The Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team faces significant backcourt hurdles ahead of the 2026–27 training camp after a wave of summer injuries sidelined key rotation players and newcomers, according to reports from Cyclone Alert of the 247Sports Network.
Summer Surgeries and Sidelined Sophomores
Emerging sophomore Killyan Toure suffered a shoulder injury during the summer that required surgery, leaving him sidelined until mid-to-late January. Toure was projected to step into a major role in the backcourt following a freshman campaign where the team dealt with untimely tournament injuries, including the loss of star forward Joshua Jefferson minutes into their 2026 NCAA Tournament Round of 64 game against Tennessee State.
Beyond Toure’s absence, transfer guard Ryan Prather Jr. has battled a lingering hip issue since the summer months. With Toure unavailable, Prather is expected to absorb a much larger responsibility as the team’s designated sixth man once he returns to full health.
Class of 2026 Setbacks and Lipsey’s Status
The injury wave extends directly into the incoming freshman class. Incoming guard Yusef Gray Jr. is currently working his way back from a shoulder injury sustained during his senior year of high school. Meanwhile, fellow Class of 2026 member Christian Wiggins will miss the entire 2026–27 season due to injury.
On a more positive note for the roster, Tamin Lipsey is positioned to return to the program for another season. An Indiana court ruling named Lipsey and deemed him eligible to play another year in Ames. However, Lipsey must first overcome his own recent injury timeline after suffering a knee problem while competing with the Indiana Pacers during the NBA Summer League. Though Lipsey managed to play through numerous minor ailments throughout his career without missing significant game action, his current recovery remains vital to stabilizing the backcourt.
Expanded Roles for Returning Guards and Transfers
With head coach T.J. Otzelberger managing multiple backcourt absences as training camp approaches, several remaining guards are in line for expanded minutes. Jamarion Batemon returns for his second year in Ames ready for an increased workload after operating primarily as an off-ball guard during his freshman season.
Bradley Braves transfer Jaquan Johnson is positioned to handle primary ball-handling duties while Toure recovers. Johnson was originally brought in as a potential backcourt piece alongside Lipsey, but the summer injuries now accelerate his integration into the primary rotation alongside the returning veteran.
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