MBB: 2026 Guard Marcus Zelee Commits to Iowa State

[heitclone]

That’s not what I’m saying at all. Usually TJ has his targets lined up well in advance. This kid gets an offer fairly late in the process compared to most recruits we’ve seen. That leads me to believe either some of the current players on the roster aren’t as good as they hoped, the other commits aren’t as good as they hoped, or someone like Mason Williams isn’t going to recover 100%. Or maybe this kid just blew up and we couldn’t pass on him.

This just seems a little out of the ordinary from our usual recruiting.

We have to take another HS recruit bc we aren't going to fill a roster of portal players. HS players are cheaper, we'll use a formula of 4/5 returning players, 3/4 transfers and then fill with HS players and hope 1 or 2 stick. We lost Moore so we needed another HS player to fill that spot.

 

[4theCYcle]

“I’m coming to win a Big 12 title — multiple times — and to make a deep run and win the NCAA Tournament. I’ll bring energy 24/7, on and off the court. I’m for the people and the city. And I WILL be the best version of myself every single day.”


Love this young man's attitude. Welcome home, Marcus! You're gonna love your new family!

Does this guy play football or basketball? That sounds like a Matt Campbell quote for football lol.

 

[SoleCyclone]

Or, they got to know the kid late in the process because he isn't a high caliber guy (especially in Texas where the staff doesn't have a ton of connections). Got a tip to take a look at him, and fell in love late.

No idea based on highlights if the kid can play basketball, but every clip is him being an absolute junkyard dog. He will do just fine in Ames.

This. Im not a huge *'s guy, but a 2026 recruit pretty late in the cycle with 0* or ranking is quite head scratching. I imagine now that he's committed to a power conference program that will change.
Also, in before the crazies come after me with the Bennett Stirtz's of the world

 

[Frak]

All fair... but Macari Moore decommitting late in the spring as a result of taking Toure changed the staff's plan. I assume the staff wanted 2 PG in this years class to be prepared for when Tamin leaves and I can see the staff now doubling up on next years PG/CG takes to have options.

I guess my impression was that after finding Toure, they told Moore to look elsewhere. I do agree that you can never have enough good guards. They are only returning Batemon, Toure and a recovering Williams. So, there's a need. It just seems a little strange and out of the ordinary. That said, I don't really follow the AAU circuit, so maybe he just kind of blew up.

 

[LLCoolCY]

I guess my impression was that after finding Toure, they told Moore to look elsewhere. I do agree that you can never have enough good guards. They are only returning Batemon, Toure and a recovering Williams. So, there's a need. It just seems a little strange and out of the ordinary. That said, I don't really follow the AAU circuit, so maybe he just kind of blew up.

Saw Zelee just got a Arizona St offer and mentioned Nebraska and Colorado St were looking to have him visit. He must have impressed a recent tourney and was getting high major attention.
Who knows how it will work out but taking a lower rated recruit doesn't cost a lot of NIL only a back end scholarship for 1 year and then he and the staff can decide on his future. TJ has given walk on scholarships when earned so taking Zelee is at least that as a baseline and much more if he develops.

 

[Goclones1727]

Zelee's film/highlights look a bit stronger than Yusef Gray.
I also know Yusef has been struggling this summer on the circuit.
Hate to speculate - but wonder if this is a Macari Moore type of situation where Yusef may get or has already gotten recruited over?

 

[isucy86]

With the use of star rankings, athletes who develop younger tend to be the focus of coaches attention over kids who develop later. My guess is the staff likes his recent development and project a high upside.

Plus, having 2 starting PG's seems like TJ's preferred starting lineup. Since recruiting success is a numbers game, need to have 5 proven/potential/recruit PG's on the roster. Add to that 3 wings and 5 posts and that seems like pretty typical roster composition.

 

[Cyhig]

High energy and high effort kid? That's the type of player fans love seeing in Hilton

 

[CycloneT]

It's not late in the ******* cycle. There's 14 top 150 kids committed

 

[bozclone]

I really like his highlights. Not sure how to say it but he looks really balanced in everything he does. Very under control but athletic.

 

[helechopper]

You can tell Zelee has the frame to put on a lot of muscle, so I predict him becoming like your typical Houston guard, tough, can defend, and strong.

 

[NATEizKING]

Had plenty of guys blow up, Toure being one. People talking about him getting minutes this year and climbed the rankings a lot.

 

[Frak]

It's not late in the ******* cycle. There's 14 top 150 kids committed

Yes, it’s late in the cycle. Not to get a commit, but to START recruiting someone. It is what it is.

 

[Malone]

I guess my impression was that after finding Toure, they told Moore to look elsewhere. I do agree that you can never have enough good guards. They are only returning Batemon, Toure and a recovering Williams. So, there's a need. It just seems a little strange and out of the ordinary. That said, I don't really follow the AAU circuit, so maybe he just kind of blew up.

Nelson.

Otherwise agreed

 

[CycloneT]

Yes, it’s late in the cycle. Not to get a commit, but to START recruiting someone. It is what it is.

It's junior year on the AAU circuit not senior year of high school. Staffs across the country are sending out offers all the time for 2026 prospects. Kids hit growth spurts, get bigger roles, switch AAU teams. There's tons of reasons coaches could switch their projections

 

[iseedit]

Just curious why people get bothered by when a kid gets recruited/offered or how many stars he has or doesn't have? You can clearly see from the videos the kid has talent and has a lot of potential. Not sure you can teach those fast hands he has on stealing the ball.

 

[LLCoolCY]

Nelson.

Otherwise agreed

Nelson's eligibility is after next year is unknown. I believe the staff is planning with Nelson being here only this year and adjust if his appeal to the NCAA gets granted.

 

[Frak]

Just curious why people get bothered by when a kid gets recruited/offered or how many stars he has or doesn't have? You can clearly see from the videos the kid has talent and has a lot of potential. Not sure you can teach those fast hands he has on stealing the ball.

Just my opinion, but I find Mbb film to be incredibly hard to evaluate. FB is much easier. If you’re a decent player at all, you’re gonna have an impressive highlight reel. That said, I’ve not seen this kids tape so I have no idea what it looks like.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Toure got offered and committed in October of his senior year. Just sayin.

 

[CyValley2]

Hate to speculate - but (let me speculate).