Incoming Iowa State Basketball Freshman Suffers Achilles Injury

The Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history.

For the fifth time in as many years under head coach T.J. Otzelberger, the team qualified for the NCAA tournament. They advanced to the Sweet 16 for the third time, establishing the Cyclones as a premier program in the country.

Advertisement

One of the strengths since Otzelberger has been in Ames has been recruiting. The Class of 2026 had some upside with Yusef Gray Jr., Christian Wiggins and Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan. Unfortunately, the injury bug has hit that group hard.

Gray suffered an injury during the season that put his status for the 2026-27 season in jeopardy. Late in his senior year, he suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder that could lead to a redshirt in his first collegiate campaign. He at least has a chance to play based on his timeline, but Wiggins now does not.

Christian Wiggins suffered season-ending Achilles injury

Wayzata’s Christian Wiggins (2) breaks past West Allis Central’s Yusef Gray Jr. (3) in the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. West Allis Central won the game, 67-64. | Scott Ash /Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As shared by Cyclone Fanatic on X, Otzelberger revealed that the incoming four-star freshman is going to be sidelined for the entire 2026-27 campaign after suffering a torn Achilles in practice last Friday, June 26.

Advertisement

The head coach also added that Wiggins has already undergone successful surgery and that he will be back with the team around this time next year.

This is a tough blow for any player to suffer, losing a year of their career to injury. It is especially hard on an incoming freshman, who is now going to be behind the eight-ball starting his collegiate career.

His entire freshman year will now be spent rehabbing instead of getting reps in Otzelberger’s system during practice. Wiggins is the highest-rated recruit in the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/incoming-iowa-state-basketball-freshman-155753303.html

Author :

Publish date : 2026-06-30 15:57:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.