IOWA STATE DAILY
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Andrew Harrington
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Elizabeth Fogarty
Academics Editor
Jay Waagmeester
News Editor of Politics & Government
Cleo Westin
News Editor of Diversity
Ella Slade
Student Life Editor
Ben DeMarais
Sports Editor
Christian Royston
Assistant Sports Editor
Logan Shanks
Photo Editor
Joseph Dicklin
Columnist,
Editorial Board
Caleb Weingarten
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Sarah Currier
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Jacob Rice
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Isabel Monaco
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Taylor Kenny
Tessa Hill
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Mackenzie Bodell
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‘WE PLAYED TO OUR IDENTITY’
Cyclones ride second half blowout to win Big 12 title
Written by Logan Shanks
Anight to remember for Iowa State was largely due to sticking to its defense and the team’s lights-out shooting in the second half to roll past Houston 69-41.
Right from the jump, the Cyclones were finding their way around Houston’s highlypraised defense. Floaters, 3-pointers, cuts inside, everything was falling for Iowa State to fuel its offense.
While the game started out back and forth throughout the first half, the Cyclones went into halftime with momentum as they had the conference regular season champions on their heels.
Iowa State opened up the second half on a 10-0 run, highlighted a pair of threes from Milan Momcilovic and eventual Most Outstanding Player of the tournament Keshon Gilbert, to extend its lead to 17.
“I think that was really important for us to go on a run first,” Curtis Jones said.
The offensive spark did not stop there for the Cyclones. After the opening run was broken up by a Houston three, Iowa State went a 15-2 run over the next nine minutes.
Iowa State was picking apart the best defense in the nation with ease. Every pass was on point, whether it was finding someone driving inside the lane or finding the open man outside.
To work around the fast-paced defense from Houston that has disrupted teams throughout the season, head coach T.J. Otzelberger focused on keeping the ball moving to open up shots.
“We talked a lot about quick simple ball movement,” Otzelberger said. “Not try to necessarily attack as much as draw both defenders and get the ball on the move.”
Leading 56-28 with 7:35 left, it started to sink into the players’ heads what was happening.
Whether it was Momcilovic’s turnaround corner three or the pair of dunks from Hason Ward, the Cyclones were rolling on offense.
“It hit me a few times,” Curtis Jones said. “You thought it hit, and then it really hit and then you knew.”
The fluidity and teamwork that the Cyclones created in their semifinal game against Baylor rolled into the championship matchup with Houston. They finished the game with 17 assists, 10 of which came in the second half, and only nine turnovers.
“Just playing for one another, not being selfish with the ball,” Robert Jones said. “Just being a together team.”
“We put an emphasis on being there for your teammate,” Gilbert said. “You got to be there for your teammate and make a quick pass and make a play after that.”
While the Cyclones’ offense in the second half gave them momentum, their defense made it almost impossible for the Cougars to put together a comeback.
Iowa State stayed quick in transition and shut down nearly every Houston possession in the second half. With four minutes left to go in the game, the Cyclones had outscored the Cougars 34-9 in the closing half.
“We played to our identity,” Otzelberger said. “We defended, we rebounded, we shared the basketball.
Iowa State’s high-paced offense in the second half extended its lead to 32, which is when the moment started to really sit in with the players.
With the way the team was dominating Houston, the team was so focused on staying consistent that the feeling of the win did not come until late in the game.
“We were just so in the moment,” Tre King said. “I don’t think it sat in for us until the final meeting when we looked up at the score and we were up almost 30.”
Confetti covered the floor at the T-Mobile Center as the Cyclones cut down the nets and celebrated their fifth Big 12 Tournament title in 10 years, and first under Otzelberger. As the team heads into Selection Sunday with a No. 1 seed up in the air, they take in a night they will never forget.
“We played two great games back-to-back and gonna enjoy this moment a lot,” Tamin Lipsey said.
Photo caption
Photo by Tyler Coe
FROM TEAMMATES TO RIVALS TO TEAMMATES AGAIN
Biliew’s and Kelderman’s unique journey to Iowa State
Written by Christian Royston
The odds of high school teammates splitting off and becoming rivals at two powerhouse schools just to reunite as teammates at the next level is slim to none. But that was the case for Omaha Biliew and Cade Kelderman.
The two started as teammates on a loaded Waukee team. However, when Waukee added Waukee Northwest as its second high school in 2021, Biliew and Kelderman were pitted against each other in what would become the biggest rivalry in the state of Iowa.
Despite both Biliew and Kelderman leading their own teams to victory in the schools’ “civil war,” the two would soon be reunited when to their surprise, they met as teammates again at Iowa State.
The unique journey that Biliew and Kelderman took to get from Waukee to Iowa State formed a bond that may prove the test of time. But even with a bond as strong as theirs, Biliew and Kelderman still remind each other daily of the past rivalry.
As the two high school phenoms sat in the locker room, they couldn’t help but chirp it up for old times’ sake.
“I got the head-to-head record,” Kelderman said. “That’s all we gotta say.”
“I told you, he always gonna bring up the record every time,” Biliew said. “He always gonna bring up the record.”
“Just gotta keep it fresh in his mind, so he doesn’t forget about it,” Kelderman said.
“Don’t forget who won you that ring,” Biliew said.
The team destined to win it all
Biliew’s and Kelderman’s paths first crossed at Waukee. Before a new Waukee school was created to accommodate the growing size of the town, both players were part of a super team that would roll its way through the Iowa high school basketball scene.
At the time, Waukee was loaded with talent from top to bottom, and with the other players on the team, Biliew and Kelderman were pushed to compete for recognition.
Waukee head coach, and assistant coach during the year Biliew and Kelderman were teammates, Kevin Kanaskie saw that competitiveness every single day.
“Everyone wanted to prove they were the best player on the team. In reality, we probably had five or six best players on the team,” Kanaskie said.
With three other star players on the team— Tucker DeVries, Payton Sandfort and Pryce Sandfort—Biliew and Kelderman had others to push them to get better.
Currently, DeVries is a star player at Drake, averaging over 20 points per game.
Payton Sandfort is one of Iowa’s key scorers, sitting at over 15 points per game, and his younger brother Pryce Sandfort joined him as a four-star recruit and the No. 2 player out of Iowa in 2023 just behind Biliew.
With the talent on the team, Waukee’s thenhead coach, Justin Ohl, was ecstatic about the high-level basketball on display at every practice and every game.
had to work harder than everyone else to keep up. But he was okay with that.
There was a mutual respect the two had for each other, which showed in their fighting spirit.
Each game played out differently and became a classic in its own sense.
“That year, our practices were unbelievable,” Ohl said.
Despite the overflowing talent and the competitiveness of the team, everyone was close-knit. There was no ego on the team, which helped build the foundation for each of the players to grow close and form bonds with each other.
Even Biliew and Kelderman were close, despite the looming possibility that they would be rivals in the near future.
“They were. The whole group was close,” Ohl said.
Practices set the same tone as a state championship game due to the high skill level of the group. Although Kelderman was not in charge of guarding Biliew in practice due to their different positions, the two did meet on occasion.
“He was more in charge of getting after [DeVries], guarding him, but I think [Biliew] would set some good screens on [Kelderman],” Ohl said.
Kelderman was always up for a challenge, so when DeVries took a break from giving him the works, Biliew would be the next kid up. With how scrappy and tough Kelderman is, he could compete hard against players much larger than himself.
“He was small, but he didn’t play small,” Kanaskie said.
Biliew may have worked hard in his time at Waukee, but Kelderman still rivaled him in their sophomore campaign.
Waukee Northwest head coach Brett Watson noted that Kelderman’s biggest strength was how hard he worked. Not being the biggest, the tallest, the fastest or the strongest, Kelderman
“He has a work ethic that is second to none,” Watson said.
With Kelderman and Biliew sporting a work ethic that only rivaled each other, it was bound to get competitive.
That competitiveness helped both players excel and grow at an exponential rate. Even though a rivalry would form just a couple of years later, the two went on to win the Class 4A state championship on that 2020-21 team.
The bond formed from winning it all together was strong enough where it could not be erased by the rivalry that was about to unfold.
“We won a ring together and everything, so it’s all fun,” Biliew said.
