NCAA Basketball: Projecting 8 biggest breakout stars for 2019-20

Iowa State may not make the NCAA Tournament this season. They have to replace five of their top seven scorers, including their top three, and all but two players from their rotation.

But any hope the Cyclones have to remain one of the toughest teams in the Big 12 rest squarely rising sophomore Tyrese Haliburton’s shoulders.

As you would expect from a freshman on a team loaded with veterans, Haliburton was relegated to a secondary role for ISU last year. He rarely played his natural position of point guard and was used on less than 12 percent of all possessions in which he was on the court. At the same time, he was also one of the most efficient players in the country, ranking third nationally in offensive rating and top 20 in both effective and true shooting percentage.

He got his first taste in a lead role playing for Team USA during the FIBA U-19 World Cup…and he killed it. Haliburton was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 7.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and a tournament-leading 6.9 assists per game. Even more impressive? He only averaged just over a turnover per game.

The 6-foot-5, 172-pounder wasn’t asked to be a scorer for Team USA, but we know he can do that. Instead, it was his playmaking, smart decision-making, and ability to elevate the play of his teammates that should have Iowa State fans excited.

He’ll have to do it all for the Cyclones, and he has shown he is capable of doing just that.