Latest news with #IowaStateCyclones
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
3 Rookies To Draft In Your Fantasy Football League
AMES, IOWA - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Jayden Higgins #9 of the Iowa State Cyclones looks on during the ... More second half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Jack Trice Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by Luke Lu/Diamond Images via Getty Images) If you've read any articles from my author profile, you would know that rookies are one of my main focuses. As stated before, identifying the correct rookies to draft in fantasy football can make all the difference. I've talked about a number of different players by now, so we'll be excluding running backs from this list. If you want to know which rookie running backs to draft, you can read my latest article, which is linked here. That being said, we'll be using ADP from FantasyPros (PPR) to determine which players are great value this year. Let's dive right into it. 3 Rookies To Draft In Your Fantasy Football League You may not find another analyst out there who's higher than I am on Tetairoa McMillan. While everyone was gushing over Ashton Jeanty in dynasty fantasy football, for me, the top player was McMillan. At 6'5" and 212 lbs, McMillan pairs an incredible catch radius with great separation skills and elite YAC ability. Now, McMillan steps into a situation where his quarterback, Bryce Young, is entering year three of his NFL career. Back in 2023, when Young was a rookie, he allowed Adam Thielen to record eight games of at least 15 PPG (PPR). McMillan is a much better talent than Thielen was; expect big things from the rookie in fantasy football. It's not being talked about enough how high Jayden Higgins went in the NFL Draft. Higgins was the 34th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Houston Texans, putting him just two spots away from the first round. Higgins is another big body wide receiver at 6'4" and 215 lbs. While McMillan is an elite prospect, Higgins projects as a WR2 who should fit well next to Nico Collins. With the Texans losing Stefon Diggs to the New England Patriots and Tank Dell for most of the year, Higgins should step into the WR2 role from day one. Higgins is talented, and he has a great quarterback throwing him the ball in CJ Stroud. After Stroud made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, he was viewed extremely highly by many. However, a sophomore slump in 2024 has caused many fans to forget just how good Stroud can be. If Stroud ends up having a bounce-back year, which I believe he can, Higgins is going to benefit in a big way. ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo (8) reacts after a play during ... More the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Iowa State Cyclones on December 28, 2024 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) While the first two players are a bit more expensive, Elijah Arroyo is a player that you should be able to draft in every fantasy football league. Arroyo was a very good prospect who wasn't widely talked about due to a rich injury history. Even so, Arroyo got great draft capital as the Seattle Seahawks selected him 50th overall. Noah Fant has been disappointing in his time with the Seahawks, failing to cross over 550 yards in any of his three years with the team. As for the wide receiver core, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp are Arroyo's only competition for targets. Arroyo should very easily be able to slide into the number three target role, and he could even record more targets than Kupp, who has struggled with injuries and is now 32 years old. Arroyo is much more of a dart throw than the other two players, but his upside is through the roof. If you want to draft a few rookies in your fantasy football draft, these three options are great ideas.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"ESPN had my name spelled wrong for the first two weeks of the season" - Tyrese Haliburton talks about being overlooked in college
"ESPN had my name spelled wrong for the first two weeks of the season" - Tyrese Haliburton talks about being overlooked in college originally appeared on Basketball Network. Tyrese Haliburton's journey from an overlooked recruit in college to the NBA superstar is a story like no other. Today, Haliburton is widely recognized as one of the brightest stars in the league, an All-NBA playmaker, a leader, and, most recently, a key figure in the NBA Playoffs. But rewinding to his college days, the story couldn't be more different. Advertisement "Yeah, three-star, oh, that, that drives me crazy. Cause they threw that in when I got to college. Cause I got to college. I was no-star. I was supposed to red shirt. Then I ended up starting game two," Haliburton said in one podcast episode. He explained how he wasn't supposed to even play in his first season at college and that it was a huge surprise he ended up starting as the lead playmaker for the Iowa State Cyclones. How Hali went from no-star to Cyclones' leader At the start of the season, he didn't even have a recruit rating, but soon, he got one. "And the next thing I know, uh, middle of the game, they're like, it's a three-star point guard," he explained. "I'm like three. What are y'all talking about?" Advertisement His impact on the floor surprised even the analysts. "ESPN had my name spelled wrong for the first like two weeks of the season. I swear to God, I wish I was playing. I used to go on ESPN and it would say Tyrese Haliburton with two L. I'm like, who is he? I've got no idea who he is," Hali said half-jokingly. Haliburton's college experience was defined by being underestimated. He wasn't a premium blue-chip prospect. He didn't have the hype or the headlines. In fact, he was barely on the radar, so much so that ESPN couldn't even get his name right for the first two weeks of the season. But, as everyone knows, Tyrese took it as fuel. Why his underdog story inspires a new generation He was supposed to redshirt but ended up starting two games into the season. As a freshman for the Cyclones, he played 35 games and averaged 6.8 points per game, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He shot the ball very well, but his numbers didn't stand out. Advertisement Haliburton had a breakout season as a sophomore. In 22 games played the following season, he did much better. His numbers jumped up to 15.2 points per game, 6.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.5 steals, so he was perceived as one of the best prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft. But, once again, he was overlooked and fell all the way to the 12th spot, where the Sacramento Kings took a flyer on him and two years later traded him in favor of keeping De'Aaron Fox. Fast forward to today, and Haliburton is the face of a franchise for the Indiana Pacers and a star who just led his team to the NBA Finals, where he unfortunately picked up an Achilles injury in Game 7. On the league's biggest stage, he showcased the same playmaking, scoring, and leadership that once went unnoticed in college. Each time he was counted out, he returned stronger, cementing his reputation as one of the best point guards in the NBA. His story is a blueprint for every underdog. From a three-star recruit, or, as he likes to say, a zero-star with a misspelled name, to the NBA Finals hero. Advertisement Related: "The team that I'm going to remember isn't the team that won the title" - Bill Simmons says Haliburton's injury will be the lasting legacy of the 2025 NBA Finals This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Flips 4-Star QB From Big 12 Powerhouse