Friends to foes in the blink of an eye
Following the 2020-21 season, Waukee Northwest opened up. Given how the borders lined up, Kelderman, who resided on the north side of town, was absorbed by Waukee Northwest.
Right away, it was clear that he would be one of the leaders on a team that would rival Waukee from the jump.
“We needed to rely on someone like [Kelderman] that was not only a talented player but just a really really good leader,” Watson said.
When the two schools split, Biliew transferred for his junior season. He attended Link Year Prep in Missouri to take his basketball skills to the next level.
When Biliew got back to Waukee for his final year of high school, the two schools were already pitted against each other. Biliew would have to pick up where he left off right away if he wanted to help Waukee compete with the powerhouse Waukee Northwest had become. Given his personality, it was not a challenge at all.
“What surprised me the most when he came back was how humble he was, how good of a teammate he was,” Kanaskie said.
Waukee Northwest was relieved to get a year to prepare for Biliew, especially given how good he was expected to be after his work at Link Year Prep. Although the rivalry between the schools was birthed immediately, Biliew brought a competitiveness that would take it to the next level.
“That rivalry was just intensified,” Watson said.
If both schools, or one of the two, was not great, the rivalry would not be what it was. However, during the two’s senior years, Waukee and Waukee Northwest were two of best teams in the state.
The rivalry became not just the talk of the town but the talk of the state. To put it simply, Kelderman said that every player, every game, every part of the rivalry was just “extremely competitive.”
That competitiveness opened up the door for Biliew and Kelderman to take the reins of their respective teams and raise them to new heights.
“I was really proud of just how they handled the new opportunities,” Ohl said.
Ohl said they were both aware of each other’s efforts and how hard they worked.
Kanaskie said that Biliew wanted to work hard at everything he did. Kelderman may have lived in the gym, but so did Biliew.
Biliew would come in at night on his own.
Before, and even after, practice, he would get in extra reps.
With Biliew and Kelderman working toward the same goal of beating each other’s teams, the rivalry took on a new shape.
Biliew still eggs on Kelderman when it comes to the two’s devotion to their respective teams.
“I just never liked Northwest. I told him that straight up, ‘Yo, no one likes Northwest,’” Biliew said.
Biliew and Kelderman may have been teammates their sophomore year, but by the time they took the court as seniors, the vibes had changed.
“Me and [Kelderman], we always liked each other and everything. We always been friends,” Biliew said. “Obviously, last year, it was different.”
With how big the rivalry became, the games between the two schools became a “civil war” of sorts. Or at least that is how they ended up describing the matchups that would unfold.
“Obviously, you know, the civil war,” Biliew said.
Game one came down to the wire at Waukee Northwest.
Kelderman had to step up in the matchup, as Pryce Sandfort was sidelined with an ankle injury. Pryce Sandfort would have been the player to guard Biliew, but without him, it was up to Kelderman to match up against him.
“We didn’t know who else to guard him. You have to go with your competitive guard that won’t back down from any challenge,” Watson said.
Kelderman rose to the challenge.
Although Biliew filled the stat sheet in every matchup, Kelderman still made his life difficult.
“It was just making it as hard as we could for him. He’s gonna score 20, 25 points, but how hard he has to work to get those 20 to 25 points is really what matters,” Kelderman said. With seconds left in the game, the win was still up for grabs.
Biliew missed the dagger with time running out and could not draw a foul to get to the line to potentially give Waukee the first win of the series. Immediately following that, with no time left on the clock, Kelderman took the final shot of the game and hit a buzzer-beater to give Waukee Northwest the two-point win.
Game two was a revenge matchup for Waukee. Given the exciting finish of the first game, it was no surprise that the rematch would be highly anticipated. Kanaskie said that the game sold out in minutes.
Now on the Warriors’ home court, they made quick work of the Wolves and ran away with the game. Biliew was the star of the show, opening the game with a dunk, putting up 21 points on the Wolves and even adding to his highlight reel with a through-the-legs dunk to ignite the gymnasium.
Kelderman’s 17-point performance was not enough to power past Biliew’s energetic revenge arc.
However, the best was yet to come, as the two teams met one final time on what was nearly the biggest stage of all.
Biliew and Kelderman met one final time in the semifinal game in the state tournament. The winner would get a chance to play for their second state championship.
“There’s nothing better than a rematch in the state tournament,” Kelderman said. The game played out similar to the first, with Waukee Northwest getting the last laugh.
The civil war: Waukee vs. Waukee Northwest
“There was a lot of hype around the matchup. I’d say all three times we played them, each matchup lived up to that hype,” Kelderman said.
With both schools at full strength following Biliew’s return, the state of Iowa was in for a trifecta of blockbuster matchups between Waukee and Waukee Northwest.
“Going into my senior year, he returns to Waukee. The headlines are, ‘Waukee, Waukee Northwest,’” Kelderman said.
Kelderman had to step up again in the absence of Pryce Sandfort. This time around, Pryce Sandfort was not injured but instead was seeing the bench more than expected due to foul trouble.
Biliew put up 21 points, which was nearly half of Waukee’s total points, but it was not enough to overcome Kelderman’s 26-point night as Waukee Northwest cruised to a 20-point win.
“You look at both times we won— Cade Kelderman was unbelievable,” Watson said.
Watson said it was Kelderman’s two best games of his career. When someone needed to step up in games one and three, Kelderman
Omaha Biliew and Cade Kelderman play against each other in the home town rivalry game between Waukee and Waukee Northwest, Waukee Northwest High School, Dec. 6, 2022.
Photo courtesy of Mike Hughes
Cade Kelderman and Omaha Biliew both played at Waukee High School together during their sophomore season. Waukee won the state 4A championship title that year.
Photo by Jacob Rice
did just that to secure a winning record over his rival.
That 2-1 record that Kelderman has over Biliew is something that he still boasts about to this day.
“[Kelderman’s] quiet, but he also can be a little bit like, ‘Hey, you know it was 2-1,’” Ohl said.
“I’m not afraid to let him know that I’ve got the tiebreaker on him. It’s 2-1,” Kelderman said. “He can’t say anything about that. I’ve got that on him the rest of my life.”
Each of the wins came in their own way and played out differently. Both Biliew and Kelderman have their own things to brag about when it comes to that final year of matchups.
“We joke about it each and every single day—-his record against mine, but our one win was better than theirs,” Biliew said. “It was a fun and exciting time.”
Biliew said that Kelderman “proved a lot of people wrong” in his senior season. People doubted Kelderman’s abilities as a well-rounded player, but the marquee matchups showed just how good he could be.
Kelderman’s performances are even what drew the eyes of Iowa State initially.
“Against us, he showed the reason why. He’s not here for no reason,” Biliew said. “That was apparent last year.”
Every game became an instant classic and set the standard for the rivalry to continue. The outings from Biliew and Kelderman in the matchups also helped them rise in the rankings and eventually move on to their dream school: Iowa State.
Now with the Cyclones, the two still reminisce about their games. Even the coaches of both teams made it clear that the 2022-23 season will go down in history and will not be forgotten for years to come.
“We’re gonna look back 10 years later talking about how special these games were,” Kanaskie said.
Iowa State rekindles old bonds
Although the two grew up lifelong Cyclone fans, Biliew did not know Kelderman was planning to walk on at Iowa State.
As a five-star recruit, Biliew made his intentions clear to the world when he chose Iowa State,
but Watson said Kelderman was not like other recruits. He did not tweet or announce anything; he just talked with the people close to him.
Despite having scholarship offers from smaller colleges, the decision to go to Iowa State was not hard for Kelderman.
“Iowa State just fits who both of us are as people but also as players,” Kelderman said.
Kelderman’s brother was a manager for the Cyclones when T.J. Otzelberger was an assistant coach. The two became friends, so the connection formed between Otzelberger and Kelderman as well.
Otzelberger was at the first game between Waukee and Waukee Northwest when Kelderman took the reins and willed his team to a win. According to Watson, that was the point when Otzelberger told assistant coach JR Blount that Kelderman would be a good walkon candidate.
When Kelderman announced his decision to go to Iowa State to his coaches, they in turn told Biliew. Biliew texted Kelderman that same morning, excited to become teammates again, and the two even worked out together before they got to Iowa State.
