For the second straight year, coach Steve Prohm and the Iowa State men’s basketball program organized a reunion for former players and coaches. It’s a tradition he started when he was at Murray State and has continued in his tenure as a Cyclone.

For the second straight year, over 100 people made the trip to Hilton Coliseum. Among those who came back were Monte Morris, Georges Niang, Naz Mitrou-Long and Deonte Burton, all of whom are currently on NBA rosters.

One man who hadn’t been back to Ames in several years was Jamaal Tinsley.

Tinsley graduated in 2001 after two successful years as a Cyclone — and since then, he’s mostly stayed away.

“It’s changed a lot, for the better,” Tinsley said. “A lot of good guys came through the program. I kept in touch with a couple of guys and [I have] seen guys doing good.”

Aside from a two-week trip to Ames one summer, Tinsley hadn’t returned to campus since leaving in 2001.

That’s what the reunion is all about — giving former players a reason to return.

And, of course, it makes for interesting debates. When Monte Morris left Iowa State, he sat atop the record books in career assists and steals. Some would argue he was the best point guard in school history, while others may look back at Tinsley’s flash and passing ability and say he’s the best floor general the program has ever seen.

Some of the best teams in Iowa State history were represented as well. The 1999-2000 team won 32 games before falling to eventual-national champions Michigan State in the Elite Eight. 32 wins is still the school record for an individual season. Yet Tinsley wasn’t ready to crown that team as the best in program history.

“That’s for y’all to decide,” Tinsley said with a laugh. “My job was to come in, go to school and play basketball… all the other stuff just comes with it.”

Tinsley wasn’t the only player who was glad to be back.

Former Big 12 Player of the Year Melvin Ejim returned as well.

“I wanna say three or four years [since I’ve been back],” Ejim said. “It’s already been a warm welcome.”

Ejim still holds the Big 12 record for points in a game, thanks to his 48-point outburst against TCU during his senior year. He’s been playing in Europe since leaving Iowa State in 2014. Even though he’s across the world, Ejim said he still finds time to follow his old college team.

“Iowa State’s been doing well,” he said. “I think we’re on a great track this year, we should be great. We always have one or two great Canadians, so it’s always nice to know we can lean on them.”

This year, the team being celebrated is the 1995-96 squad. Coach Tim Floyd led the team to a 24-9 record, won the Big 12 Tournament and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Utah.

Several members of that team, including Floyd, were back in Ames for the reunion.

The rest of the weekend will consist of some golf Saturday morning, dinner in Ames and, of course, some basketball. For the former teammates reuniting, reliving some of the glory days may be in store, too.

“There have been some really good teams,” Ejim said. “Iowa State’s had a lot of great moments, a lot of great teams.”