***Official 2024 Transfer Thread***

[WhoISthis]

To an old-timer like me, NIL college basketball is making college basketball less interesting.

I’m old, and it makes it FAR more interesting

Spring used to be dead once our season was over. And if this season showed you had major holes for next year, you basically already knew how next year would go.

Now I’m watching way more games during the year, even mid major, because of connections to looming free agents. As someone that used to go the games of high school recruits to get a glimpse of what we’re getting, this is MUCH better in that regard

And there is always hope. 2 wins in one year to Sweet 16 the next, is much harder before player mobility

And the moneyball aspect is another layer on recruiting. Pay for a guy that put up 12 points as a junior in weak league, or go with a dirt cheap guy that you feel contributes nearly as much

Can’t wait for contracts though. And then the trades that are the natural next step

 

[nfrine]

I’m old, and it makes it FAR more interesting

Spring used to be dead once our season was over. And if this season showed you had major holes for next year, you basically already knew how next year would go.

Now I’m watching way more games during the year, even mid major, because of connections to looming free agents. As someone that used to go the games of high school recruits to get a glimpse of what we’re getting, this is MUCH better in that regard

And there is always hope. 2 wins in one year to Sweet 16 the next, is much harder before player mobility

And the moneyball aspect is another layer on recruiting. Pay for a guy that put up 12 points as a junior in weak league, or go with a dirt cheap guy that you feel contributes nearly as much

Can’t wait for contracts though. And then the trades that are the natural next step

Are you donating to NIL?

 

[bawbie]

Said it several times already cant be afraid to roll w 4 guard lineups next year if you are able to land a stud guard in the portal. 6'11" 265 and 7'1" 255 pound centers allow you to do that as well.

Wait, Rock is 255?

 

[Acer88]

Looks like a bit of a hybrid of King and Ward although the highlights had a conspicuous lack of any jump shots.

We ran a lot of offense this year through Ward/Jones at the top of the key (maybe King too, don't remember him out there as much) and I was often thinking, if any of them could hit a shot from there that would be a great dimension of offense to have.

I watched 3-4 Gopher games. IMHO, Payne looked to have more potential to help the Cyclones than Dawson Garcia that I have seen a couple of posts wanting to transfer here.

 

[WhoISthis]

Are you donating to NIL?

Absolutely. Much better than giving to buildings or buyouts. Donating to the arms race the past 30 years was pissing away money to try and lure players

Personally, I’m going to “borrow” from future donations this year. Well never have a better chance of helping the program reach unprecedented success than this offseason with NIL

 

[ClonerJams]

Wait, Rock is 255?

JT Rock - Men's Basketball - Iowa State University Athletics

JT Rock (30) Center - Awards & Honors Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (F23, S24, F24) 2024-25 Appeared in nine games … averaged 0.7 points and 0.7 rebounds ...

cyclones.com

 

[Aclone]

Wait, Rock is 255?

Yes. He played at a gangly 230 as a high school junior.

Reported in August at 7’1” 240.

That was bumped up to 250 on January.

Was just updated to 7’1”’255 last week.

Do you guys still seriously think that we “don’t know” if he’ll be ready?

 

[Jer]

Not surprised at all by any of these developments with the exception of Fish.

Pav was in over his head athletically. Unsure on Hamilton, but it was going to be a battle for minutes with Jones, Gilbert, Lipsey going to get nearly all the backcourt minutes. Throw Pierce and Nojus into the mix and there is not a ton of opportunity in the backcourt.

Optimistically, Fish leaving suggests that TJ has been honest with him about portal targets. Would not be surprised to see us pull a new starting 4 man to go along side Jackson.

Omaha is a huge question mark right now.

I would be fairly surprised if Omaha is back. He hasn’t developed in practice as much as he needed to (actually very little) and he knows even with a ton of effort he’s still only going to get to what you like to see in a true freshman with 8 mins a game max. His hands aren’t getting any softer, he’s still too slow on defense in practice and his offensive game, which was almost non existent for a Big 12 level player coming in and the thing everybody knew he needed to pray got better, has not developed much at all. He gives a ton of effort, but between his handlers and reality, I don’t see him staying.