Even though they were rivals, the familiarity they had helped them respark the bond they had as teammates and make the transition to Iowa State easier.
“You have someone to lean on that you’ve been through it with,” Kelderman said.
However, the rivalry between the two was not going to die just because they were teammates.
“As soon as we [saw] each other, we had to get a squabble in about what happened,” Biliew said.
Biliew and Kelderman are “extremely competitive,” so it was no surprise that they would carry over their rivalry from high school. Although, it took on a more friendly look as they were teammates again.
Being familiar with each other’s games allowed them to push each other in practice again, and the rivalry made them even more motivated to outwork each other.
“It’s all part of the game,” Kelderman said. “We still respect each other and love each other off the court. It’s just on the court, it can get a little chippy. That’s what makes basketball basketball.”
Despite the chippiness, Kelderman was the first to breathe a sigh of relief to see
Bilew in the same uniform as him again. Biliew also did the same given what he saw on the court in all three of their past meetings.
“I’m glad that we’re teammates again,” Kelderman said. “It’s a lot better competing with him instead of competing against him.”
Although the high school days are slowly shrinking into the rearview mirror as they tackle the challenge of the next level, both Biliew and Kelderman still hold a place in their hearts for their alma maters.
“We used to it. We talk normally now,” Biliew said. “But whenever Northwest and Waukee play again, I’m the first person to talk about it when they win.”
The first time Waukee won when they were both at Iowa State, Biliew went to the next practice and flaunted the win to Kelderman. He had to let him know what school was on top.
“The rest of our career here, we’ll be reminding each other of who wins upcoming games,” Kelderman said.
The uniqueness of the situation is something that may never be rivaled again, according to Kanaskie.
It is rare for a school to split into two and for both basketball teams to continue being top programs in the state. Add to that the fact that Biliew and Kelderman would lead their respective teams to marquee matchups and then be reunited at one of the top basketball programs in the toughest conference in collegiate basketball, and it makes for a storybook reunion.
“I don’t know if it will ever happen again… Usually a community doesn’t split into two high schools and both high schools be good, and both players be good enough to play in the Big 12,” Kanaskie said. “I think it’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
Given all that the two went through to get to where they are, the rivalry and bond between them have strengthened who they are as people and players.
They may be teammates now, but their rivalry clearly still goes strong. Even as the two find success at the next level, the old high school days will still live on and give them a fire to compete hard against each other every single day.
“Yeah, that ain’t never gonna stop,” Biliew said.
‘DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS’
Why Keshon Gilbert quickly rose to stardom
Written by Christian Royston
Before playing a single second for Iowa State, head coach T.J. Otzelberger was sure Keshon Gilbert would quickly become a staple in Iowa State’s most anticipated season to date. Fast forward to 2024, and Gilbert has made sure that every person in the nation knows how good he can be.
From his lights-out performance to bring home the Cy-Hawk trophy or the daggers he hit to upset Kansas at Hilton Coliseum to raining down threes in a nearupset win over Baylor on the road, Gilbert has become a household name for Iowa State fans.
Although Gilbert’s rise to fame might have surprised some, Otzelberger was one of the people who believed in him from the start. Whether it was his bubbly personality or his drive to achieve his goals, Gilbert had the makings of an elite basketball player since the start.
Otzelberger’s unyielding belief in Gilbert’s potential
From the first phone call, Otzelberger was sure that Gilbert would fit into any team he coached.
“[I] felt like he and I hit it off from the start,” Otzelberger said.
Otzelberger was the first person to call Gilbert during his sophomore year of high school when coaches were allowed to start recruiting him.
Gilbert said talking with Otzelberger was like talking with an old friend, even from the jump.
“He said I kinda shocked him when I got on the phone because it was kinda like, ‘Wassup, what we doing,’ type of phone call,” Gilbert said.
Otzelberger needed Gilbert on his team while he was the head coach at UNLV, and he got just that.
Gilbert committed to UNLV because of Otzelberger, so when Otzelberger left to coach at Iowa State, Gilbert wanted to move on to bigger and better things as well.
Otzelberger was the first person to call Gilbert when he entered the transfer portal.
Given the past relationship the two had at UNLV, Gilbert was already on Otzelberger’s radar. Additionally, Otzelberger saw Gilbert’s accomplishments at UNLV and knew he would be great at Iowa State.
“I just feel like he embodies all the qualities and traits we look for,” Otzelberger said.
Iowa State was also at the top of the list for Gilbert. Otzelberger’s consistent interest in Gilbert and the belief he had in him was something that did not go unnoticed.
Gilbert bonded with Otzelberger during their times at UNLV because of how open they could be with each other.
“Everything’s real with us,” Gilbert said. “He keep it real with me, and I feel like I keep it real
with him 24/7. I feel like that’s an underrated thing to have in college basketball—a coach that you can be real with, and a coach that’s real with you.”
Otzelberger’s confidence in Gilbert never wavered, which was apparent to Gilbert. Even if Gilbert’s confidence was lacking at times, Otzelberger was there to prove why he made the right choice believing in him.
“He just gotta different type of love for me, a different type of confidence in me that sometimes don’t even have in myself… He been believing in me since I was a kid,” Gilbert said.
Goals and aspirations
Otzelberger’s belief in Gilbert started from the first phone call and grew even more when Gilbert talked about his goals.
Throughout his basketball career, Gilbert’s main motivator has been his lofty goals. He wants to make it to the next level and would do anything to get there.
Gilbert and Otzelberger had conversations frequently during their time at UNLV. In those conversations, Gilbert laid out his goals and how hard he was going to work to achieve those goals.
“That was something that stayed with me,” Otzelberger said.
Gilbert’s goals are what drives him. They are what push him to fight for buckets and put his body on the line to help his team win.
Playing as hard as Gilbert for 40 minutes is not easy to do. Motivation from his dreams and goals helps Gilbert put everything out on the court every night.
“I got dreams and aspirations just like everybody else,” Gilbert said. “I
wanna feed my family. I want my mom to stop working.”
Gilbert wants to play in the NBA and said that he just loves the game of basketball, so making money alongside that is a win-win situation.
With how important family is to Gilbert, if he can provide for his family and play basketball, that is what he will do. With how much his mother has helped him throughout his life, Gilbert knows she deserves to see his hard work pay off.
“I feel like I owe her that,” Gilbert said. Gilbert’s basketball journey started like most kids. Around second grade, he picked up a basketball at the local YMCA and never looked back.
In high school, he started to work on his craft more and more. His older brother was a walk-on at UNLV, and his family consistently pushed him to improve.
Growing up shorter and smaller than his brothers, he always had to work hard to compete with them. They would always beat him up when they played because of their height.
“So when I got tall, it was like, ‘Yeah. I’m here now,’” Gilbert said.
Gilbert’s “why” is his family. Gilbert fondly remembers the times playing with his brothers and how supportive everyone was of his dreams. His parents are the ones that keep him levelheaded, and his brothers pushed him to improve his basketball skills. Making it to the NBA would help pay off the support his family gave him all his life.
“Nobody really made it out of my family. Everybody livin’ regular,” Gilbert said. “I wanna be able to tell my family I made it.” Gilbert does not need extra motivation when he has his goals in mind. He knows where he
Keshon Gilbert driving to the paint during the Iowa State vs. Texas Tech game, Hilton Coliseum, Feb. 17, 2024.
Photo by Matteo Bender
Omaha Biliew at men’s basketball media day, Hilton Coliseum, Oct. 10, 2023. Biliew is a freshman from Waukee High School in Waukee, IA.
Cade Kelderman at men’s basketball media day, Hilton Coliseum, Oct. 11, 2023. Kelderman is a freshman from Northwest High School in Waukee, IA.
Although Gilbert has had impactful nights on the regular, especially during Big 12 play, the magic was felt the most before the annual CyHawk game.
Two hours before the game, the student section was already filled. When Gilbert walked out to warm up, he saw the crowd and heard the cheers, and he thought to himself, “This is it. This is where I’m supposed to be.”
The Cy-Hawk game was one of Gilbert’s best games of the season. His 25 points and consistent daggers propelled Iowa State to a comfortable win.
