heise, and Milan Momcilovic.

  • Iowa State was eliminated from the 2026 NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16 on March 22, 2026.
  • The Cyclones hosted five transfer players on campus over the recent weekend of April 12, 2026.
  • Ryan Prather Jr. committed to Iowa State on April 12, 2026.

The players

T.J. Otzelberger

The head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones basketball team, who has been active in the transfer portal to rebuild the roster.

Joshua Jefferson

A key player for Iowa State last season who is departing the program.

Tamin Lipsey

Another important contributor from Iowa State's 2025-26 team who is leaving the program.

Nate Heise

A player who is part of the significant talent Iowa State is losing from last season's squad.

Milan Momcilovic

The Cyclones' star player who has decided to enter the NBA Draft, creating a major void to fill.

Ryan Prather Jr.

The latest transfer addition for Iowa State, a 6'5" combo guard who averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game at Robert Morris last season.

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What they’re saying

“The addition of the 6'5' combo guard for the Cyclones is another major win, and the junior is coming off an excellent season with Robert Morris.”

— Jeff Borzello, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Cyclones will look to integrate their five new transfer additions into the roster and prepare for the 2026-27 season, where they will aim to build on their strong 2025-26 campaign and make another deep NCAA Tournament run.

The takeaway

Iowa State's aggressive approach in the transfer portal demonstrates the program's commitment to quickly reloading its roster and maintaining its status as one of the top teams in the Big 12 and nationally. The Cyclones are clearly not resting on their laurels after a successful season, but rather are proactively addressing their roster needs to remain competitive.