One Last Go for Cyclone Trio

The 2023-24 Iowa State men's basketball season is less than two weeks away and the Cyclones are ready to get back on the court.

Iowa State will have a young team this year with nine of the 15 players in their first two years of college. The Cyclones do have a core group of three players in their final season of collegiate eligibility in Robert Jones, Hason Ward and Tre King.

ISU Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger had nothing but great things to say about the three.

"I have guys in their last year who really care about our team winning," said Otzelberger.

King and Ward have a bit of a unique experience joining the Iowa State basketball team.

Due to NCAA transfer rules, King did not become eligible to play for Iowa State until Dec. 18, 2022. Ward did not join the team until after the team's summer program due to issues with his VISA.

"Now, both of those guys [King and Ward] are starting from the jump," Otzelberger said.

King reflected on the emotions that come with his senior year.

"It's nerves, it's excitement. But it's also kind of sad because it's your last year of college basketball. It's also motivation to just to make everything count and not take any possession, any games, any practice for granted," King said.

King said it was difficult having a shorter season last year because after waiting for his time to come, the season was over before he knew it.

"Going from being fully incorporated in practice and then as soon as we got to games not being able to do things it was frustrating. You've invested so much time with the guys and with the team and you want to be out there and you want to impact them. Now being able to play a full season, I can't wait." King said.

As for Ward, the one thing he is looking forward to for his final year is winning.

"It's the last season so you're going to try to make the best of it." Ward said. "I'm just ready to win."

Otzelberger expressed enormous gratitude for everything that Jones has done for the team.

"I absolutely love Rob Jones," said Otzelberger. "He's one of my favorite human beings."

Otzelberger said that the growth that Jones has had from when he first came into the program to where he is now has really impressed him.

"He's one of our leaders," Otzelberger said. "A guy that you look at that's a voice of our team and it's not just something that he's turned out it's something he's earned through hard work every single day."

Otzelberger said people can't see the everyday impact that Jones makes on the team and that a lot of what the team has accomplished and will accomplish is a by-product of Jones' hard work and what he has demanded from not only himself but his teammates.

"He has a tremendous set of pride for what he's accomplished at this point and now saving his best for last," Otzelberger said. "I couldn't be prouder of Rob Jones. I couldn't be a bigger Rob Jones fan and more of a believer in him and how he elevates our program."

Excited, fortunate and humbled were the three words that Jones used to describe his senior year at Iowa State. He said for his final season, he is looking forward to seeing how well the team can stay together and overcome adversity.

Additionally, with a younger team, Jones, King and Ward are using their voices to help to lead by example and show them the ropes.

"Making sure that what we do on and off the court is stuff that we'd want to see them do on and off the court and their future," Jones said.

King said with his experience, he's seen things and been through things that can help the team to succeed.

"I think my biggest role this year is just encouraging them through the ups and the downs because there will be. No season is perfect," King said,

The team was able to get bonding experience this summer as they traveled down to the Bahamas to play international competition.

"We had great connectivity this summer," Jones said. "We were able to learn about each other as people."

Jones expressed the importance of having that connectivity on and off the court.

"There's only five people on the court at a time. Having that connectivity piece means that the people on the bench care just as much as the people on the court."

While working together to help the team, King, Ward and Jones also have an indescribable bond.

"Those are my guys," King said. "The first two years I was here they were my roommates. I can honestly say that they are my best friends. Being seniors, we've really cherished these times that we've had together, and I think that it's a bond that will carry over even after this season."

Players Mentioned

Robert Jones

Tre King

Hason Ward

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics