RECRUITING: Cyclones extend first offers in 2023 cycle

Just hours after landing their third commitment of the 2022 recruiting cycle, T.J. Otzelberger and his staff have turned their attention towards the 2023 class.

Iowa State has extended its first scholarship of the 2023 cycle by offering five-star forward Omaha Billiew, a source told Cyclone Fanatic on Monday. Billiew, considered one of the top-10 prospects in the 2023 class, was a member of Waukee’s Class 4A state championship squad this past season and will play his junior year at Montverde Academy in Florida.

Additionally, the Cyclones extended an offer to Rolling Meadows, Ill. guard Cameron Christie. The 6-foot-3, 160-pound shooting guard already has five other Power 5 offers, including Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan State.

Christie’s older brother, Max, was a five-star member of Michigan State’s 2021 recruiting class.

The Cyclones’ pursuit of Billiew will be an interesting one to follow, especially after his transfer out of state to play prep school ball. Considered the No. 2 player in the country and No. 1 power forward by the 247Composite, Billiew now holds nine scholarship offers with the others being from Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan Nebraska and Western Kentucky.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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