Taj Manning Joins Iowa State Cyclones for Size Boost

0:00On April 29th, Iowa State Cyclones got some big holes to fill up front for the 2026-27 season. They're starting forwards Joshua Jefferson and Milan Mom Solovik are both gone, along with Nate Heiss, who stepped up during the NCAA tournament. Enter Taj Manning, a six-foot seven transfer from Kansas State, with just one year left to play. Manning spent four years with the Wildcats but saw limited action until Big 12 played this past season. He started 16 of 18 conference games, averaging 27.3 minutes, and finally got comfortable on the court after feeling. Underused, fans and analysts see him as a perfect fix for Iowa State's size issues last year, especially after that rough, sweet 16 loss to Tennessee where they got dominated inside. His rebounding and shot blocking stood out, ranking top 20 in the Big 12 for rebound percentage, offensive boards and blocks. In Big 12 action, Manning put up 5.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1 steal and 0.9 blocks per.

1:03Game. Coach T.J. Opselberger grabbed him mainly for that defensive grit and physicality. Expect Manning to carve out solid minutes in the rotation, building on his late momentum and helping the cyclones beef up without relying on his. Scoring right away.