His most notable moment in that game was when he turned into a one-man show. In a matter of seconds, he knocked down a tough layup, saw Tamin Lipsey steal the inbound and set himself up to hit a deep three to get Hilton on its feet.
of Gilbert was what pushed the Cyclones over the Hawkeyes.
“That’s when you know you gotta step on the other team’s throats—bring that same high level of basketball play,” Jones said.
As Jones rattled off an answer for Gilbert, Gilbert joked to Tre King about Jones’ wellcrafted answers. Jones could easily come up with the words that Gilbert couldn’t.
The three chuckled about Gilbert’s amazement before moving on to the next question. That one would draw the biggest laugh of the three. When asked how it felt to take down Iowa State’s biggest rival in his final year with the team, Jones said, “It’s delightful.”
As Jones uttered those words, Gilbert could not contain his laughter. After chuckling for a few seconds, he leaned behind Jones to get King’s attention.
wants to get and does not plan on settling for anything less.
“I ain’t gonna lie. I don’t have a plan B,” Gilbert said. “Plan A gotta work.”
Home at last
From the second Gilbert got to Iowa State, it was clear to him that he made the right choice. Stepping out on the Hilton court for the first time was surreal.
“It felt like magic. I ain’t gonna lie,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert bounced down the court, taunting the Hawkeyes into calling a timeout. They did.
His energy flowed into the crowd and made the night special for him. As Gilbert sat in the post-game press conference, he was at a loss for words. All he could say was:
“I’m so happy right now, I ain’t gonna fake it,” Gilbert said.
Although Gilbert was too excited to cobble together answers, he had teammates to speak for him. Robert Jones said that the consistent effort
“He said delightful,” Gilbert joked to King while the three laughed about it.
Gilbert smiled at Jones after the press conference and said, “I don’t know how you do that.”
Although Gilbert could not put his feelings into words at the time, he didn’t have to. One thing was for sure: Gilbert was having fun. He finally found a home, and he found another family to push him to achieve his goals.
CONRAD
“CEO” HAWLEY
Influence outside of the game of basketball
Written by Elizabeth Lane
Throughout Conrad Hawley’s journey from a Kansas scholarship quarterback to an Iowa State walk-on basketball player, he has used his platform to give back and inspire others.
Hawley’s story to Iowa State does not look like most people. Within a two-year span, he won a football state title, committed to play football at Kansas, graduated early, moved to Colorado, enrolled at Iowa State and became an immediate fan favorite on the basketball team without playing more than four minutes in a game.
Hawley grew up in Raymore, Missouri, and played football and basketball his whole life.
“I can still remember Conrad as an elementary school-age kid, just being out there, being a leader,” said Sean Martin, Hawley’s head football coach at Raymore-Peculiar, “He’s always been a leader, a go-getter, an all-in type guy. He’s not halfway in. He’s all the way in on whatever he does.”
Along with his leadership, he had that spark of energy that everyone knew him for. Martin describes him as an energy giver.
As a sophomore in high school, Hawley was thrown into the starting quarterback position when as the starter at the time was injured. The team may not have won many games that year, but he did not let this rattle him.
Because of his work ethic, he came back as a junior, and the team went all the way to the state semifinals.
As Hawley finished his junior year, the world shut down due to COVID-19, and all sports stopped. That included the RaymorePeculiar football team, which could not hold an organized practice.
Hawley and his teammates did not want to just watch the time pass, so they hosted their own football practices anywhere they could find an open field. Hawley told Martin, “We’ve been kicked off every football field in Kansas City.”
At this time, Hawley was being recruited for both basketball and football. If he put on more weight, he would have a better chance to be able to play at the highest level in football. Hawley wanted to compete at the highest level he could, so he did just that.
As a senior, Hawley helped lead his football team to a 6A Missouri State Championship. His willingness to be a good leader and hold his teammates accountable helped him do so.
“I think we won it because we had a group of guys who were not afraid to hold each other accountable. As a young man, feel like it can be hard to use the word love, especially around guys but we loved each other and the way we loved each other was holding each other accountable,” Hawley said to the 2023 Raymore-Peculiar football team.
After his senior football season, he graduated early, missing his senior basketball season, to enroll in Kansas and start training with the football team.
During the 2021 season, the quarterback position at Kansas went through a lot of uncertainty. Hawley was lower on the depth chart, with many upperclassmen above him. He did not see any playing time on the field and redshirted for his freshman season.
Hawley realized he needed a change when the 2021 college football season ended. He didn’t feel purposeful at Kansas and entered the transfer portal.
From January 2022 to May 2022, he lived in Colorado. While living in Colorado, Hawley decided to take a semester off from school. He worked three jobs, including quarterback training on the side but continued to work out and stay strong.
While Hawley was in Colorado, he missed being on a team and was ready to start school to be challenged again. Hawley got connected with Iowa State basketball coaches T.J. Otzelberger and Kyle Green. They were looking for exactly the kind of guy Hawley wanted to be.
In June 2022, Hawley started his journey with the Iowa State men’s basketball team.
“It was fun to play basketball again because I hadn’t played in three years at that point,” Hawley said. “It was just good being around older guys, being around fast guys, physical guys, smart guys, good dudes and our program has a ton of low ego guys.”
Even as a walk-on, this didn’t stop him from being a leader and owning his role. He quickly acquired the name “Chief Energy Officer” and “CEO” for short.
Some of Hawley’s favorite moments were when Hason Ward threw down a dunk or when his teammates got ready to play lockdown defense. Many wonder how Hawley always
has this positive, energy-giver attitude. Hawley strives to never have a bad day and live with gratitude and purpose no matter what he does.
“When you come from a place of thankfulness, it takes you away from all the bad thoughts or negatives that you may be thinking,” Hawley said. “You have to live a purposeful life and so I’ve just developed a purpose and a thankfulness that think of most days and especially on the hard days.”
After Hawley’s first season with the Cyclones, he used his platform to help others and speak to students.
In early 2023, Hawley was able to sell T-shirts through Cyclone Fanatic. Hawley said he was not in it for money, he just wanted to help those around him. He decided to donate a portion of the proceeds to True Impact Outdoors.
True Impact Outdoors is an organization that helps disabled veterans become active in outdoor activities again, including hunting therapy. These outdoor activities allow veterans to take a break from life’s day-to-day challenges and engage in the outdoors. These activities provide many mental health benefits, such as stress reduction and fostering mindfulness.
“I have a special place in my heart for veterans, especially with family members being in the military,” Hawley said.
Throughout Hawley’s time at Iowa State, he had the opportunity to be a part of Champions for Literacy along with his teammate Tamin Lipsey and assistant basketball coach Nate Schmidt.
The program combines sports and reading with an emphasis on reaching underprivileged kids. Hawley, Lipsey and Schmidt had the opportunity to drive to Des Moines, Iowa, to read to kids at an elementary school and help ignite a passion for sports and reading.
Hawley and the whole basketball team have been able to help at multiple youth camps this past year.
“We’re able to split up all the baskets with a couple of players and then we just rotate the kids so each kid gets to experience all the guys,” Hawley said. “I think it’s also really cool for guys and myself to be able to do that because it allows you to be a little kid again.”
Hawley and his teammates, Keshon Gilbert and Hason Ward, continued these relationships beyond the basketball camps. They went to an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) retreat and hung out with the kids who were at past camps. Throughout the past year, Hawley has been able to tell his story and speak to students. Hawley had always been the pre-game speech kind of guy, so speaking in front of students came naturally to him.
His first group of students was the Gilbert High School football team in the Spring of 2023. Hawley has spoken to Ames High School baseball, at different basketball camps and he went back to his high school, Raymore-Peculiar, to speak to the football and basketball team. Hawley spoke to the students about being a good teammate, owning your role, being accountable and motivating them to play their sport.
He was especially excited to speak at his high school. He knew many of the athletes because they were his brother’s age.
Martin said he felt Hawley’s talk made a difference for many kids. He said one of his biggest takeaways was “Just really embracing your role, whatever it is and being all in and kind of going for it.”
“Start your day out with a few wins,” Hawley said to the Ames baseball team. “You woke up, boom, win number one. You went to the bathroom, brush your teeth. Boom, two more wins right there, you’re 3-0. You gotta lose three more times before you go 500 and 500 teams make the playoffs. How bout that? So freaking wake up. Win your day, live for other people, and own your role no matter what your role is.”
