Mar 18, 2022; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tyrese Hunter (11) reacts after making a three-point basket against XXX in the first half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
After a weekend of swirling rumors, the other shoe has dropped.
Iowa State guard Tyrese Hunter announced on Monday he’s entering the transfer portal. The move is not overly shocking after the rumors of the weekend, but that doesn’t make it any less impactful on the immediate future of Iowa State basketball.
The Racine, Wis. native was expected to be the centerpiece of the program moving forward under head coach T.J. Otzelberger and proved why during a freshman campaign that saw him named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and help Iowa State reach its first Sweet 16 since 2016.
Hunter started all 35 games for Iowa State as a freshman, finishing second on the team averaging 11.0 points and a team-high 4.9 assists per game. He broke the single-season program record for assists (172) and steals (71) by a freshman.
The lasting image of Hunter in a Cyclone uniform will be his remarkable 23-point performance in the program’s NCAA Tournament first-round win over LSU in which he knocked down 7-of-11 shots from behind the 3-point line to shock the Tigers.
Rated as the No. 35 player in the 2021 recruiting class by 247, Hunter originally committed to former Iowa State head coach Steve Prohm before reaffirming his commitment to the program last spring after Otzelberger took the reigns.
Iowa State will now recalibrate its offseason plans with four open scholarships (with one of those expected to be filled by COVID-year eligible guard Gabe Kalscheur).
The Cyclones have already landed commitments from Temple transfer guard Jeremiah Williams and VCU transfer forward Hason Ward.
The program will host Ohio transfer forward Ben Vander Plas for a visit later this week and Wright State transfer forward Grant Basile later this month.
Unless a new transfer target emerges ahead of the May 1 deadline to be eligible immediately next season, Williams and incoming freshman Tamin Lipsey will be the favorites to share the majority of the point guard and ball-handling duties next winter.
Stay tuned for more on this story.