Alabama Flips 4-Star QB From Big 12 Powerhouse originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide have their Class of 2026 quarterback. Jett Thomalla changed his mind on Tuesday, ditching Matt Campbell and the Iowa State Cyclones. Advertisement 'BREAKING: Four-Star QB Jett Thomalla has Flipped his Commitment from Iowa State to Alabama, he tells me for @on3recruits,' On3's Hayes Fawcett wrote on X. 'The 6'4 210 QB from Omaha, NE had been Committed to the Cyclones since April. 'All glory to God, Roll tide!!' Thomalla is listed as the No. 16 overall passer in his class according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's the top-rated prospect in Nebraska. 'Decorated prep signal caller with some peaks and valleys on the game tape, but one that has a chance to emerge as a winner on Saturdays,' 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins said of Thomalla in an April scouting report. 'More than capable of extending plays and creating opportunities when the pocket breaks down as he climbs away from pressure and keeps his eyes down field. Millard South quarterback Jett Thomalla (4)Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK 'Projects as a potential multi-year starter at the Power Four level. Likely to need a developmental year or two, but hard not to get excited about the size, velocity and resume.' Advertisement Thomalla was named MaxPreps' 2024 Nebraska Player of the Year. He led Millard South to a 12-1 record and Class A title, setting the state classification record in passing yards (3,663 yards), touchdown passes (47), and completions (250). Ryder Lyons (No. 5 passer in 247Sports' rankings), Landon Duckworth (No. 6), Bowe Bentley (No. 10), and Oscar Rios (No. 12) are other highly-touted signal-callers in Thomalla's class who have yet to sign. Related: Legendary Alabama QB Predicts New Starter Without Hesitation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Reacts to New Video of Tyrese Haliburton on Monday
NBA Reacts to New Video of Tyrese Haliburton on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers earned their place in the NBA Finals by dispatching the New York Knicks in six games in the Eastern Conference finals, and then advancing past both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks in five games apiece during earlier rounds. Advertisement A huge reason for their playoff success has been Tyrese Haliburton, the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, who was traded to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis. The former Iowa State Cyclone has had an impressive postseason run, averaging 18.6 points per game on 47.3 percent shooting from the field along with 9.3 assists per game. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts to a play during Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images On Monday, a new video clip of Haliburton during warmups caught the NBA's attention. Haliburton nailed a flawless 22 seconds of consecutive makes and the clip was widely shared across social media with the caption, 'HALIBURTON CAN'T MISS IN WARMUPS 🔥, 22 seconds of consecutive makes from the Pacers star: mesmerizing.' Throughout this postseason, Haliburton has etched his name into Pacers history by sinking four critical game-altering shots. Advertisement In one instance, he drove past the defense for a lay-up with just 1.3 seconds left to secure a narrow victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, erasing a late deficit. Another unforgettable moment came with his buzzer-beating step-back three-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the game. His deep two-pointer in a heated battle against the New York Knicks forced overtime and set the stage for an improbable comeback, and most recently, a 21-foot pull-up jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining clinched a Game 1 win in the NBA Finals against the Thunder. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
How the Iowa State University days helped Tyrese Haliburton become an exceptional NBA star?
Tyrese Haliburton via Instagram Indiana Pacers' talented point guard Tyrese Haliburton made headlines recently for all the great reasons. The 25-year-old young and athletic NBA star went on to divert all the spotlight towards himself after dominating the New York Knicks with his exceptional performance during the recent playoffs. With the buzz around Haliburton after his terrific performance in the final round of the NBA Eastern Conference, here is everything you need to know about his stint with Iowa State University, where he represented the Iowa State Cyclones. Everything you need to know about Tyrese Haliburton's college life at Iowa State With the Indiana Pacers defeating the New York Knicks in the recent NBA Eastern Conference playoffs, one of the most prominent names that went on to divert the attention of the world was none other than Tyrese Haliburton, but what exactly led to the making of this superstar? During his stint with Iowa State University, he was polished into a great basketball athlete while representing the Iowa State Cyclones. Tyrese Haliburton's HISTORIC TRIPLE-DOUBLE vs Knicks! | May 27, 2025 Tyrese Haliburton was a part of Iowa State University back in 2018. Despite being on a lower rank, he went on to become a full-time starter, which not only added depth to the roster of the Iowa State Cyclones. Statistically, within the restricted opportunities with the Iowa State Cyclones, he went on to post 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals per game and 3.6 assists Reportedly, Haliburton appeared in a single NCAA Tournament only, but the Cyclones were defeated by Ohio State in 2019. For the Pacers star his initial days with the Cyclones was only limited to 22-matches The young point guard clearly proved his worth in the Indiana Pacers roster, and the much-needed contribution on the score list only added to his value in the team. After overcoming an on-and-off second half, the Pacers gradually made their way to the spotlight. Tyrese Haliburton is only 25, and with the kind of spark he has shown against the New York Knicks during the recent playoffs is bound to take his place on the list of NBA icons in the basketball world. Also Read: Tyrese Haliburton and girlfriend Jade Jones'' relationship timeline: Recapping key moments of Indiana Pacers' college romance Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