Keshon Gilbert suggests Iowa to take a timeout after he scored two three pointers at Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 7, 2023.
Photo by Tyler Coe
Conrad Hawley celebrates a three pointer from Tamin Lipsey against Florida A&M at Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 17, 2023. Lipsey finished with 19 points.
Photo by Tyler Coe
Conrad Hawley storms onto the court after Iowa State starts the game on a 14-0 run against Houston at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 9, 2023. Photo by Tyler Coe
CYCLONE CYCLONE CYCLONE CYCLONE POWER POWER POWER POWER
Middle left, Name. Middle top right, Name. Middle bottom right, Name. Bottom left, Name. Middle bottom, Name. Bottom right, Name
Photos by: Jacob Rice
BIG ROB ENERGY
The leader, the legacy
Written by Logan Shanks
Following what is set to be his final year with the Cyclones, Robert Jones will leave behind a legacy bigger than his nickname as a hard worker, loving teammate and a fighter of adversity.
It has been a long road for the fifth-year senior who is looking to add another trip to the NCAA Tournament under his belt with Iowa State.
During his collegiate career, Jones has seen it all. Whether it was rejection, battling through injuries, finding a new home or a revolving door as a starter, the path for the Minnesota native has had its bumps.
But through it all, he has stuck to his roots and made a name for himself that Ames will never forget along with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Path to Iowa State
Before he was “Big Rob Energy,” Jones was a three-star recruit out of Prior Lake High School trying to make a name for himself at the University of Denver, but the road to being a Pioneer wasn’t exactly his first choice. Earlier in his recruitment process, he tried to commit to Xavier but was told he “couldn’t come” and saw Denver as his next best option. Despite Denver’s losing record at the end of the year, he emerged as a young forward and capped off his freshman campaign with a season-high 21 points against North Dakota State.
His sophomore year was a whole different story. Going through the pandemic, fracturing
his tibia at the start of conference play and dealing with another losing season, everything began to pile up.
“It was horrible,” Jones said. “Going through the COVID protocols while also trying to have a basketball team was impossible. We didn’t have any gym time, no extra gym time, no weight room, no locker room, no access, no extra work, no food either.”
Due to his injury and having to follow COVID protocols, Jones said he lost around 20 pounds that season. Denver finished the season 2-19, and head coach Rodney Billups was fired. Jones had not seen real success at the collegiate level yet and knew it was time for a change. After meeting with the incoming head coach at the time, T.J. Otzelberger, and his staff and learning about the culture that he came to fall in love with, his decision became clear.
Putting in the work to become “Big Rob”
Jones was the start of something new at Iowa State, and he helped turn the program around in one season under Otzelberger’s first year as head coach. The incoming junior forward was one of seven transfers to join Otzelberger and his staff at Iowa State, a team that had gone 2-22 and winless in the Big 12 the year prior.
“I feel like a lot of us just wanted a fresh start,” former teammate Aljaž Kunc said. “I feel like we overlooked the fact that the last two seasons were bad.”
Kunc was Jones’ roommate during his first two years at Iowa State and saw
“[Jones] is a hard-working guy. He has always been like that,” former teammate Gabe Kalscheur said.
The loudness and hard work that Jones put in earned him the nickname “Big Rob Energy” which eventually turned into an NIL deal with Cyclone Fanatic and is still how he is introduced on the PA system at Hilton.
But he doesn’t become “Big Rob” when he touches the court; it is his lifestyle.
“He is just a chill-ass dude,” Kunc said. “He’s ‘Big Rob’ off the court as well just because he is a big presence.”
Different roles throughout the years
Outside of his more well-known presence on the court, Jones has taken on many roles over his three years at Iowa State. Each season, he started the year coming off the bench but has always seen an increase in playing time.
Whether it has been stepping up for an injured teammate or just needing a switch in the starting lineup, Jones has been the guy that Otzelberger constantly called on.
“I feel like that’s one of the best characteristics of Big Rob is being able to embrace the role, and whatever that role is, he is just always going to go out and give 100%,” Kunc said.
Upbringing responsible for Jones’ legacy
Jones credits his ability to keep going to the environment he was raised in. With two parents who played collegiate basketball and two younger brothers, it was hard not to be competitive growing up.
The countless pickup games, pickleball matches and family game nights are what gave him the competitive edge that he still holds on and off the court. That edge is what has made him who he is today and keeps him working every single day.
“Just knowing that I’m strong enough to fight through most obstacles in life and proving to myself that I’m able to do that is why I keep going,” Jones said.
Veterans Izaiah Brockington, George Conditt IV and Osun Osunniyi were all guys who taught Jones what it was like to be a leader.
Especially with Jones being so familiar with Otzelberger’s system and expectations, he knew that when he returned for one more year, he would need to step up as a leader.
Aside from being the place where he received his degree, Iowa State will always be a place where Jones shares lifetime memories and relationships. Just as equally unforgettable is the path that got him where he is now.
Some may look back at Jones’ stats and underestimate his impact during his three seasons at Iowa State. But what fans can’t overlook is the amount of love that he has shown towards Cyclone Nation since stepping on campus in 2021.
firsthand the work ethic and competitiveness once he got on campus. Kunc always saw the chip that Jones had on his shoulder coming from a mid-major program, which translated into the dedication he put into the team.
Kunc remembered times when he was getting his treatment done after his lifts and he heard echoes of Jones throughout the facility.
“All you can hear from across the door is Rob,” Kunc said. “Screaming, yelling and pumping that weight and pushing everybody.”
Jones didn’t just push his teammates in the weight room; it was everywhere. The fact that a 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward was winning sprints on the soccer field made his teammates work even harder.
“I feel like Rob is definitely a good example of showing others how he handles himself when it comes to work, when it comes to treatment and just doing stuff to be successful,” Kunc said.
It was in his first year at Iowa State that Jones learned how to become a true big man. He had all the pieces to do so, especially the mentality when it came to putting in the work.
But he didn’t change anything. Jones stayed true to himself and let his personality embrace his style of play.
“Just got to be physical and talk the most and be the loudest on the court and be able to take everybody through anything at any time,” Jones said.
Described by Kunc as “no days off Rob,” Jones was an immediate spark to the team during the early morning workouts. When it was 7 a.m. and everyone walked in sleepy, Jones was the one to bring the locker room together and get everyone locked in.
Jones developed a leadership role throughout his second year with the Cyclones and looked back on the great mentors he had along the way to guide him for what was to come. His willingness to be a leader showed both on and off the court towards the end of the 2021-22 season and was a stepping stone for how he would end his career at Iowa State.
“I saw it through the way he carried himself,” Kalscheur said. “He is able to continue to stay and work. Off the court too he did a great job of making sure we were able to do stuff off the court too and connect.”
“He is a no-questions-asked dude. If you need him to be that leader and be vocal, he is going to do that for you,” Kunc said.
“I knew it would be very important to hold that responsibility [to] show my teammates that ‘Hey, I’m that leader. I’m the one you can look at to know right from wrong. I’ll be here to support you and tear you down in a positive way as well,’” Jones said.
With nine new players joining the Cyclones in the 2023-24 season, Jones’ role as a leader became even more important. He couldn’t just come in as the veteran who knew everything and act like a leader. He needed to make his teammates believe he was worth following.
Jones learned from Brockington that to be a leader, he needed to bring the same juice and energy every day to earn the trust of his teammates.
“You can be a leader and say all that leadership stuff, but if no one behind you trusts what you’re saying, then your value as a leader goes way down,” Jones said.
DEFYING ALL ODDS
Paveletzke’s journey from unwanted to impact player
Written by Logan Shanks
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame may not scream power five guard, but the work that Jackson Paveletzke has put in from his childhood to collegiate career, all while being overlooked, has built a chip on his shoulder the whole world can see.
Coming out of Kimberly High School, Paveletzke had an impressive resume like other sought-after recruits. However, he was not given nearly as much attention as others due to his size.
Paveletzke trusted all the hard work he had put in growing up and, with his hall-of-fame
head coach, took a chance on himself at a mid-major school. His chip on his shoulder motivated him, as he wasn’t done chasing his dreams.
