AMES, Iowa — There's a youth movement going on within Iowa State athletics, from the football team to both the men's and women's basketball teams.
This season, the Iowa State women's basketball team has five freshmen on the roster.
Local standouts Audi Crooks, Ariana Jackson and Kelsey Joens, the younger sister of former ISU basketball star Ashley Joens, are among that group.
Because all five committed fairly early on, they've been able to develop a close bond and that's made the adjustment to college ball a lot easier.
"We go everywhere together," Jackson said. "We live with each other so it's just nice to have someone on the court that you always like can trust, have that kind of like extra security with."
The group even has a nickname that originated from their first official campus visit.
"We call ourselves the swag wag five," Crooks said. "When we arrived on our official visit, you know, there are like Suburbans. There are the big you know, Escalades. [Instead] we got a wagon, and it was a white wagon and it was enough for all of us. Because normally there aren't five people in a recruiting class. So, we really embraced that and just kind of called it like our little clique. We felt like a family."
The Iowa State men's basketball team also has a large freshmen class of six. That includes former Waukee basketball star and five-star recruit Omaha Biliew, four-star recruit Milan Momcilovic, four-star recruit JT Rock and former Waukee Northwest standout Cade Kelderman.
The Cyclones also have three new transfers, putting their total of newcomers to the program at nine.
"You develop a confidence as a coach in understanding your personnel," Otzelberger said. "I think we have a better understanding of the team that we have this year even though there are six freshmen on that team. Having the trip to the Bahamas certainly helped as well because you have the chance to play some games and get some minutes, so we know that night in and night out, nonconference and league play how challenging it is, how hard it really is to win at this level in college basketball. We feel that we're prepared based on how we work every single day to take on that challenge."
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger said they bring a more versatile skillset than they've had in the past, especially on offense. Pair that with the experienced returners they do have like Tamin Lipsey, Robert Jones and Tre King, Otzelberger said he's excited about what this year's team has the potential to be.