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Is Joshua Jefferson playing vs. Kentucky? Latest injury updates, status on Iowa State forward after gruesome incident originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
If the Iowa State Cyclones are going to earn a Sweet 16 berth, it may be without one of their key contributors.
Star forward Joshua Jefferson left Iowa State's NCAA Tournament opener, an eventual win over Tennessee State, with an ankle injury. The Cyclones didn't find much trouble in his absence, but on Sunday, they face a tougher test: seventh-seeded Kentucky.
Heading into the second-round matchup, Jefferson's status remains up in the air. While he appears to have avoided a serious, long-term injury, the forward also may not be able to play against the Wildcats.
Here's the latest on Jefferson's status for Iowa State's second-round matchup vs. Kentucky.
MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more
Is Joshua Jefferson playing vs. Kentucky?
This section will be updated.
As of Saturday, it appears Jefferson is unlikely to contribute in Iowa State's second-round game.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 reported that Jefferson was considered "unlikely" to play, and that he would receive treatment pregame despite "slim" chances of being on the court for the Cyclones.
Per ESPN, Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said Saturday that Jefferson likely wouldn't play vs. Kentucky, but he wouldn't yet make anything official.
"We'll just continue to do what we can in his best interest," Otzelberger said, per ESPN. "We'll be prepared to go either way."
If Jefferson officially can't go vs. Kentucky, his next chance to play would depend on a Cyclones win, looking to advance to the Sweet 16.
What happened to Joshua Jefferson?
In Iowa State's first-round matchup vs. Tennessee State, Jefferson needed to be helped off the floor after injuring his left ankle. He couldn't put weight on it, needing help going to the locker room.
Jefferson had X-rays done, which brought good results for Iowa State. Otzelberger said those X-rays came back negative and Jefferson was dealing with a sprained ankle.
He was seen with his left foot in a boot postgame.
On Saturday, Jefferson told reporters that he was able to put some weight on the foot, although it was still sore.
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Joshua Jefferson stats
Jefferson is Iowa State's leading rebounder this season, ranking second on the team in points per game. A former Saint Mary's forward, he joined the Cyclones in 2024 and has become one of the team's most reliable starters.
Here's a look at Jefferson's career stats:
| Year | Team | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| 2022-23 | Saint Mary's | 34 | 8.1 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 43.4% | 31.0% | 67.9% |
| 2023-24 | Saint Mary's | 26 | 25.0 | 10.2 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 46.9% | 26.7% | 73.1% |
| 2024-25 | Iowa State | 35 | 29.6 | 13.0 | 7.4 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 52.0% | 31.0% | 75.6% |
| 2025-26 | Iowa State | 34 | 31.8 | 16.9 | 7.6 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 47.0% |
SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year
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