Head coach TJ Otzelberger and his Iowa State staff worked hard in the portal this past offseason following an NCAA Tournament appearance back in March.
The Cyclones brought in three transfers this spring/summer. Let’s dive into the class and what each guy will bring to Ames.
Paveletzke is a 6-foot-2 guard who will return to his home region of the Midwest with the Cyclones. The Wisconsin native shined for Wofford last year, averaging 15.1 points and 3.7 assists per game for the Terriers as a rookie. He played a massive role for the team, staying on the floor for 33 minutes per game across 33 starts. Paveletzke shot 49% from the field as well as 39% from three-point range, setting himself up for a big role with the Cyclones in year two.
Curtis Jones – Buffalo
After playing JUCO ball two years ago, Jones spent this past season at Buffalo, leading the Bulls in scoring. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 15 points, 4.8 rebounds, and three assists per contest. The All-MAC selection shot 36% from three-point range in each of the past two seasons, proving he can shoot it from deep. His 3FG/game numbers also skyrocketed this past season, as he went from 1.6 threes attempted per game to 6.7 this past year.
Keshon Gilbert – UNLV
Gilbert, another guard coming from the mid-major level up to the Big 12, was a consistent producer for UNLV prior to joining the Cyclones. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game for the Rebels. He played 27 minutes per game as just a sophomore last year.
I love the Cyclones’ portal haul, and think that these proven guards that have scored at the mid-major D1 level will help Iowa State reach the dance once again. Let’s see if it pays off for Otzelberger and co. this season..
