T.J. Otzelberger and Iowa State men’s basketball are thinking ahead.
The Cyclones just secured a commitment from Donovan Davis, a four-star, 6-foot-7 power forward from Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Davis is the No. 2 recruit out of Wisconsin, and the No. 7 top recruit at his position in the country by 247 Sports. That first number is especially important when considering that Davis picked Iowa State over in-state offers from Wisconsin and Marquette, among others.
Marquette just missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2020-21 season, and Wisconsin, while making three consecutive trips in the past few seasons, hasn’t reached the second round since the 2016-17 season.
The fact is, Otzelberger is positioning himself to become the Big 12’s next breakthrough head coach. He’s 124-53 in five seasons – all of which saw the Cyclones make the NCAA Tournament – and he just signed a major extension to remain in Ames, Iowa, for a while.
While another season will be played before Davis arrives on campus, Otzelberger is thinking ahead about sticking a legit anchor in his frontcourt. Adam Finkelstein of 247 Sports paints Davis as the kind of big man who ties the floor together.
“Offensively, he’s much more of a connector than a natural alpha at this point,” Finkelstein said. “The loudest part of his game is his finishing. He’s not just above the rim, but also capable of utilizing either hand.”
Otzelberger made a big splash in the portal last year with Blake Buchanan. Could we see the four-star transfer team up with Davis as a senior?
