Honestly, if you looked at the recruiting rankings back in 2018, you probably wouldn’t have found Tyrese Haliburton’s name anywhere near the top. He wasn't some blue-chip phenom with a million followers. He was basically a lanky kid from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with a jumper that looked a bit "broken" to the untrained eye. So, where did Tyrese Haliburton go to college? He landed at Iowa State University, and it's probably the best thing that ever happened to the Cyclones' program in recent memory.
He wasn't even supposed to play much. Seriously.
The No-Star Recruit Nobody Wanted
Most people don't realize that Haliburton was essentially a "zero-star" recruit for a long time. While guys like Zion Williamson were dunking through rims on national TV, Tyrese was just trying to get noticed at Oshkosh North High School. Even after leading his team to a state title, the big-name schools weren't exactly knocking down his door. He eventually got slapped with a three-star rating, but even that felt like an afterthought.
When he finally stepped onto the campus in Ames, Iowa, the plan was actually to redshirt him. The coaching staff thought he needed a year to put on weight—he was listed at a rail-thin 170 pounds. But talent is hard to hide. By the second game of his freshman season, he was in the starting lineup.
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He didn't just start; he broke records.
Breaking the Cyclone Record Books
In December of his freshman year, Haliburton did something that made everyone in the Big 12 stop and stare. In a game against Southern, he dished out 17 assists. 17. That broke a school record held by Eric Heft that had stood since 1974. What’s even crazier? He only had one turnover in that game. That’s the kind of efficiency that makes NBA scouts drool, even if they weren't fully sold on his shooting form yet.
He finished that first year averaging 6.8 points and 3.6 assists. Not "superstar" numbers, but his shooting splits were absurd—50% from the field and 41% from deep. He was basically the ultimate "glue guy" who happened to be the smartest player on the floor.
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The Sophomore Leap and the Injury
By his sophomore year (2019-20), the secret was out. Tyrese wasn't just a facilitator anymore; he was a flat-out star. He bumped his scoring up to 15.2 points per game and was leading the Big 12 in assists and steals. He even dropped a triple-double on TCU—22 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. It was only the sixth triple-double in Iowa State history.
Then, disaster struck.
During a game against Kansas State in February 2020, Tyrese fractured his left wrist. Just like that, his college career was over. He had played 22 games that season, and while the injury sucked, he had already done enough. He proved that his high IQ and "funky" shot were more than enough to dominate the college level.
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Why Iowa State Was the Perfect Fit
Looking back, Iowa State was the perfect place for him because it allowed him to be himself. They didn't try to change his mechanics. They let him run the show. He was an Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, too, showing that his "Point God" brain worked just as well in the classroom.
Despite the injury, he declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. He famously said that when he submitted his name to the NBA advisory committee, the feedback was split: 33% first round, 33% second round, and 33% undrafted. He took those 66% odds of being a pro and ran with it. The Sacramento Kings eventually took him 12th overall, and the rest is history.
The Impact Today
If you watch him now leading the Indiana Pacers or winning gold with Team USA, you see the exact same player who roamed the court at Hilton Coliseum. The vision. The joy. The weird-but-effective jumper. Iowa State fans still claim him as one of their own, and for good reason—he's arguably the most successful pro the school has ever produced.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Players:
- Study the Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: If you’re a young guard, stop looking at points. Haliburton became a lottery pick because he took care of the ball and made his teammates better.
- Don't Stress the Rankings: Being a "three-star" recruit didn't stop him from becoming an All-NBA player. Focus on development, not stars.
- Visit Ames: If you're a basketball junkie, catching a game at Hilton Coliseum is a bucket-list item. The atmosphere there helped mold Tyrese into the leader he is today.