 

[Aclone]

I would be fairly surprised if Omaha is back. He hasn’t developed in practice as much as he needed to (actually very little) and he knows even with a ton of effort he’s still only going to get to what you like to see in a true freshman with 8 mins a game max. His hands aren’t getting any softer, he’s still too slow on defense in practice and his offensive game, which was almost non existent for a Big 12 level player coming in and the thing everybody knew he needed to pray got better, has not developed much at all. He gives a ton of effort, but between his handlers and reality, I don’t see him staying.

We all saw how hopeless BRE was his first year here. How’d that turn out?

Omaha’s “handlers” had to have seen that as well. If he puts in the work in the offseason, there’s no reason to think the #13 player in last year’s class won’t take a step ahead.

Another thing, everyone keeps talking about how “bad” Omaha’s hands are…and yet there wasn’t a single sign of that in all his years of basketball before this.

Either this is a false narrative—or there is something else going on. Like when someone loses a lot of weight, and gets publicly criticized. What’s the rest of the story?

 

[Jer]

We all saw how hopeless BRE was his first year here. How’d that turn out?

Omaha’s “handlers” had to have seen that as well. If he puts in the work in the offseason, there’s no reason to think the #13 player in last year’s class won’t take a step ahead.

Another thing, everyone keeps talking about how “bad” Omaha’s hands are…and yet there wasn’t a single sign of that in all his years of basketball before this.

Either this is a false narrative—or there is something else going on. Like when someone loses a lot of weight, and gets publicly criticized. What’s the rest of the story?

I am not saying in anyway players can’t develop and/or don’t put it a ton of effort to do so. Omaha has put in the effort and has a great attitude, but right now BRE has more offense and defense ability at the Big 12 level. BRE had to change his mindset to start putting in the effort, and Omaha already has that, but BRE’s effort has ended up in more skill development than Omaha has in practice. And we all know BRE isn’t the most gifted athlete. Sometimes effort can outweigh that, but thus far, it hasn’t for Omaha.

I’m am not suggesting in any way that Omaha is not a great kid, very hard worker, and lover of ISU - he’s all of those things. But so am I and we’d get the same amount of minutes right now.

 

[Clone95]

Really hope Watson stays now since we have room and he’s a known quantity on defense and I think we’re definitely going to be upgrading offensively. Plus I think with Jackson having more range than BRE or Ward the cutting lanes may be bigger next year and he’s good at that.

 

[bosco]

Really hope Watson stays now since we have room and he’s a known quantity on defense and I think we’re definitely going to be upgrading offensively. Plus I think with Jackson having more range than BRE or Ward the cutting lanes may be bigger next year and he’s good at that.

I won't bat an eye if we end up giving Watson starter mins.

 

[ClonerJams]

If Watson develops an offensive game, he has all conference potential.

 

[rosshm16]

Watson with a corner three is a matchup nightmare for a lot of teams.

 

[Clone95]

If Watson develops an offensive game, he has all conference potential.

Don’t know why he didn’t take more 3s. His shot looked pretty natural on the 2 he made. Wonder if he can’t hit in practice. Maybe just a gamer? Omaha came in and put up a 3 every chance he could (exaggerating, but he did attempt more in his 3 big 12 games than Watson did all season)

 

[bosco]

Don’t know why he didn’t take more 3s. His shot looked pretty natural on the 2 he made. Wonder if he can’t hit in practice. Maybe just a gamer? Omaha came in and put up a 3 every chance he could.

I think he deferred to more established players since he was in there for his defense. I feel given the opportunity we will see a big up tick in his offensive production.

 

[Jer]

I said on his first day on campus that I thought Watson was one of the least talked about and least hyped guys vs potential we’ve maybe ever had. I’ve loved his attitude, poise, and effort since HS. I’d love for him to keep developing on the offensive side as he’s a great kid with seemingly room still to develop.

 

[BCClone]

That may be outside Frans recruiting region.

 

[Psiclone]

Given Rock's skill set it's a possibility that he could play the 4. It would depend a lot on his ability to defend that position but it's in the realm of possibility.

I’m thinking how difficult it would be for players on other teams to try passing out of a double team over Rock’s outstretched arms.

 

[Thomasrickj]

Yes. He played at a gangly 230 as a high school junior.

Reported in August at 7’1” 240.

That was bumped up to 250 on January.

Was just updated to 7’1”’255 last week.

Do you guys still seriously think that we “don’t know” if he’ll be ready?

The weight is there. The question is if he’s actually ready to play at the college level. Just because you’re at a good weight that doesn’t automatically ready. Omaha had an NBA body in high school and look at his freshman year.