Jan 28, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UNLV Runnin’ Rebels guard Keshon Gilbert (10) dribbles around Nevada Wolf Pack guard Kenan Blackshear (13) in the second half at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
There is one thing that jumps out to me when you turn the tape on and watch new Iowa State commit, UNLV transfer guard, Keshon Gilbert.
Speed, speed and speed.
The 6-foot-4 St. Louis native is fast turning the corner off of screens. He’s fast in transition. He’s fast defensively. He’s just fast.
He plays fast getting downhill toward the rim and is a strong finisher at the rack with the ability to convert through contact. He’s an explosive leaper which gives him the ability to finish over the top of bigger defenders after utilizing his speed and quickness to attack help defenders in the pick and roll.
Perhaps the most refreshing part of his game is his ability to score in spot up situations, which ranked in the 94th percentile last season with a 1.25 points per possession average. He’s smooth with the catch-and-shoot in addition to having the ability to knock down shots off the dribble.
He’s even efficient at the charity stripe, where he shot 79.8 percent last season on 94 attempts. He would’ve been Iowa State’s team-leader in percentage and followed only Jaren Holmes in attempts.
There is more work to be done for Iowa State’s 2023 transfer class, but this is a very good start. The former Mountain West Freshman of the Year has all the tools to be a very good player for Iowa State in the Big 12.
He’s got the athleticism and strength needed and he’s got some knockdown shooting ability that has been lacking in Ames in recent seasons.
Sign me up.
More Musings
*** I wouldn’t be surprised to see more Iowa State basketball transfer recruiting news in the not so distant future. That’s all I’m gonna say about that.
*** I went through and updated the Big 12 standings based on projected T-Rank after the last few weeks of attrition and transfer portal additions. Remember, this is all based on projected returning and added production. I went through the first rankings in this column a few weeks ago. Here’s where they stand after two weeks of portal news:
- Houston
- Kansas
- Baylor
- Iowa State
- Oklahoma State
- Cincinnati
- Texas
- Texas Tech
- BYU
- West Virginia
- Kansas State
- TCU
- Oklahoma
- UCF
*** Baylor guard LJ Cryer’s transfer to Houston is the most significant Big 12 transfer news of the offseason — so far. He was a legitimate candidate for preseason Big 12 Player of the Year after averaging 15.0 points per game for the Bears this season.
Well, I guess he still is a candidate for preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. He’s exactly the kind of replacement Kelvin Sampson needed for Marcus Sasser and will fit in nicely alongside Jamal Shead.
The Cougars will likely be one of the five best teams in the country next year.
*** The second biggest transfer news of the offseason so far belongs to West Virginia and Bob Huggins for landing Arizona point guard Kerr Krisa, who was one of the best floor generals in the portal. He’s an elite playmaker and shooter with a bit of a mean streak. Sounds like a Bob Huggins type of guard.
*** No offense to DePaul, but why can’t Iowa State get a marquee game in one of its league’s annual non-conference events? I’m not saying Iowa State needs to go on the road and play defending national champion UConn, but it feels like it has been years since Iowa State got a genuinely exciting match-up from the Big East or SEC events.
Creighton visiting Hilton Coliseum would be big-time television. Iowa State visiting its longtime feeder school Marquette would be fantastic. Hopefully, things like that will happen in the next iteration of the league without Texas or Oklahoma.
*** Georges Niang and the Philadelphia 76ers will start their NBA Playoffs run this Saturday when they open their first round series against Brooklyn. Unfortunately, he’s the only former Cyclone with a shot to win a ring this season.
