NCAA Basketball: 8 potential destinations for Iowa State transfer Tyrese Hunter
By Shea Irish
Marquette Golden Eagles
Tyrese Hunter is the prototypical guard that Shaka Smart wants in his program. He has that tenacious attitude and an ability to defend at a high level. Showcased by his active hands and elite lateral quickness, Hunter finished with at least three or more steals in 12 games last season. He could help Shaka re-establish his signature ‘havoc’ style defense at Marquette, a school that is just 25 miles from Hunter’s hometown of Racine, WI.
The Golden Eagles are set to lose their best perimeter defender and second-leading scorer, Darryl Morsell. Hunter could step right in to fill the void, pairing up with Tyler Kolek to create a very formidable backcourt in Milwaukee. If Shaka was able to bring in the hometown hero, and then convince leading scorer Justin Lewis to return for another year, Marquette would be an immediate Big East title contender. It’s also worth noting that Marquette was one of Hunter’s top ten finalists coming out of high school.
Memphis Tigers
If Hunter’s departure from Iowa State is to try to find a team with a more up-tempo, pro-like offense to prepare him for the NBA, Memphis could be the ideal destination. Hunter would flourish in Penny Hardaway’s system and Memphis would benefit greatly from the addition of Hunter, especially since they were responsible for 16 turnovers per game last season. That mark was the 8th worst in the entire country.
If Lester Quinones returns in 2022-23, he and Tyrese would be the perfect complement to each other in the backcourt. Hunter’s drive and dish ability could set up unlimited three-point opportunities for Quinones, a near 40% shooter from deep over the past two seasons. In turn, with defenses wary of Quinones shooting ability at all times, it would open up driving lanes for Hunter to excel in getting to the rim. With Penny’s unparalleled recruiting ability, don’t be surprised to see him land the steady point guard.