Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger speaks ahead of the Midwest regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

DES MOINES — Six.

That’s the total number of former Iowa State men’s basketball players who’ve been selected in the first round of the NBA Draft since 2000.

But next month that number could climb to seven — and there’s an outside chance it rises to eight.

Versatile forward Joshua Jefferson is broadly considered to be a late first-round pick, though some draft analysts predict he’ll be selected early in the second round. And sharpshooting fellow forward Milan Momcilovic is pegged by most as a second-round pick, though this 3-point shooting prowess could make him an attractive late first-round addition.

So what will happen? No one knows, of course, but count Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger as understandably bullish on both of his former players’ prospects of producing at the next level.

“Obviously, both guys won us a lot of games and did a lot for us,” Otzelberger said Monday as ISU’s athletics programs kicked off the Tailgate Tour in the East Village. “It would be great to see them both be first-round picks. I think there (are) variables that can happen.”

That’s because Jefferson’s wide-ranging abilities and Momcilovic’s standout shooting statistics could help certain teams fill pinpointed needs. Most franchises making picks at the tail end of the first round already boast well-rounded winning rosters, which allows them to elevate overall fit above all else.

“I think the thing with Joshua that’s so intriguing is he can play and guard multiple positions,” Otzelberger said of Jefferson, who averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists last season before a severe ankle injury sidelined him after the first round of the NCAA Tournament. “So when you’re somebody who can ultimately fit in with a lot of teams, there (are) a lot of teams that express interest because he can slide in as a three, as a four, (and) he can guard multiple positions. When you get a lot of assists and rebounds, that also gives you great benefit on teams where you’re playing with a superstar, potentially a couple superstars.”

Momcilovic — who also entered the transfer portal as a backup plan — shot an NCAA-best 48.7 percent from 3-point range last season. At 6-8 in bare feet, his combination of length and skill makes him an alluring prospect at both the professional and collegiate levels, though he’s repeatedly said he’s focused entirely on ascending to the NBA next season.

“I think what you want for everybody in your program is for their dreams to become a reality,” Otzelberger said. “And obviously with the season he had, and how he’s continued to develop, he’s put himself in a great position for the draft. Yet, at the same time, in the climate and the landscape of college athletics, it’s important to keep your options open and leave that available at the end if it isn’t to go your way. So all our conversations were great. I really respect how he went through and made his decisions, and I don’t there’s anybody that’s a loser in this situation.”

Regardless of where Jefferson and Momcilovic go in the draft, Otzelberger certainly plans to continue to keep his program on a winning trajectory. The Cyclones have advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in three of his first five seasons, and quickly added five transfer players to next season’s roster that already includes returners such as Jamarion Batemon, Blake Buchanan and Killyan Toure.

“All five (transfers) will be guys (who are) part of our rotation,” Otzelberger said. “We believe in guys that if they have something they do really well and they want to expand their game, our program has been a proven place for guys to grow their game.”

Jefferson did that the past two seasons as a Cyclone after transferring from St. Mary’s. Momcilovic did so the past three after joining the program as a freshman. Now they’re either moving up or moving on as the NBA Draft beckons on June 23-24.

“It will be exciting to see how it plays out for both guys,” Otzelberger said.

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