Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Utah on February 24, 2026 , Win , 75, to, 59
Final
Men's Basketball
75
Utah
59
Iowa State University Athletics
Vanderbeken Is ISU's First Canadian Hoopster
06.30.2008 | Men's Basketball
AMES, Iowa- Jamie Vanderbeken will make Cyclone history when he first steps on the court in Hilton Coliseum in 2008-09. The 6-11, 240-pound forward from Belleville, Ontario, will become the first Canadian to don an Iowa State men's basketball uniform. Vanderbeken, who recently arrived in Ames, didn't realize the significance when he signed a letter of intent in April.
“I guess it is kind of special to be the first Canadian to play basketball at Iowa State,” Vanderbeken said. “It is pretty much all hockey where I come from and basketball is slowly catching up.”
Vanderbeken's hometown of Belleville is located near the shore of Lake Ontario across from New York state. He won't have too much of a problem getting acclimated to United States culture, however. Vanderbeken played the last two seasons in the U.S. at one of the best junior college programs in the nation at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. He averaged 14.1 points, earned second-team all-Region XIV honors and helped his team gain a top-10 national ranking in his final season at Tyler.
“It was really beneficial for me playing at Tyler for two years,” Vanderbeken said. “I played against great competition and it really prepared me for the next level.”
For now, the Cyclone big man will enjoy the rest of the summer working out with his teammates and playing the sport he loves.
“I was really excited to finally get here (Ames),” Vanderbeken said. “All of the guys have been great and I can hardly wait for the season to start.”
Players Mentioned
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