3 questions facing Iowa State men's basketball entering 2017-18

AMES – Iowa State graduated seven seniors last season, four who averaged over 12 points per game and six who played in 25 or more games.

Replacing those pieces is going to be nearly impossible for coach Steve Prohm, but he does have an influx of highly-rated recruits and a host of transfers ready to contribute.

Here are three questions facing Iowa State's men's basketball team going into Tuesday's media day.

Can Iowa State's newcomers step up?

It's no secret that the Cyclones will be a young, inexperienced team next season. Iowa State only has one returning senior in point guard Donovan Jackson.

The only other player who saw significant time for Iowa State was big man Solomon Young.

What will five-star freshman point guard Lindell Wigginton be able to do? He showed at Hilton Madness that he has explosive athletic ability, but the question is, what will his learning curve look like?

Prohm has raved about graduate transfer Zoran Talley, but how will the former Old Dominion player be able to make the transition to playing Big 12 basketball night in and night out?

The other newcomers include freshman guard Terrence Lewis, sit-out transfer Michael Jacobson (Nebraska), sit-out transfer Marial Shayok (Virginia), graduate transfer forward Hans Brase (Princeton) and graduate transfer forward Jeff Beverly (UTSA).

July 4, 2017

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How will the point guard duo work together?

Jackson is the incumbent point guard from last year's team. He made a number of clutch shots, including one at Kansas to upset the Jayhawks.

Jackson played alongside Monte Morris last season, but now he has to play alongside an inexperienced true freshman in Wigginton.

Last season Jackson wasn't tasked with too much of the ball handling or orchestrating duties, but that's likely to change this season.

If Prohm wants his best players on the court, Wigginton and Jackson need to find a way to make it work.

Which will it be? The fans have spoken & 2 remain. Can Donovan Jackson's 3 earn Play of the Year honors?May 26, 2017

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How will Steve Prohm use Iowa State's size?

For the first time in a long time Iowa State has some legitimate size and depth in the frontcourt.

Solomon Young proved he could handle his own down low last season. Now, highly anticipated redshirt freshman Cameron Lard will join him along with Brase and Beverly.

Both Lard and Brase are 6-foot-9 and Beverly is in the Deonte Burton mold, just 2 inches taller at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds.

Prohm has three players over 6-foot-8 at his disposal and two others in Beverly and Talley that stand over 6-foot-6.

This inside presence should give Iowa State a more balanced offensive approach and it should help its rebounding numbers.

Donavan Jackson Cameron Lard October 14, 2017

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