Iowa State 5-star freshman Omaha Biliew focused on fitting in and standing out this summer

AMES — Omaha Biliew’s harnessed all the stars.

He possesses myriad skills. He’s tall, fast and athletic — a veritable wunderkind on the basketball court.

So when it comes to so-called “measurables,” Iowa State’s five-star freshman forward admirably exceeds the cut on each level — but that’s not what makes him a standout. Not to Cyclone men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger, anyway.

“I’d say the most impressive thing is what a joy he is to be around every day,” Otzelberger said of Biliew, the crown jewel of ISU’s consensus top-10 2023 recruiting class. “I mean, yes, he's athletic. He's got a high motor. He plays hard. He competes. Obviously, he’s got these rankings and these expectations — being from the state, being ranked where he is — and I’d say that it's fun being around him because that doesn't impact him.

“He's humble. He's grateful. He's thankful to be here.”

Biliew — a former Waukee star — has known Ames would be his preferred collegiate destination for some time. He could, of course, have gone anywhere, but maintained a strong connection with Otzelberger and his staff throughout the recruiting process and never wavered.

“It was kind of a fate feeling,” said Biliew, who competed earlier this summer for the 2023 USA U19 Men's National Team. “I would say about the middle of my junior season (in high school) I kind of knew I was already going to Iowa State.”

Biliew’s commitment proved to be a boon for ISU, which also inked top-40 power forward Milan Momcilovic as well as top-200 talents Jelani Hamilton and Kayden Fish in the Class of 2023.

His length and defensive prowess should immediately be apparent when he enters his first game as a Cyclone, but he’s developed an ability to stretch the floor as well, making him extra versatile and Big 12-ready despite his youth. Still, Biliew’s mature enough to know he has a lot to work on even though he’s broadly considered to be a one-and-done type of player with highly promising pro prospects.

“For sure decision making (is something to work on),” said Biliew, who averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 assists and two blocked shots as a high school senior. “Knowing where my teammates are on the court all the time and just being decisive with my movements. Just repping the heck out of it in practice and all that, so when it comes to game time I’m just playing free.”

Until then, veteran ISU teammates are working to constrict Biliew as much as possible. Senior big men such as Robert Jones, Tre King and Hasan Ward aren’t taking it easy on the highly-touted newcomer. To do so would be both counterintuitive and counterproductive.

“With the new guys, you’ve got to let them know this is the Big 12,” said Jones, a fifth-year senior and spark plug who averaged six points and four rebounds mostly off the bench last season. “It’s gonna be physical. It’s gonna be rough. Everything that’s gonna happen is gonna be even worse than what we can show you in practice, so you’ve just gotta prepare now, so when the time comes you’ll be ready for it.”

Biliew is more than ready as well as eager, but he’s anything but ahead of himself. He’s simply on time and in tune with what it takes to excel for the defensive-minded Cyclones.

“He works his tail off every single day,” Otzelberger said. “So that's what I enjoy the most about Omaha, is that we don't change anything to fit him. In fact, he's working hard to make the necessary changes to fit here, which I think is really refreshing.”

Comments: robgray18@icloud.com