Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson heads home for stacked Players Era men’s basketball event

AMES — Las Vegas is one of the nation’s top vacation destinations.

But to Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, it’s simply home, and he’ll make his long-anticipated return during this week’s loaded Player Era Festival.

“I’m excited for it,” said Jefferson, who’s averaging 18.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the No. 16 Cyclones (4-0), who play 14th-ranked St. John’s (3-1) at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the first of three men’s basketball games in Vegas. “Some good teams out there.”

ISU also will face Creighton (3-1) at 1 p.m. Tuesday, but it’s yet to be determined who it will play on Wednesday or Thursday. That’s because the tournament uses point differential, among other things, to set final matchups for a star-studded field of teams that features nine top-25 teams, including Big 12 rivals Houston and Kansas.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be in (this event),” Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Certainly, they can be very selective about who they allow in, and the programs that they allow in, so to be included among the other programs that are very highly regarded — a lot of respectful the guys that have come before us. The players, the coaches, everybody (who’s) helped elevate our program to get to this point where we’re a team that’s in demand for an event like this.”

There’s significant NIL money in play, too. Each team is guaranteed a minimum of $1 million for participating in the prestigious event, which will be televised across TNT’s networks.

The Cyclones’ matchup with St. John’s will be broadcast on truTV. It also promises to be a tightly-contested game, as KenPom predicts ISU will win by just one point.

“They’re a very gifted team,” Otzelberger said of the Rick Pitino-led Red Storm, which has scored at least 93 points in each game this season. “They play with some great pace, great energy and certainly they have (a coach) who’s regarded as one of the best of all time, so just a very high quality program.”

Jefferson will get a high-profile matchup on Monday, as well. He’ll square off with St. John’s star forward Bryce Hopkins, who scored 20 points in just 17 minutes in his team’s recent rout of Bucknell.

“He’s a good player,” Jefferson said. "Very versatile, so excited to get out there and compete.”

Especially back in Vegas, even though he’s grown to deeply appreciate Ames.

“(It’s) a nice place,” Jefferson said. “I enjoy living out here just because it’s quiet and I don’t like being too much in front of people’s faces and stuff.”

In other words, almost the polar opposite of his glittering home town, where he’ll fully reside within the spotlight.

“We see how much he can impact winning — offensively and defensively,” Otzelberger said. “So it’s a high standard for him to uphold, but we need him to uphold it every singe time out.”

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