Iowa State Basketball: Freshman Talen Horton-Tucker emerging as a star

Iowa State Basketball, after a 7-2 start, is looking like a potential Big 12 contender. Freshman guard Talen Horton-Tucker has emerged as a big time producer for the Cyclones early on.

On a team with Big 12 Player of the Year candidate Lindell Wigginton and Virginia transfer Marial Shayok, its easy be overlooked.

However, thanks to a productive non-conference performance, Iowa State freshman guard Talen Horton-Tucker won’t be overlooked for much longer.

Horton-Tucker was the #66-ranked recruit in the country by ESPN in the Class of 2018, and was the Cyclones top recruit.

Hailing from prep basketball powerhouse Simeon in Chicago, Illinois, Horton-Tucker was expected to make somewhat of an impact in a role player situation in his freshman year in Ames.

It’s safe to say that Horton-Tucker has exceeded those expectations through his first nine collegiate games. Horton-Tucker is averaging 15.2 points per game to go along with six rebounds per game, making his way into the Cyclones’ starting lineup.

Horton-Tucker really started to make noise over Thanksgiving break in a game against Illinois in which he put up 26 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

Star sophomore guard Lindell Wigginton should be returning before conference play after a foot injury, and once he returns, the Cyclones will have a deadly three-headed monster with Wigginton, Marial Shayok and Horton-Tucker.

Some scouts even believe that Horton-Tucker would be a first round pick if he decides to declare for the NBA Draft after just one season in Ames. While its unlikely that Horton-Tucker is a one-and-done, first-round potential in a four star recruit is really, really impressive.

If Iowa State wants to make a run in the Big 12 this season, Horton-Tucker will need to continue to put up big numbers. Combine that with the return of Wigginton, and the Iowa State Cyclones might be a forced to be reckoned with in the Big 12 this season.