To be fair, I had no idea who most of the guys in the draft were. Lots of foreign influence. But, I can see him hitting a lull here thst would temper him being that high.
NBA Mock Drafts 2026
- Thread starter NATEizKING
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Toure, Batemon, Buchanan and Pleta are a nice returning core. The three freshmen should make big jumps next year.
Couple of thoughts on Toure:
First, I’m not ready yet to say he can’t create his own shot. In this offense, that’s probably not being asked of him and might actually be discouraged.
Second, I’m way more worried about him being lured away by a team with deep pockets than I am him being drafted any time soon.
Third, it sounds like there is some familiarity between him and the other kids from France coming in so hopefully that plays in our favor (as it relates to #2).
All of that being said, I’m as high on Toure as anyone in this board so don’t mean any of this to be a knock. There is a strong argument that his readiness to come in and start for us is the biggest (certainly not the only) we’re exceeding a lot of expectations this year. He may be one of of TJs best recruits in terms of value/recruiting ranking
First, I’m not ready yet to say he can’t create his own shot. In this offense, that’s probably not being asked of him and might actually be discouraged.
Second, I’m way more worried about him being lured away by a team with deep pockets than I am him being drafted any time soon.
Third, it sounds like there is some familiarity between him and the other kids from France coming in so hopefully that plays in our favor (as it relates to #2).
All of that being said, I’m as high on Toure as anyone in this board so don’t mean any of this to be a knock. There is a strong argument that his readiness to come in and start for us is the biggest (certainly not the only) we’re exceeding a lot of expectations this year. He may be one of of TJs best recruits in terms of value/recruiting ranking
As good as Toure is, there's probably at least 15 freshman that would be drafted ahead of him. Then you get the typical 10+/- foreign guys and some non-freshman that fill out the first round. No way he leaves after this year, unless he absolutely tears it up down the stretch.
He is probably our fourth option on offense this year. Again, not a knock. to point of OP we’ve got two potential first round/early second picks with elite offensive skills sets. And then Tamin who is a four year starter. Part of his impact this year is fitting into his role and not trying to do what we don’t need him to do.
Will be interesting to see what he can do in the future when we need a little more scoring from him. I think we caught a glimpse when Tamin was out.
Probably the biggest thing he needs to work on is his outside shot. If that becomes reliable he’s going to get a lot of interest
Via Blum, on his and Cw's pod tonight.
If Milan is drafted in the 2nd round, he could "potentially" make more by staying in Ames.
Sure, numerous/endless variables involved.
Hard to imagine his 56% 3's continuing, given what's ahead
If Milan is drafted in the 2nd round, he could "potentially" make more by staying in Ames.
Sure, numerous/endless variables involved.
Hard to imagine his 56% 3's continuing, given what's ahead
Hopefully he leaves to the NBA, not to another school...
Didn't Williams say on one of the podcasts after the Purdue game Toure was going to be a future lottery pick? He needs to greatly improve his jump shot.
Pro potential of young players tends to get way overestimated by cyclone fans. Hell, I remember there being talk that Watson had pro potential when he was a freshman. Toure is great but let's see how he handles the conference grind first.
Most of the recent mocks have Jefferson going in the first round.
They're already at 12 for next year (technically). Yes yes yes I know changes will occur.
But as of now (assuming Milan leaves to pursue his NBA dreams down to 11) then...
Toure
Batemon
Williams (he's 6'5" he can play the "3")
find some transfer wing or PF
Buchanan
---
hopefully two more "hit" freshmen guards with Gray and Wiggins
Pleta
I would probably want one more experienced guard to round that lineup out.
Quite a young team but with good experience and a ton of talent.
It would be "down" from this year but easily good enough to fight for a spot in March.
I am a betting man, and I would drop some serious cash if the opportunity presented itself that Momcilovic is going to enter and stay in the NBA draft this offseason. Going to enjoy the hell out of this season while we have it.
