Iowa State Basketball: Amongst this year’s elite PG play, Tyrese Haliburton has stood tallest

Tale of the Tape

Leading up to the 2019-20 season, a lot of the talk seemed to be focusing on the point guard position. Haliburton was not quite a featured topic in that conversation though. Which is kind of ironic, once you line up his name to some of the most hyped points this year.

Haliburton is easily the most well-rounded floor general of the bunch. Even when being lined up next to college basketball’s elite, he still leads in numerous categories and doesn’t trail too far in the ones he doesn’t. His closest competition is the great Payton Pritchard, who is a front runner in the Naismith Player of the Year race. It’s worth noting that Haliburton is only 19; Pritchard is 21.

Tyrese Haliburton:

• 17.3 PPG, 7.7 APG, 5.7 RPG, 2.5 TPG, .424 3P%, .652 2P%, 38.3 ARate

Cole Anthony: 

• 19.1 PPG, 3.4 APG, 6.3 RPG, 3.8 TPG, .355 3P%, .378 2P%, 23.7 ARate

Nico Mannion:

• 14.8 PPG, 6.2 APG, 1.9 RPG, 2.4 TPG, .349 3P%, .488 2P%, 35.4 ARate

Cassius Winston:

• 17.6 PPG, 6.0 APG, 2.0 RPG, 2.8 TPG, .356 3P%, .469 2P%, 37.9 ARate

Tyrese Maxey:

• 13.1 PPG, 3.3 APG, 4.1 RPG, 2.1 TPG, .245 3P%, .515 2P%, 18.1 ARate

Devon Dotson: 

• 19.2 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 TPG, .326 3P%, .565 2P%, 25.4 ARate

Payton Pritchard:

• 19.6 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.3 RPG, 3.0 TPG, .406 3P%, .602 2P%, 34.0 ARate

It is also worth noting that Haliburton might be the most talented defender on that list. Devon Dotson is likely the scariest one-on-one matchup. But in terms of team defense – reading passing lanes and acting as a help defender – Haliburton might be the cream of the crop. On the defensive end, he’s very reminiscent of DeJounte Murray; his energy and activity are honorable.

Combine that with the fact that he leads the above-listed bunch in assists per game, assist rate, 3-point percentage, and 2-point percentage. He leads in every category that you want from your starting point guard. His passing vision is next level (he’s great at finding cutters and kick out options), he can act well in the pick and roll or run off-ball, and his jumper’s release is getting quicker as each game goes by. On offense, he’s essentially a second chance at Lonzo Ball, this time around with a much cleaner-looking stroke.

Speaking of Haliburton in the same breath of DeJounte Murray and Lonzo Ball is high praise indeed, but it’s praise Haliburton is worthy of receiving. Because he’s been one of the best point guards in college basketball this year. Haliburton truly is the MF Doom of college basketball: he’s got all the fundamentals, is one of the best in his craft, yet he is simply missing the hype. Steam is starting to pick up though, as is his development and draft scope.