IOWA CITY — Former University of Iowa men’s basketball forward Payton Sandfort has agreed to a deal with the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Waukee native averaged 16.7 points and six rebounds en route to being named an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection as a senior. He scored in double figures in 27 games, which included a team-high 14 20-point contests.

Sandfort made a team-high 84 3-point field goals, including a career-high eight in his final collegiate game against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament, tying a tournament record. He matched a career-high with 30 points in the contest.

Sandfort, who also was the recipient of the prestigious Chris Street Award for the 2024-25 season, finished his career ranking first in free-throw percentage (.896), second in 3-point field goals (271) and 11th in scoring (1,619).

Cyclones’ Curtis Jones signs with Denver Nuggets

AMES — Former Iowa State All-American men’s basketball player Curtis Jones has signed with the Denver Nuggets as an undrafted free agent. The Nuggets did not have any picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Jones will begin his journey with the Nuggets in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, being held July 10-20.

Jones earned honorable mention honors from The Associated Press this past season. Jones was also named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and an all-Big 12 first team selection, the first player in league history to earn both in the same season. Jones led the Cyclones in scoring with 17.4 points per game, while connecting on 88 3-pointers.

Jones, the best Sixth Man in America, came off the bench in 25 games this season. He averaged 17.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game off the bench. His 17.2 points per game off the bench this season are the most in the country for anyone coming off the bench, while he is one of just five players since 1996-97 to average 17 or more points off the bench in a season.

ISU’s Keshon Gilbert signs with Washington Wizards

AMES — Former Iowa State men’s basketball player Keshon Gilbert has signed with the Washington Wizards as an undrafted free agent.

Gilbert will begin his journey with the Wizards in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, being held July 10-20.

Gilbert missed six games with multiple injuries, including the final three games of the season. Gilbert was twice named a Big 12 Conference Player of the Week last season, as he averaged 13.4 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures 20 times, including four games with 20 or more points. He scored a season-high 24 points against Dayton in the Maui Invitational and against No. 5 Marquette. Both performances came after a 23-point performance against No. 4 Auburn in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.

In 66 games at Iowa State, Gilbert averaged 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Gilbert was a two-time all-Big 12 selection and was the 2024 Big 12 Championship MVP.