On Wednesday, the 247Sports basketball recruiting team updated its rankings for the 2025 and 2026 classes. Iowa State’s top-ranked class looks even better after the latest update.
Jamarion Batemon is the jewel of Iowa State’s recruiting class. The Milwaukee native is now ranked No. 41, an improvement of about 10 spots from his No. 52 ranking previously.
“Jamarion Batemon is a long, cut-up and aggressive two-way guard,” Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote about Batemon. “He’s a high-volume scorer who plays with a ton of confidence and also is a prolific shot-maker despite a very unorthodox release.”
During the summer AAU season with Power 5 on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, Batemon converted more than 41 percent of his 3-point attempts on about nine attempts per game.
“He’s not just a threat on the move and off the dribble,” Finkelstein wrote. “But also capable of getting hot and making his high-arcing shots in bunches despite a pretty drastic left shoulder dip, twisting motion into his release and occasional leg kick.”
Batemon committed to Iowa State on July 1, and many think he is a perfect fit for Iowa State’s schemes under fourth-year coach T.J. Otzelberger. The Cyclone coaching staff invested incredible time in recruiting Batemon and landed his commitment over his hometown Marquette. Otzelberger and assistant coach J.R. Blount have strong relationships in their home state, and they played a pivotal role in landing the Wisconsin native.
Batemon is not the only Wisconsin product committed to the Cyclones in the 2025 recruiting class. Xzavion Mitchell committed to Iowa State during the NCAA Tournament before the Team Herro star developed into one of the most consistent players on the Nike EYBL circuit. The Oshkosh, Wisc., native moved from No. 131 in the rankings to No. 125.
Chris Herro, the director of Mitchell’s AAU program, says Mitchell has improved his game greatly in the last year.
“He’s grown in all areas,” Herro said. “The biggest thing is he used to be real quiet. I’ve got him to start talking, being more of a leader. That’s where we are at now. Working to get him to understand that he has to be more of a leader and stuff like that. Pretty cool to see where he has come from.
“He’s a young 2025 kid. He could actually go down a year like half these kids do. He’s young and he’s got a lot of upside. He’s starting to shoot the three better, dribble. In college, I think he will be a three or a four.”
The third member of Iowa State’s 2025 recruiting class is Huron, Mich., guard Macari Moore. Moore didn’t get an opportunity to play much this spring and summer with The Family on the EYBL circuit because of a lingering ankle injury. However, he moved up to No. 131 in the rankings, a six-spot jump. The Cyclones feel confident in Moore’s fit with the program, welcoming him as the first pledge in the class.
“Before he came to our program, he was more of a downhill scorer,” The Family coach Eric Evans told Cyclone Alert after Moore committed. “Which is his best attribute. A lot of people didn’t think he could shoot the ball because he doesn’t shoot a lot of threes. He’ll shoot a couple and make one or two. He knows what he’s comfortable (with) in his game and he takes what is given to him.”
In the 2026 recruiting class, Iowa State has extended about 10 scholarships. Among the Cyclone’s top targets include Yusef Gray Jr., Christian Wiggins and Sheek Pearson. All three players were on Iowa State’s campus for the season-opening football game vs. North Dakota.
“It was fun to spend the time with them and get to know them more,” Person said of his most recent visit to Iowa State’s campus where he was able to continue building relationships with the Cyclone staff and other recruits. “I think that added to the experience a little bit, hanging out with the other recruits.”
Wiggins is the No. 66 player in the updated 247Sports rankings while Pearson appears at No. 89. Pearson is continually impressed by the Cyclone coaching staff, and Iowa State could be viewed as an early leader in his recruitment.
Small Forward Collin Paul has an offer from the Cyclones. Paul debuts at No. 72 in the rankings after previously being an unranked prospect. In-state recruiting target Jaidyn Coon stars at Storm Lake, and is ranked No. 117 in the country. Dothan Ijadimbola fell from No. 75 to No. 126 in the updated rankings.
The Cyclones are likely to continue using fall football weekends as an integral recruiting tool as the season approaches. Iowa State tips off the 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 vs. Mississippi Valley State.
