Before Keshon Gilbert even played a single minute for Iowa State, head coach T.J. Otzelberger was confident that Gilbert would quickly become a key player in what promised to be Iowa State’s most exciting season. As we move into the end of 2024, Gilbert has made it clear to everyone that he’s more than capable of living up to that expectation, showcasing his incredible talent and earning national attention.

Iowa State Cyclones are in red-hot form under head coach T. J. Otzelberger. The team is at the top of the Big 12 conference. They look sharp, as Iowa’s guard Keshon Gilbert has been nothing short of extraordinary this season. The No.10 has started in all of his 11 games, averaging 16.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Quite recently, the guard played a key role in No. 3 Iowa State’s dominant 83-51 victory over Omaha, scoring 16 points and leading the team with his impressive performance. Here’s everything you need to know about Iowa State’s Dynamic #10.

Keshon Gilbert shining through every level

Keshon Montae Gilbert was born to parents Koray Gilbert and Amelia Mclain on June 30, 2003, in St. Louis, Missouri. He has two brothers, Koray and Kendrick, and a sister, Kyla. Keshon chose to play for UNLV, turning down offers from schools like Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma, and USC. Kendrick, his older brother, was a walk-on player for the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, adding to the family’s strong basketball legacy. Keshon has not yet declared a major but continues to focus on making an impact on the court.

Keshon Gilbert, a 2021 graduate of Vashon High School in St. Louis, Missouri, made a significant impact on the court, leading his team to a state title in his senior year. He averaged 13.2 points per game, shooting an impressive 55.5 percent. Coached by Antonio Irons, Keshon’s journey to success also took him to Durango High School in Las Vegas, where he helped lead the Trailblazers to their first state tournament appearance in 17 years as a junior, averaging 14 points and five assists.

As a sophomore, he put up 15.3 points per game on 54 percent shooting, along with 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. 247 Sports ranked Keshon No. 29 among point guards in his class and earned three-star ratings from both ESPN and Rivals. He also played AAU basketball for the Las Vegas Knicks, further honing his skills on the national stage.

During his freshman season at UNLV in 2021-22, Keshon Gilbert made an immediate impact, playing in all 32 games and starting four. He led the team in steals, ranking ninth in the Mountain West with 1.2 steals per game. Gilbert’s all-around contributions also earned him Academic All-Mountain West honors.

He averaged 2.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, showing his versatility on the court. Some of his standout performances included a then-career-high eight points against Wichita State and a then-career-high seven rebounds against Wyoming. He also showcased his playmaking ability with four assists in a game in three instances and recorded three steals on four different occasions.

In the 2022-23 season at UNLV, Keshon Gilbert took his game to the next level, appearing in 31 of the Runnin’ Rebels’ 32 games and starting 29 of them. He finished second on the team with an impressive 11.4 points per game and was also fourth on the team with 3.8 rebounds.

Gilbert scored in double figures 19 times throughout the season, with his standout performance coming in a victory over Washington State, where he poured in a season-high 25 points. He also became one of only two players on the roster to average over three assists, recording 3.2 per game. Eventually, Keshon Gilbert, transferred from UNLV and committed to Iowa State.

Keshon Gilbert: Legacy with T.J. Otzelberger

From their very first phone call, T.J. Otzelberger was confident that Keshon Gilbert would be a perfect fit for any team he coached. “I felt like he and I hit it off from the start,” Otzelberger said via Iowa State Daily. T.J. was the first coach to reach out to Keshon Gilbert during his sophomore year of high school when recruiting officially began.

Gilbert recalled that speaking with Otzelberger felt like chatting with an old friend, even from the very start. “He said I kinda shocked him when I got on the phone because it was kinda like, ‘Wassup, what we doing,’ type of phone call,” Keshon said. Otzelberger knew he needed Keshon Gilbert on his team during his time as head coach at UNLV, and he made it happen.

Gilbert committed to UNLV largely because of Otzelberger’s influence. So, when Otzelberger left to take the head coaching job at Iowa State, Gilbert decided it was time to aim for bigger and better opportunities too. True to their strong connection, Otzelberger was the first person to call Gilbert when he entered the transfer portal.

In the 2023-24 season, Keshon Gilbert made history by starting all 37 games for Iowa State, tying the record for the most games played and starting in program history. He showcased his all-around skills, averaging 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while leading the Cyclones in scoring for the season.

Keshon Gilbert delivered a standout performance in the Big 12 Championship, scoring 48 points—the eighth-most in Iowa State’s program history for the tournament. He also showcased his playmaking and defensive skills, recording 15 assists, tied for the fourth-most in a single tournament, and 11 steals, the second-most ever in Cyclones history for the event.

As he continues to shine on the national stage, Gilbert’s contributions to the Cyclones’ success ever since his joining are undeniable, solidifying his legacy as one of the top players in college basketball.