2024 NBA Draft Prospect Team Previews: Iowa State Cyclones
A college program that may not get the credit it deserves for the amount of talent it has put in the NBA — 17 players from 2010 to 2020 — is the Iowa State Cyclones.
The Cyclones currently have five players in the association: Tyrese Haliburton, Talen Horton-Tucker, Monte Morris, Georges Niang and Lindell Wigginton. And could be adding at least two more to that list in 2024.
A big recruiting win for coach T.J. Otzelberger and his staff was keeping local Iowa prospect and top 10 recruit, Omaha Biliew, playing for his home state of Iowa.
If you have not read Biliew’s story from his exclusive interview with Draft Digest it is one of the better and most inspirational stories you will read and you can find that here.
A smooth and explosive athlete at 6-foot-8, Biliew will be a nightmare for opponents in transition, on the offensive boards and moving off the ball.
One thing to keep an eye on is the continued growth of his all around offensive game including playing with the ball in his hands and a consistent knock down jump shot.
Where Biliew really has a chance to be impactful is on the other end of the court.
You simply will not find a player that plays harder than the 19-year-old Waukee high school product.
He should fit perfectly with the emphasis the Cyclones coaching staff puts on defense for their players and team and that impact will have NBA scouts intrigued.
Another player on this Cyclones roster that takes pride in his defense but is flying a little too under the 2024 NBA Draft radar is UNLV transfer Keshon Gilbert.
Having had a chance to watch a practice before their foreign tour this summer, which was easily the most impressive college practice you will see, Gilbert was the stand out in all of the ways you would want.
Yes, he made shots and created for teammates but his leadership, competitiveness, coachability and all around intangibles shined through.
Gilbert made shots all last season — 38% on 2.4 attempts from behind the 3-point line and 52% on all catch-and-shoots — but the hope is that the 3PAr will go up this season in Ames.
The 6-foot-4 guard also has plenty of on ball juice that highlights his ability to play with a change of pace and utilize ball screens.
He isn’t afraid to play through contact in the lane and at the rim but his floater usage and makes were both in the 80th percentile last season according to Synergy.
The defensive impact goes further than just playing hard and taking pride as well, he has extremely active hands that led him being in the 94th percentile in steals averaging 1.7 per game.
A final name to keep tabs on is Biliew's fellow big time freshman recruit, Milan Momcilovic.
Momcilovic is a four star recruit and No. 37 overall by 247sports. The 6-foot-8 forward is a super skilled forward - and has the scoring punch this Cyclones team may need at times - who should show growth defensively playing for a program that emphasizes that end of the floor.
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