Iowa State Basketball Adjusting Recruitment of Donovan Davis

The Iowa State Cyclones have done a magnificent job of recruiting talent to the program since T.J. Otzelberger took over as head coach.

He is running the show, but he has received a lot of help from his assistants over the five years he has been back in Ames. Alas, this offseason things are going to be different because of some changes.

One of his top assistants, JR Blount, is leaving the program. He was hired by the San Diego Toreros to become their head coach, a position he earned by working tirelessly and being recognized as one of the best assistants in the country.

This is a massive blow for the Cyclones because he was a main cog in their recruiting process. As a result, things have to be adjusted when pursuing prospects, such as Donovan Davis.

Iowa State making changes to Donovan Davis recruitment

Freedom High School's Donovan Davis shooting ball over defender. — Freedom High School's Donovan Davis (24) shoots the ball against Milwaukee Academy of Science during the WIAA Division 3 state championship game on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Milwaukee Academy of Science won the game, 57-54. | Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Iowa State basketball has been preparing for Blount’s departure, so its game plan when it comes to recruiting has adjusted slightly. Other assistants have taken on the responsibility of being in contact with Davis, along with Otzelberger himself.

How things shake out on the coaching staff is something Davis will be keeping an eye on when he makes his official visit to Ames later this month.

"It'll still be good to see them without J.R. and see how everything is going," Davis said, via Alec Busse of Cyclone Alert (subscription required). "Or if there's a new assistant coach or someone they're looking at to replace him. But it'll be good just to check it out."

Coming off a fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the Cyclones’ success speaks for itself. They have found a ton of success recruiting in Wisconsin, where Davis plays at Freedom High School, creating quite the pipeline.

Donovan Davis seemingly down to final five schools

Freedom High School's Donovan Davis going for layup against Milwaukee Academy of Science's Devin Brown. — Freedom High School's Donovan Davis (24) goes up for a shot over Milwaukee Academy of Science's Devin Brown (12) during the WIAA Division 3 state championship game on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Milwaukee Academy of Science won the game, 57-54. | Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A top-50-ranked prospect nationally, Iowa State will have its work cut out for it to land a commitment from him. They are the last of five schools that will be hosting him for an official visit in April, with those programs presumed to be the ones he will choose between.

Before going to Ames on April 29, he will be visiting the Wisconsin Badgers on April 13, Iowa Hawkeyes on April 15, Marquette Golden Eagles on April 17 and Nebraska Cornhuskers on April 20.

"They all earned my visit just by keeping a strong and good relationship with me," Davis told Cyclone Alert via text message. "Throughout the recruiting process, that was kind of what my main thing was, having a good relationship with the coaches. Especially the head coach, and I felt like I had that will of these schools."

Without Blount in the picture any longer, it will be interesting to see how things change for the Cyclones on the recruiting front with players he was central in building a relationship with before his departure.