Basketball

From the Valley to Ames: Cyclones hope Heise’s relentless defense can play big role

Iowa State guard Nate Heise talks to media during an interview at the Sukup Practice Complex on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

AMES – When Nate Heise entered the transfer portal following his fourth season at Northern Iowa, he jumped at the opportunity to remain in the state of Iowa and play his final season of college basketball with Iowa State.

“He’s going to be fun to watch,” said Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team is expected to be ranked in the preseason top-10. “He’s fun to have in practice every day. We challenge him and he rises to that challenge.”

Heise averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season. The Minnesota native added 18 blocks while shooting 35.6 percent from the 3-point line.

“I think it’s right place-right time, because a decade ago, I’d be done with college right now,” Heise said. ” It worked out well for me that I had a couple of extra years to play and an opportunity when I was in the (transfer) portal to come here. It was kind of a no-brainer for me.”

Heise spent four years under UNI coach Ben Jacobson, something that is evident in the way he’s practiced as he’s transitioned to Iowa State’s program.

“We’re fortunate that when he comes into our program, he’s got so many great habits that coach Jacobson built with him,” Otzelberger said. “And then he has all of those competitive things that he brings to the table every single day.”

That experience has elevated the Iowa State program already.

“He’s really elevated the play overall and the competitive spirit within our building, because he’s been very well coached at Northern Iowa,” Otzelberger said. “He had a tremendous coach in Ben Jacobson. He’s been very well schooled.”

At UNI, Heise earned third-team all-MVC honors in his final season with program and helped the Panthers to the 2022 NIT.

He thinks playing in the Missouri Valley Conference helped prepare him for what he’ll see this season in the Big 12.

“I think the Valley, compared to a lot of the other mid-major conferences is more similar to the Big 12 than most of them I would say,” Heise said. “Just because of the physicality and stuff like that.”

Otzelberger described Heise as a fierce competitor.

It’s a trait he’s built in himself, going back to his youth basketball days.

Having a sister, Taylor, who won women’s college hockey’s version of the Heisman Trophy (the Patty Kazmaier Award) two years ago, didn’t hurt either.

“Ever since I was a little kid – after tournaments we would lose at, I’d have a meltdown a lot of times,” Heise said. “That competitiveness started at a young age with siblings or competition at times.”

That competitiveness translates to his prowess on the defensive side of the ball, something he had to develop at UNI in order to see the floor.

“It was weird, because in high school, it really wasn’t what I was known for. I really didn’t play that good of defense,” Heise said. “I think it was more of a choice at that time. When I got to college, it was how I was going to get on the court. I wanted to play as much as I could, so I knew that was the way.

“After a while, I kind of picked up on it pretty quick and realized that I had the athleticism and the capabilities physically to do it,” Heise continued. “Then it just came with learning some instincts, figuring that out and putting an emphasis on that.”

The 6-foot-5, 212-pounder rose to that challenge as Otzelberger and his staff hope he can do in Ames.

It’s something that assistant coach Kyle Green saw firsthand while he was on staff with the Panthers during Heise’s earlier seasons.

“He wants to guard the other team’s best player,” Otzelberger said. “He’s proven always to get rebounds, loose ball, and make-effort based plays. Physically he likes to win his matchup.”

If Iowa State can use him as they want to, he’ll see the court a lot.

There aren’t many players – especially transfers – that come in for one season and can be utilized with versatility, but Heise fits that mold.

“He’s somebody that has great versatility out there,” Otzelberger said. “He can play with a lot of lineups and a lot of combinations.”

It could be just the piece that Iowa State needs to take the next step as program, but both parties will say they’re taking it one day at a time.

If Heise continues to rise to those challenges set by the Iowa State staff, they’ll have a tough time keeping him off the floor.

“He’s been a huge positive for us and we’re going to continue to demand that that stays true going forward,” Otzelberger said.

@cyclonefanatic