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The Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team suffered a colossal loss when Milan Momcilovic entered the 2026 NBA Draft and subsequently put his name into the transfer portal as well.
The decision to declare, even though he would eventually remove his name from the 2026 NBA Draft, essentially ended his time in Ames. Because of the timing of the events, head coach T.J. Otzelberger couldn’t afford to wait for Momcilovic to make a decision.
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Now with the Kentucky Wildcats, the Cyclones are going to have to figure out a way to replace the production that Momcilovic provided on the court. It will take a complete team effort, but certain players will certainly have the spotlight on them more than others.
Here are three Iowa State players who need to step up to replace Momcilovic.
Jamarion Batemon
Iowa State guard Jamarion Batemon (1) attempts to score while guarded by Tennessee guard Bishop Boswell (3) during the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game at the United Center in Chicago on March 27, 2026. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
There is certainly a chance that rising sophomore Jamarion Batemon is tabbed as the replacement in the starting lineup for Momcilovic. He doesn’t possess the same size, measuring in at 6-foot-3 compared to 6-foot-8.
However, there are some overlapping skills. Batemon was known for his elite 3-point shooting coming out of high school and certainly didn’t disappoint as a freshman, knocking down 37% of his attempts.
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An increase in volume is likely on the horizon. Combine that with any efficiency improvements, and the Cyclones have their new go-to floor stretcher offensively. Batemon also offers a little more versatility on defense.
Ryan Prather Jr.
Nov 4, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Robert Morris Colonials guard Ryan Prather Jr. (2) goes to the basket as Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz (14) defends during the first half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
One of the five transfers that…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-iowa-state-basketball-players-200002103.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-09 20:00:00
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