**** Official 2026 MBB Spring Transfer Portal Thread ****

[GoSTATE71]

Singleton and Johnson are needs. Hopefully they both commit this weekend. I really like Prather, but he is more of a luxury if the staff believes there is a good chance Milan will be back.

Prather is a walking bucket and big guard I’d take him even with Milan back

 

[dafarmer]

Singleton and Johnson are needs. Hopefully they both commit this weekend. I really like Prather, but he is more of a luxury if the staff believes there is a good chance Milan will be back.

We need a Johnson, another President. We already have a Jackson for the women!

 

[Psiclone]

He needs strength to be a better defender, and work on an even quicker release. Milan projects as a corner shooter, not a driving wing. If he can get better at the defense part of 3–and-D and can get shots over bigger more athletic defenders he’s got a long career in front of him. And I wouldn’t be stunned if a team or two thinks he’s already close enough.

Duncan Robinson is essentially what Milan could be in the NBA: a standstill shooter. Robinson shot 42% in college, Milan shot 49% and also has the one-legged fade shot.

 

[Frak]

But he does have the ability to get open and shoot over people. Why are we discounting that he led the country in 3 pointers made? That is extremely valuable and someone you build an offense around. He was the 10th most efficient offensive player in the country, whether he's "creating his own shot" or not. We obviously still need a supporting cast, but it's insane to me how little people here value him as a player. He's not a product of a system. He is the system.

I’m not saying he’s not super valuable. He is. Creating your own shot is a different animal.

 

[cyclones500]

I'm not sure of general position area or primary skill of all the prospects, some of you I'm sure know a lot more. Do we just take who commits and not worry about need to fill "the Milan role"? From there, adjust our approach based on final roster.

 

[isucy86]

I'm wondering if it's a 1st choice-2nd choice situation.
Singleton, but Manning as backup plan.
Bond (now committed) or Prather (which ever committed 1st).
Maybe now it's Prather or Mitchell.

Seems like Iowa State should take both Singleton & Manning. The injury to Jefferson showed the importance of big man depth.

IMO, both aren't takes if TJ believes Pleta, Kiss or Rinaldo-Komlan would be able to play starter minutes at the 4.

 

[Cyclad]

Prather is a walking bucket and big guard I’d take him even with Milan back

Rise might be expendable.

 

[SolarGarlic]

From 247 Wiggins is rated 120 in 2026.
Harrington is rated 46 in 2027.
So the numbers were close.
Happy they are both Cyclones.

There's a big difference in 120 and 46 when it comes to HS players. 46 means they could start and will likely contribute. 120 generally means they might contribute, but might need a year. Obviously it's not a perfect science.

 

[SolarGarlic]

You’re right, Sunshine. Sharp is only 6’ 3”.

Just because they have similar facial hair and skin tone doesn't make them similar players.

 

[Clones2023]

I really hope Singleton and Johnson commit. With Bond already on board this would be a home run offseason.

I get giddy about a lineup AT TIMES of

Toure
Johnson
Batemon
Milan (if back)
Pleta

Or

A lineup with three point shooters on the wing and let Singleton go to work of

Johnson
Batemon
Milan
Singleton
Buchanan/Pleta

Looking like a good team already without Milan but a really really good team with him. If he comes back and Singleton and Johnson commit we are easily right at preseason #10. Hech, if Milan isn’t back that team as is is probably right around #22-25 preseason and that’s without us landing that “big fish” to replace Milan. TJ is the perfect coach for Iowa State during the wild NIL era.

 

[SolarGarlic]

It's Batemon. With an O. We're really struggling with it on this board.

 

[Cyforce]

It's Batemon. With an O. We;re really struggling with it on this board.

Ya know sometimes autocorrect gets in the way too bad it doesn’t work on punctuation. Glass houses.

 

[Frak]

I really hope Singleton and Johnson commit. With Bond already on board this would be a home run offseason.

I get giddy about a lineup AT TIMES of

Toure
Johnson
Batemon
Milan (if back)
Pleta

Or

A lineup with three point shooters on the wing and let Singleton go to work of

Johnson
Batemon
Milan
Singleton
Buchanan/Pleta

Looking like a good team already without Milan but a really really good team with him. If he comes back and Singleton and Johnson commit we are easily right at preseason #10. Hech, if Milan isn’t back that team as is is probably right around #22-25 preseason and that’s without us landing that “big fish” to replace Milan. TJ is the perfect coach for Iowa State during the wild NIL era.

I think that no matter what, the success of the season depends on Batemon and Toure making jumps. IF Milan doesn’t come back, that’s a lot of guys that can’t really score well. The defense will allow us to pick up wins in the noncon, but you need guys that can score the ball to win conference games.

 

[GP4ISU]

Just because they have similar facial hair and skin tone doesn't make them similar players.

You like to argue with people on here. I’ve noticed that. Please don’t respond to any of my comments.

 

[Clones2023]

I'm having a good chuckle at the narrative that they're deliberately getting rid of a 6'10" Big 10 starter who shot 50/33/77. Typical Hawkeye delusions of grandeur.

Yeah Sqwauk fans are letting this Elite 8 thing go to their head. The dude exceeded my expectations and was huge for them throughout the year. You can’t find crafty bigs that have decent handles, shoots the threes, good around the basket and hits free throws. Like I’ve said many times, we will see how Benny does without Stirtz saving him for the last 4 years. Right now a lineup of PG (maybe banks?) Combs, sage, Koch and Cam looks pretty brutal…. Oh well, Hawk fans could come back down to realization very quickly next year.

 

[Nococy]

Yeah Sqwauk fans are letting this Elite 8 thing go to their head. The dude exceeded my expectations and was huge for them throughout the year. You can’t find crafty bigs that have decent handles, shoots the threes, good around the basket and hits free throws. Like I’ve said many times, we will see how Benny does without Stirtz saving him for the last 4 years. Right now a lineup of PG (maybe banks?) Combs, sage, Koch and Cam looks pretty brutal…. Oh well, Hawk fans could come back down to realization very quickly next year.

They always say you can’t fix stupid and sqawk fans are a prime example

 

[Clonedogg]

I'm on the Singleton, Johnson train. If we get those two, in addition to Bond. I'd be feeling great about the portal season. Prather, I could go either way. Taj, meh, seems like we'll have enough front line depth if Singleton commits, the incoming freshmen, and possibly Mitchell with a second year.

 

[CySmurf]

Just because they have similar facial hair and skin tone doesn't make them similar players.

I smell "cave" coming on...

 

[Cyforce]

They always say you can’t fix stupid and sqawk fans are a prime example

Oh this board is full of the same examples.

 

[GP4ISU]

Yeah Sqwauk fans are letting this Elite 8 thing go to their head. The dude exceeded my expectations and was huge for them throughout the year. You can’t find crafty bigs that have decent handles, shoots the threes, good around the basket and hits free throws. Like I’ve said many times, we will see how Benny does without Stirtz saving him for the last 4 years. Right now a lineup of PG (maybe banks?) Combs, sage, Koch and Cam looks pretty brutal…. Oh well, Hawk fans could come back down to realization very quickly next year.

They thought they were getting the Johnson kid from Colorado. He just signed with Texas.