Iowa State Basketball Freshman Leaves Door Open for Transfer

This offseason is going to be a busy one for the Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team, with so many holes to fill.

Head coach T.J. Otzelberger has two vacancies on his coaching staff. Assistants JR Blount and Kyle Green were both hired to become head coaches with the San Diego Toreros and Northern Iowa Panthers, respectively.

There were five seniors on the roster, including stars Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, and Nate Heise, who will need to be replaced. Also, Milan Momcilovic is contemplating a jump to the professional ranks after putting his name into the 2026 NBA Draft.

Luckily, the Cyclones sound like they will have some key rotation players returning for the 2026-27 season. Among them is freshman Killyan Toure, who started all 37 games for Iowa State this season, but his response when asked about the transfer portal wasn’t as decisive as his teammates'.

Killyan Toure wants to stay with Iowa State

Iowa State Cyclones guard Killyan Toure jogging off court. — Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Killyan Toure (27) reacts during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. | Jeff Le-Imagn Images

"Yeah, I want to come back here," Toure said, via Alec Busse of Cyclone Alert, part of the 247Sports (subscription required). "Of course, we'll see what will happen in the future. We never know. But, yeah, I like Iowa State. I like Iowa State, but right now, I don't really think about it."

While remaining in Ames seems to be his first choice, the door is ajar when it comes to potentially departing via the transfer portal.

Toure would almost certainly be a sought-after commodity should he decide to leave the Cyclones. He already possesses an incredibly high floor given his defensive abilities, while showcasing a high ceiling overall.

With 37 games of starting experience already under his belt, he has proven he can help a team win at the highest level. There have been flashes of the offensive potential, especially when Tamin Lipsey was sidelined, that he can turn into a legitimate two-way force.

The steal and the JAM!@CycloneMBB opens up a 33-point lead! pic.twitter.com/IQiX5UTImf
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2026

Retaining him as a starting guard for the 2026-27 campaign should be a top priority for Otzelberger. Developing his offensive game, specifically his jump shooting, will be a main focus this offseason.

Toure has all of the tools to become a four-year starter, similar to Lipsey, who can make a lasting impact on the program. His offensive ceiling might even be higher than the senior point guard, who has already praised his defensive acumen.

Fellow freshmen Jamarion Batemon and Dominykas Pleta have both revealed they plan to return to the program as well. As does starting center Blake Buchanan, who has one year of eligibility remaining.

That core gives Otzelberger a nice group to build upon this offseason, as scorers will be what he seeks to add to the roster.