The sophomore guard instantly showed why he went from a zero-star prospect out of high school to a four-star transfer prospect when he touched the floor at Hilton. The fight and energy from his prep career prepared him for the adversity he would face at the next level, and he would continue to dismantle the mold others set for him.
Take it from Otzelberger himself—no one loves being a Cyclone more than “Big Rob.”
“That jersey means a lot to him; being a Cyclone means a whole bunch to him,” Otzelberger said. “I think [Jones], by many, has been undervalued for a long time, and he is showing everyone that hard work every day pays off.”
Robert Jones goes up and under in an attempt to score against New Hampshire at Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 31, 2023.
Photo by Tyler Coe
Robert Jones, pregame of the Iowa State vs. Eastern Illinois University men’s basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Dec. 21, 2023.
Photo by Jacob Rice
Jackson Paveletzke celebrates after a 3-pointer during the Iowa State vs West Virginia basketball game at Hilton Coliseum, Feb. 24, 2024.
Photo by Elizabeth Lane
Outworking others early on
Paveletzke hails from the basketball pipeline of Wisconsin, a state constantly producing talented players at the collegiate and professional levels. Growing up, all he knew was basketball.
His dad, John, who played collegiate basketball at a Division III school in Wisconsin, coached Paveletzke when he was young and instilled the mindset of wanting his son to be better than he ever was.
“He’s had a really big impact on my life, keeping me level-headed and giving me tips,” Paveletzke said. “Always encouraging me when I need it and he gets on me when need that too.”
Outside of his father, Paveletzke was blessed to be coached by Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association hall of famer Lucky Wurtz from the time he was in kindergarten to his junior year of high school.
Wurtz saw at a young age the work ethic and talent that Paveletzke had, based on his
ability to outwork and out-compete any other kid. No matter the size of the camp, Paveletzke was determined to set himself apart from the other kids.
During summer camps, which often were 90-minute workouts four times a week for five weeks, Paveletzke never missed a practice. The coaching staff gave out Gatorade to the kids who won one-on-ones and other drills; this is when it became clear to Wurtz that this kid was a winner.
“He would come out of there with eight to 10 Gatorades,” Wurtz said. “He’d be carrying them, and he would be giving a couple to kids that were hanging out. But he couldn’t even carry them out. He competed and won everything.”
A change of pace
While Paveletzke grew up dominating camps and developing through the Elite Youth Basketball League and AAU circuit, high school ball changed everything.
“At the beginning, I was going up and getting pinned,” Paveletzke said. Even in high school, Paveletzke was undersized, and despite all the work he had put in growing up, it looked like it was all for nothing. He didn’t make the varsity team for Kimberly his freshman year, which put a chip on his shoulder.
Wurtz’s plan wasn’t to upset Paveletzke by assigning him to JV, as he generally didn’t let freshmen play varsity. He emphasized helping develop his game and teaching him that his skills on the court would overshadow his small frame.
“I told him skills will trump,” Wurtz said. “I told him to develop what he can develop, and that’s what he did.”
Paveletzke worked on becoming an efficient scorer from every level, using his skill to work his way around defenders and protect the ball. Wurtz described him as intentional, and whether on the court, in the weight room or with the trainers, Paveletzke was always focused. The combination of Paveletzke’s work ethic and the chip he had on his shoulder earned
him a spot on the varsity squad his sophomore season. From there, he would go on to be one of the best players in program history at Kimberly.
Despite finally reaching the varsity level, Paveletzke never stopped working on his game. He would often grab his teammates after practice and games for extra shots with that chip on his shoulder and killer mentality constantly growing.
“I can rightfully say he was the best kid ever had,” Wurtz said.
During his junior year, he led Kimberly to the WIAA Division 1 State Championship where they fell to Wauwatosa East. This was the last game Wurtz coached for Kimberly, as he retired after 35 years of coaching.
Retiring before Paveletzke’s senior season is something Wurtz’s daughter constantly reminds him of and is a decision he will regret given how talented the Papermakers were when he left.
“He was sensational,” Wurtz said. “He was big time, and that is why [Wurtz’s daughter] thought it was dumb. I mean how can you coach that long and give up before his senior year?”
Paveletzke was left in good hands with Jon Murphy, another WBCA Hall of Famer with over 30 years of coaching under his belt.
Statistically, Paveletzke had his best season under Murphy, averaging 30 points per game. He set both the all-time scoring record (1,674) and the single-game scoring record (50) in his final season with the Papermakers, leading them to another state tournament appearance.
Undervalued as a recruit
Despite the multiple records and trips to the state tournament, Paveletzke’s prep career was not enough to outweigh the size concerns he had coming out of Kimberly.
According to 247 Sports, Paveletzke was a zero-star recruit following his senior season and only had a few options to survey for the next level.
“I felt a little disrespected,” Paveletzke said. “I worked really hard and I see that I’m an undersized guard, but that made me go even harder and want it even more.”
It was between two options for Paveletzke: Wofford or Saint Thomas. After learning how Wofford had developed other Wisconsin guards and made five NCAA tournament appearances in the last 12 years, he saw that it was the best fit for him.
Although it wasn’t at a high-major school, Paveletzke’s skills were at the forefront during his freshman season. He started to feel things coming together in a matchup with Texas A&M where he scored 22 points and displayed his ability to run the court at a high level.
“I really always thought I could do this, but that’s when I put everybody on notice,” Paveletzke said. “It was really just me being me.”
He finished the season starting all 33 games for the Terriers, averaging 15.1 points per game on 49.3% shooting from the field. He led all freshmen in the Southern Conference in scoring while also finishing with the third most assists in the conference.
These numbers made Paveletzke a shoo-in for Southern Conference freshman of the year and also earned him a spot on the All-Southern Conference third team. He felt all the hard work pay off when his assistant coach pulled him aside in practice to tell him about earning freshman of the year, as that was a goal he had set for himself before the season.
Even with one of the most talented players in the conference, Wofford failed to stand out as a team. Head coach Jay McAuley stepped down in December 2022 following a 5-4 start to the season.
Although Paveletzke envisioned spending his career at a school that believed in him when others ignored him, he felt it was best for him to search for other options.
Becoming an energy guy for Iowa State
After multiple meetings with head coach T.J. Otzelberger and assistant coach JR Blount, and of course a phone call with his father and coach Hurtz, Paveletzke decided to transfer to Iowa State.
Not only had he seen the success that other transfer guards had achieved at Iowa State, but the ideologies and culture that Otzelberger had, along with the recent NCAA tournament appearances, also piqued his interest.
“They were really persistent about getting me, showing me why I fit here and showing me love,” Paveletzke said. “I wanted to come into a winning program, make the NCAA Tournament and try and live out my dream.”
But coming to Iowa State meant carving out a new role and new teammates he needed to gain trust from.
Paveletzke was immediately challenged by returning sophomore point guard Tamin Lipsey on the first day of practice and showed why Otzelberger and his staff wanted him to be a Cyclone.
“We know Tamin is going to give you all he can give you at any given time,” Iowa State forward Robert Jones said. “Obviously [Lipsey] being another point guard, they were going at each other every day, and never once did he shy away from anything Tamin brought him.”
Jones trusted that Otzelberger was bringing Paveletzke in for a reason, but seeing that fight from him reassured Jones that he would add value to the team.
“The way he gets into the paint and plays for his teammates is outstanding,” Jones said.
“Especially at his size, the way he can get down in the paint and still see everybody is impressive.”
During his first season as a Cyclone, Paveletzke adopted an energy role much like Jones when he first came to Iowa State. This was new for him. He had always been the primary scorer, whether it was at Kimberly or Wofford. But being at Iowa State brought out that energy side of him that he showed at Kimberly, and Paveletzke began to embrace it heading into the 2023 season. He sees the impact it has on not only himself coming off the bench but also his teammates who need a spark.
“I always just try and go out there, spark the team and bring my best energy,” Paveletzke said. “Not only does it help me get myself going, but it kind of gets the guys around me going. I’m just trying to be the same guy every day.”
Jackson Paveletzke nearly converts an acrobatic two against Iowa at Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 7, 2023.
