NEW: ISU Must DOMINATE The Transfer Portal to Win Big 12 Next Year, & Advance to Elite Eight in NCAA

The Iowa State men's basketball team is currently navigating a significant period of change as the transfer portal opened on March 24, 2025. Following their NCAA Tournament loss to Ole Miss, four players have already entered the portal: redshirt senior center Dishon Jackson, junior guard Demarion Watson, redshirt freshman forward Kayden Fish, and redshirt freshman center JT Rock. Jackson's departure is particularly notable, as he was a starting center and key contributor for the Cyclones, averaging 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Watson was a rotational player who saw increased minutes when other players were injured, while Fish and Rock were mostly reserves who played sparingly. While losing these players creates some holes in the roster, Iowa State is also actively pursuing potential transfers to bolster their squad for the 2025-26 season. Some of their reported targets include South Dakota State center Oscar Cluff, Purdue Fort Wayne forward Eric Mulder, Eastern Washington guard Mason Williams, Virginia guard Andrew Rohde, and Iowa wing Josh Dix. These players could potentially fill the roles vacated by the departing transfers and add valuable experience and skill to the Cyclones' roster. Coach T.J. Otzelberger has successfully utilized the transfer portal in the past, bringing in key players like Brandton Chatfield, Nate Heise, and Dishon Jackson for the 2024-25 season. It remains to be seen how active Iowa State will be in this transfer cycle and which players they will ultimately add to their team. However, it's clear that the transfer portal will play a crucial role in shaping the Cyclones' roster for the upcoming season.