Jan 5, 2019; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tyrese Haliburton (22) reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
For the first time since 2000, a former Iowa State star has been picked in the NBA Draft lottery.
Tyrese Haliburton was taken by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 12 pick in Wednesday night’s virtual festivities, becoming the first Cyclone to be taken in the lottery since Marcus Fizer was taken No. 4 overall in 2000. Haliburton, a two-year star in Ames, is the program’s fourth lottery selection, joining Zaid Abdul-Aziz in 1968, Jeff Grayer in 1988 and Fizer.
Iowa State has had at least one player taken in four of the last five NBA Drafts with Haliburton being the first to go in the first round. He is the second member of Iowa State’s 2018 signing class to be picked, joining Talen Horton-Tucker, who was taken No. 46 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019.
Haliburton, a native of Oshkosh, Wis., was a three-star recruit rated as the No. 172 player in the country by the 247Composite when he signed with the Cyclones. He went on to start 56 of his 57 collegiate games, averaging 10.1 points, 4.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
He was an instrumental piece of Iowa State’s 2019 Big 12 Tournament championship team and won a gold medal with USA’s U19 team at the FIBA World Cup in August 2019.
Haliburton joins a franchise that has struggled in recent seasons but has a solid young core in guard DeAaron Fox and forward Marvin Bagley. He will also join former Ames High star Harrison Barnes.
The next NBA season is scheduled to tip-off on Dec. 22.
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic tonight for much more on this story.