Photo by Tyler Coe
FRESHMAN ASCENT
How Audi Crooks rose to become the top freshman in Iowa State history
Written by Brett Twelmeyer
In a short amount of time, Audi Crooks has climbed to the top of the record books in multiple categories as a freshman at Iowa State.
A native of Algona, Iowa, Crooks played high school basketball at Bishop Garrigan, where she was a part of championship-caliber teams all four years. Bishop Garrigan won the 1A Iowa High School Girls basketball title in 2022 and 2023 and was runner-up the two previous years. Crooks broke the record for points scored in a state tournament game in the 2023 championship, where she scored 49 points. That record was set for all classes.
Crooks was honored as a team captain in her championship years at Bishop Garrigan. In her four years in the state tournament, Crooks was a four-time Class 1A All-Tournament Team member.
Other than basketball, Crooks played volleyball and threw the shot put in track and field in high school. Crooks won the Class 1A State Championship for shot put in 2021 and 2023.
Her success and dominance in high school caught the eye of many colleges early, including the head coach at Iowa State, Bill Fennelly. Crooks committed to Iowa State in April of her sophomore year at Bishop Garrigan.
“When I committed [to Iowa State], so many people told me that I couldn’t play,” Crooks said. “So many people said, ‘Oh, she won’t see the court time. She won’t even see the court,’ and here I am, starting for the Iowa State Cyclones.”
Many wondered if the high school version of Crooks would transfer to the collegiate level.
Crooks herself was a skeptic at times and explained what it took to get adjusted to the higher level of competition.
“A lot of hard work,” Crooks said. “A lot of hours spent, you know. This is a lifestyle change, when you go from high school to college athletics. It’s a completely different ballgame in terms of the way you train, the way you prepare. So I kind of had to shift my mindset and my body and adjust in a different way so that I could play to the caliber that I’m playing at now.”
Crooks was in the same situation as the other four freshmen for the 2023-2024 season because they all wanted to find their place and role on the team. Before her freshman campaign at Iowa State began, Crooks sat down and wrote out her goals for the season.
“I wrote to earn a starting role, to play significant minutes, to be effective from field goals and to be a better teammate. Those were my goals,” Crooks said.
Crooks would earn a spot in the starting five in the fifth game of the season against Syracuse. She made the most of it and scored 23 points in her 28 minutes of court time.
Since then, Crooks has become the permanent starter in the post, plays an average of 25 minutes per game and has a 58% field goal percentage. The goals she set at the beginning of the season have been checked off increasingly with time.
“We’re still working,” Crooks said. “I’m not satisfied by any means, but I’m a lot farther than think everybody thought I was going to be. Including myself.”
defensively, she matches up great with other post players.”
“[Crooks] wants to learn,” senior Nyamer Diew said. “She is a great person off the court. She brings energy and excitement. It’s fun to be around her and fun to be her teammate.”
Cyclone fans have embraced that energy every night Crooks plays at Hilton Coliseum. Crooks can be seen smiling and being a positive influence as she runs up and down the court after nearly every play.
Her personality shines through off the court wherever she goes. In the community, Crooks has gotten recognition and praise from many people.
“Audi’s everywhere,” Fennelly said. “When she walks in a room, it isn’t too long and the room is coming to Audi. She went down to the State Tournament and within 20 minutes, there’s a whole section of people that want to talk to her, want to get her autograph. Her personality just fits who she is and she doesn’t shy away from it.”
Crooks has quickly risen to become the face of the current Iowa State women’s basketball roster. In all, Crooks said it comes down to her becoming the best version of herself in all aspects of the game, as a player and a person.
“I focus less on proving others wrong than I do proving myself right,” Crooks said. “I knew that this was something that I wanted to do, and I knew that come hell or high water, I was going to do it.”
‘SHE’S A CYCLONE TO THE BONE’
Arianna Jackson continues her family legacy at Iowa State
Written by Brett Twelmeyer
Soon after she became a starter, Crooks became the focal point of the Cyclones with her ability to score and defend inside. Before long, the first Big 12 Freshman of the Week honor went her way.
Crooks added more awards to her resume, with more Freshman of the Week honors and a couple of Big 12 Player of the Week awards. Not only did she get the attention of the conference, she inched closer to records held by former Iowa State players.
In February, Crooks passed two long-standing Iowa State records. She broke the record for most field goals made by an Iowa State freshman (previously 163) and most points scored by an Iowa State freshman (previously 460).
“I didn’t expect anything,” Crooks said. “I definitely didn’t expect to be breaking records my first year, let alone starting, playing and contributing in a significant way. So it’s gone a lot better than I would have anticipated.”
After all of the success in her first year at Iowa State, Crooks said the mental aspects were the most difficult parts of the transition to college. She added that there are higher expectations for college athletes than there were in high school.
Crooks’ teammates spoke highly of the type of impact she has had on the team this season.
“Huge impact,” freshman Arianna Jackson said. “If [Crooks] stats haven’t shown what they have so far, I don’t know what could.”
“She’s been great,” freshman Kelsey Joens said. “You can always count on her inside. She’s really good around the basket, and then also
Crooks’ season can be summed up with the word she uses everyday at practice: growth. She said it represents getting better and improving as a player, teammate and person.
“She is who she is,” Fennelly said. “She’s proud of it and she’s not going to change who she is and I think that’s a good thing.”
Arianna Jackson is the latest of her family members to be a part of Iowa State University.
Her father, Hezekhia, played football at Iowa State under Dan McCarney, where he met Jackson’s mother, Cory, who also graduated from Iowa State. Jackson’s brother, Kendell, played football under Matt Campbell as a walkon and graduated last year.
Jackson joined her brother as the second of her siblings to don an Iowa State jersey.
For Jackson, the decision to play at Iowa State was an easy one. Being raised in a Cyclone household influenced her choice of where to play college basketball.
“I kind of wanted to stay close to home,” Jackson said. “My family is a huge support system. Watching my brother go through the football experience here, I knew Iowa State was a great place.”
Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly had already known the Jackson family well before she chose to play at Iowa State. Fennelly expressed what it meant to him to know their family and to be able to coach someone like Jackson.
“We’ve known her a long time,” Fennelly said.
“She’s a Cyclone to the bone. If you cut her, it’s cardinal and gold coming out of her. Her family is that way.”
A Des Moines native, Jackson played her high school career at Roosevelt, where she was honored as the 2023 Iowa Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game MVP and a fourtime Iowa Print Sports Writers Association All-
State member. Jackson was also a three-time selection to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State team, including a first-team selection in 2023.
Along with being Roosevelt’s starting point guard, Jackson ran cross country and played AAU basketball for the All Iowa Attack. She said the level of competition on the AAU circuit helped her become a better player.
“AAU, seeing that competition, the physicality, the aggressiveness, the size, the speed, just anything like that has helped me be ready to play in the Big 12,” Jackson said. Jackson received offers from Drake, Michigan, Illinois State, Creighton and Iowa State, where she ultimately decided to commit in her sophomore year of high school. Being able to stay close to home while continuing her academic and athletic career was important to Jackson in her decision. Add in her family ties to Iowa State, and the decision was a no-brainer.
Jackson was one of five freshmen to be a part of the 2023-24 Iowa State women’s basketball team. The bond between the five was formed well before the season began.
Now, the group is nearly inseparable, as they spend time together away from basketballrelated activities and have classes together. When asked about their friendship, all of the freshmen said they clicked immediately when they first met and that relationship has since grown with time.
The Iowa State women’s basketball team celebrates after Iowa State defeats Baylor 66-63 at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 13, 2024.
Photo by Tyler Coe
Audi Crooks gets the crowd standing during the Iowa State vs. Kansas State basketball game at Hilton Coliseum, Feb. 14, 2024
Photo by Elizabeth Lane
Arianna Jackson shoots a 3-point attempt over Iowa guard Caitlin Clark during the Iowa State vs. Iowa match, Hilton Coliseum, Dec. 6, 2023.
Photo by Matteo Bender
All five freshmen did not know the parts they would play in the team. Different lineups early in the season made it clear that the identity of the team was still not yet discovered.
Early on, Jackson was thrust into an extended role on the team due to the absence of senior Emily Ryan. The first start of Jackson’s collegiate career Nov. 6 was also her first game as Iowa State hosted Butler.