I don’t know how you replace someone like Jefferson and - if you do - it’s going to cost a lot of money but I think we get a stretch 4 out of the portal and that’s a top 25-ish team next year.
May not have said that a few years ago, but TJ seems to always get the most out of his players. It’s probably time I stop asking “if”‘we’re going to be good next year and start asking “how”.
May not have said that a few years ago, but TJ seems to always get the most out of his players. It’s probably time I stop asking “if”‘we’re going to be good next year and start asking “how”.
Same as TJ always seems to do.
Find some dude on the scrap heap from a lower conference the big dogs didn't want (e.g., Gilbert out of the MWC, Jones out of the MAC, Jefferson out of the WCC, etc.) you have a relationship with (recruited Gilbert to UNLV, Jones played at IHCC and wanted to come back to Iowa, TJ knew Jefferson from his days in Las Vegas and Paradise, etc.) and coach them up and hope they'll come back for multiple years because the program enhances their skills, they're going to win, and Iowa St. can offer at least some $$$ even if not the most.
Remember, Jefferson missed the last eight games of his sophomore year at St. Mary's with a meniscus tear. They got him on the cheap because he was coming off a significant knee injury. Taking a shot on guys like that and having it somehow work out is how TJ has navigated the program to such success as it is.
(You could even say the same thing with Tamin. Everybody backed off after the knee injury.)
One point to add:
Many seem to feel 2026 draft will be loaded with talent, while 2027 draft could be ‘historically weak’
That factor in isolation might push guys on the fence to stay another year. For a guy like Toure, who seemingly may have borderline lottery/1st round talent, I think this is a real factor (contracts are SO much better for 1st rounders vs 2nd in terms of guaranteed money)
For Milan specifically though, I don’t see how staying another year can prove any more for him. He’s already looking like the obvious consensus top shooting prospect in the country (as a guy who can stand in the corner, catch a pass and chuck 3s, which is a VERY marketable NBA skill regardless of defense, dribbling, or athleticism - see Niang, Davis Bertans, etc). For a guy like Milan, there is always a risk that coming back and perhaps: 1.) playing on a team that is not quite as elite at setting him up in his spots, or 2.) showing a slight regression, could hurt his stock slightly compared to this year
Many seem to feel 2026 draft will be loaded with talent, while 2027 draft could be ‘historically weak’
That factor in isolation might push guys on the fence to stay another year. For a guy like Toure, who seemingly may have borderline lottery/1st round talent, I think this is a real factor (contracts are SO much better for 1st rounders vs 2nd in terms of guaranteed money)
For Milan specifically though, I don’t see how staying another year can prove any more for him. He’s already looking like the obvious consensus top shooting prospect in the country (as a guy who can stand in the corner, catch a pass and chuck 3s, which is a VERY marketable NBA skill regardless of defense, dribbling, or athleticism - see Niang, Davis Bertans, etc). For a guy like Milan, there is always a risk that coming back and perhaps: 1.) playing on a team that is not quite as elite at setting him up in his spots, or 2.) showing a slight regression, could hurt his stock slightly compared to this year
I think the risk and reward for Milan isn’t great to come back next year. I also don’t think it’s easy to look at drafts that are 1.5 years out and judge its overall strength. NBA draft prospects change wildly in a short amount of time due to the typical age and international influence.
I think Toure has huge upside if he comes back. If you are 6’4 and a pretty average NBA level athlete, which is accurate in my opinion, you need to be pretty offensively skilled. I could be wrong but I don’t see him getting picked in round 1 this year. A season of being a proven offensive PG that can score and he should jump way up the draft.
These guys have Yessoufou right behind JJeff. I admit I haven't watched a ton of Baylor, but when I have watched him, that kid hasn't looked even in the same league as Jefferson.Jefferson at 20
B12 with 1, 2, 5 and 10 of the 30.
2026 NBA Mock Draft: First-Round Projections Entering Conference Play
The 2026 NBA Draft class is off to a blistering start. The top-three in Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer continue to offer nightly fireworks, thewww.si.com
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