One of the top recruiting classes in the history of Iowa State men’s basketball will officially begin coming into the fold on Wednesday. It is the start of the early signing period for collegiate sports and three of the Cyclones’ four commits are slated to sign their National Letters of Intent on Wednesday or Thursday while the fourth has not made an official announcement, but is expected to sign in the early period.
Here’s a quick look at each of Iowa State’s four expected signees.
Zion Griffin, Power Forward, Darien, Ill.
Griffin became the first 2018 prospect to join Iowa State’s class when he announced his commitment on Sept. 12. At the time, the 6-foot-6, 208-pound power forward was regarded as one of the top-60 players nationally, but he has seen his ratings dip in recent weeks.
Currently, Griffin is a four-star prospect ranked as the No. 133 player in the class by 247Composite. The Hinsdale South High School product, who chose Iowa State over Kansas, Illinois, Pittsburgh and a host of others, is regarded as the No. 5 player from Illinois.
Griffin has a college-ready body with a solid handle and strong finishing ability near the rim. He is explosive with a quick first step and is capable of filling it up from each level of the court offensively.
He will sign his letter of intent on Wednesday.
Tyrese Haliburton, Point Guard, Oshkosh, Wis.
The 6-foot-5, 170-pound three-star joined Iowa State’s class on Sept. 19 over other finalists Cincinnati, Minnesota, Northern Iowa and Nebraska. Haliburton is the No. 150 player in the 2018 class by 247Composite.
Rated as the No. 30 point guard in the class, Haliburton brings a unique frame to the floor general spot. At 6-foot-5, the Oshkosh North product has long arms and nice athleticism that makes him a difficult matchup on both ends of the court.
Haliburton, who is planning to sign in a ceremony at his high school Thursday evening, brings an ability to shoot from range while also being able to create shots consistently for his teammates. The No. 5 player in Wisconsin will need time to add strength to his frame, but he has high upside down the road for Steve Prohm’s program.
George Conditt, Power Forward, Chicago, Ill.
Conditt’s recruitment exploded over the summer after the Corliss High School product sprouted up to 6-foot-10. Rated as the No. 132 player in the class by 247, Conditt could have as much upside down the road as any player in Iowa State’s class.
He is skilled in the paint and has nice timing as a shot blocker defensively. The No. 3 player in Illinois is also capable of stepping outside the arc to do some damage on the perimeter. He moves well in his 6-foot-10 frame despite going through a massive growth spurt earlier this year.
Conditt chose Iowa State over Illinois, New Mexico and a handful of others and now projects as Prohm’s big man of the future. He is expected to sign his letter of intent on Wednesday.
Talen Horton-Tucker, Small Forward, Chicago, Ill.
The final piece added to Iowa State’s 2018 class might be the crown jewel. The four-star Simeon Career Academy product is rated as the No. 128 player in the class by 247Composite and the No. 4 player in Illinois.
Horton-Tucker chose Iowa State over finalists Illinois and Xavier. He has not publicly announced when he intends to send in his letter of intent, but the No. 33 small forward in the class is expected to sign in the early period.
Horton-Tucker has high-major scoring ability from each level and a solid handle that helps him get wherever he wants on the court. At 6-foot-5, 210-pounds, he has a college-ready body and along with Griffin projects as a player who can contribute immediately in 2018-19.