“She got thrown into a really tough spot,” Ryan said. “She handles it so well. That’s the big thing, is she’s so even-keeled. Even if things aren’t going great, she just keeps chugging along and is focused on making the next play. That’s something that shows a lot of maturity for someone so young.”
With Ryan returning midway through the Big 12 slate, the starting five shifted game-to-game to find a lineup that fit.
Toward the end of the regular season, Jackson and Ryan have started together.
Throughout non-conference play, Jackson continued to gain experience and learn the tendencies of her teammates. Her defense quickly became the highlight of her play style and is what she is most proud of in her on-court efforts.
“I knew she’d impact our team, but not like how she is,” Fennelly said. “She’s our best defender, and we’re playing her at different spots.”
Her first breakout game came on the road against Oklahoma State, where she scored her then-season-high 14 points and went 4-of-6 from three. Not only was that game important from a performance standpoint, but Jackson’s family made the trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to see her play.
Her family was also in Memphis a few days prior to watch the Iowa State football team play its bowl game at the Liberty Bowl. Before
her freshman year and she said she has seen improvement in herself as the season went on.
“I definitely did not expect to be where I am right now. I think my confidence has grown a lot throughout the season, and I feel like I’m becoming more of an experienced player,” Jackson said.
Off the court, Jackson has taken a big role in the community and in the classroom. She has used her platform and NIL deals to do good for others, including events such as the meet-andgreet that the Iowa State NIL partner, We Will Collective, put on when the Cyclones’ game against TCU was canceled.
With her NIL deals, Jackson set up a fundraiser to help raise money for Unified Sports at her high school, Roosevelt, where she would match every dollar donated up to $750. The goal of $750 was smashed in one weekend and $3,025 was raised in total.
Fennelly emphasized that Jackson is this way because of her family. He said that being around people who celebrate the success of others and help them achieve that success is what makes his job meaningful.
making the trip back to Iowa, they decided to travel over five hours west to see her play.
“It was nice to have them there, especially for my first conference game on the road,” Jackson said. “They try to make it to as many games as possible.”
In games at Hilton Coliseum, Jackson’s family is always there to support her and cheer on the Cyclones. The support the Jackson family has for each other and Iowa State travels across the country, proven by the last-minute decision to travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Jackson’s role in the team has shifted but stayed familiar to the beginning of
the Cyclones’ all-time leading scorer (3,060) and rebounder (1,391). She also became the 14th Division I women’s basketball player to reach a career milestone of 3,000 points.
Ashley Joens also earned the honor of Big 12 Player of the Year following the end of the 2022-23 season and ended up being the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship Most Outstanding Player following Iowa State’s conferenceclinching win in the championship game against Texas.
Ashley Joens’ career at Iowa State will undoubtedly be one of the better performances ever by a player to wear cardinal and gold for as long as the program exists.
While Aubrey Joens did not make as big of an impact in her two seasons as a Cyclone, she still played a big part in Iowa State’s resurgence in the 2021-22 season before leaving for a bigger role on Oklahoma’s team.
Kelsey Joens believes that without her sisters’ accomplishments at Iowa State, she might not have even considered Iowa State as a potential place to continue her playing career.
“[Jackson] is the kind of person that that’s why people like me do what I do for a living,” Fennelly said. “This young person is going to demonstrate what a quality kid can become. She’s impacted our school already.”
The freshman campaign for Arianna Jackson has been nothing short of impactful both on and off the court. She has proven to be a difference maker both ways.
“She works so hard, and being able to help her as much as I can and just see the way she’s developed has been so fun,” Ryan said. “Couldn’t happen to a better person.”
LEGACY
How Kelsey Joens plans to cement her own legacy at Iowa State
Written by Pavle Markovic
Following her commitment to Iowa State, Kelsey Joens knew the importance of her family name, as her family has been well known over the years, especially as Cyclones. Kelsey Joens followed in the footsteps of her older sisters, Ashley Joens and Aubrey Joens, who both preceded her as Cyclones. Ashley Joens played five seasons on the team from 2018 to 2023, while Aubrey Joens was on the roster from 2020 to 2022 before transferring to Oklahoma. While Kelsey Joens knows the comparisons to her sisters are inevitable, the 5-foot-10-inch guard from Iowa City, Iowa, is eager to make her own mark on the program.
Ashley Joens set multiple records in her five seasons at Iowa State, finishing her career as
“They help write my story a little bit,” Kelsey Joens said. “They help put Iowa State on the map for me.”
Coming out of West Liberty High School, Kelsey Joens had accomplished something that was not only unique for her family of basketball stars—it had never been done by any athlete from her school.
That accomplishment was being named the Gatorade Iowa Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season, in which she averaged 24.6 points per game, 11.9 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game and four steals per game.
Shared experiences at Iowa State—both on the team and as students—gave the sisters another thing to bond over.
“It’s a dream come true,” Kelsey Joens said. “My sisters have done it and have been through it, and wanted to do the same thing. It’s pretty cool to share this experience with them and talk about what classes we had and what buildings they were in. It also helps to know the same people.”
Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly had the opportunity to coach both Ashley and Aubrey Joens during their time at Iowa State, and now he looks ahead to coaching up Kelsey Joens to make her potentially the next great Joens.
Fennelly knows Kelsey Joens does not want to settle for the standards set by her sisters. Fennelly believes Kelsey Joens wants to rise above her sisters and become the best Joens to come out of Iowa State.
“She’s a very driven kid,” Fennelly said. “She probably would say she wants to be the best Joens and not just known as another Joens.”
When comparing Ashley and Kelsey Joens, Fennelly sees completely different players who play with different styles, as well as seeing the different personalities that they each have.
Fennelly has already seen Kelsey Joens’ commitment to the team with the amount of time spent trying to reach the level she is trying to reach, which only gives her a leg up on the competition.
“She’s one of those kids that spends a lot of time in the gym because she wants to get better and doesn’t want to talk about getting better,” Fennelly said.
With some players having the talk but not walking the walk, Fennelly sees that Kelsey Joens is not one to boast about her talents and believes that she can take on any challenge that comes her way.
“Most of them want to say they can get better and want to do the other part, but Kelsey is one of those kids who is willing to put in the work to get better and accepts the challenges in front of her,” Fennelly said.
Forward Nyamer Diew is entering her third year as a Cyclone. In three years, Diew has had the opportunity to play with all three of the Joens sisters and sees how Kelsey Joens upholds her family name just from her work ethic.
“You can tell she’s a Joens by the way she works,” Diew said.
Diew was an integral part of Iowa State’s path to win the Big 12 title a year ago, as she now looks ahead to being a veteran leader on a team that looks much different than previous years.
Iowa State’s roster was nearly wiped clean following the end of the 2022-23 season, as players either decided to enter the transfer portal or wanted to continue their journey in the WNBA.
Diew was one of the few who decided to stick around and help lead the young team and build it into something greater.
With Kelsey Joens being one of the potential pieces for the future of Iowa State, it comes with having a great relationship with the team and her abilities on the court.
Diew mentioned how, in their short time together as teammates, Kelsey Joens has
brought nothing but good energy and fun times since joining the team.
“She’s always happy, she brings high energy and is overall a great teammate,” Diew said. Diew can see the potential for Kelsey Joens to be something more than just being another Joens sister, as she belie ves that Kelsey Joens could make a name for herself.
“Kelsey knows that she can cement her own legacy here and knows that it’ll take a lot of work and hours to put in and grind out, but I know she’s capable of doing it,” Diew said. Even with Ashley Joens’ many records for Iowa State, Kelsey Joens is confident that she can one day surpass her records and become the best Joens sister to come out of the program.
“Ashley set a lot of records, and I’m gonna go out there and try and break them,” Kelsey Joens said. “She did really well here and made a name for herself, but I’m not the same person as her. I’m a completely different player who’s trying to make a name for myself and not be in her shadow.”
Kelsey Joens looks to get past the defender against T roy University at Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 17, 2023.
Photo by Tyler Coe
Kelsey Joens attempts a 3-pointer during the Iowa State vs. Southern women’s basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Nov. 20, 2023.
Photo by Josue Aleman
Arianna Jackson at Iowa State women’s basketball media day, Sukup Basketball Complex, Oct. 12, 2023.
Photo by Jacob Rice
