CEDAR FALLS - Former Linn-Mar basketball star Matt Bohannon probably will be redshirted as a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa this season, Coach Ben Jacobson said Monday.

"We are leaning toward redshirting Matt. We're headed that way with him," Jacobson said at UNI's weekly press conference.

Bohannon is caught in a logjam at the off-guard positions behind senior Johnny Moran, junior Anthony James, junior Marc Sonnen and redshirt freshman Max Martino.

Bohannon's status could change if someone gets hurt, but he did not play in UNI's exhibition game against Northern State on Sunday and likely will not play this season.

"He's practicing really well, and playing really well," Jacobson said. "As I told him, it isn't a situation where you weren't prepared to help our team some this year.

"It's more of a situation where it's best for our program right now and best for Matt. He can benefit from a redshirt year."

Bohannon, 6-foot-4, helped Linn-Mar win the Class 4A state title last March and was named the captain of the all-tournament team.

Northern Iowa has a history of redshirting players as true freshmen, giving them a chance to get stronger and learn the system before playing in games. Bohannon will have four years of eligibility, starting next season, if he redshirts this year.

"With four days a week in the weight room and the practices and knocking heads with Johnny and A.J. and Marc and having that experience, and then being a freshman next year ... All of the benefits that most of us are aware of is really good for Matt," Jacobson said.

Zach Bohannon, one of Matt's older brothers, is taking a mandatory redshirt season with the University of Wisconsin basketball team after transferring from the Air Force Academy. Zach Bohannon will be a redshirt junior at Wisconsin during the 2012-13 campaign when Matt Bohannon is a redshirt freshman at UNI.