AMES - Killyan Toure doesn’t waste words, and he doesn’t waste energy either. The Iowa State guard is built around the same thing his team is built around: pressure, disruption, and defense that makes opponents uncomfortable from the opening tip.
That’s why Toure didn’t flinch when asked about T.J. Otzelberger’s expectation that he become the nation’s best on-ball defender this season.
“I mean, as everybody knows, I’m one of the best defenders in the country,” said the Pamiers, France, native, who returns alongside guard Jamarion Batemon in a backcourt bolstered by transfers Leon Bond III, Jaquan Johnson and Ryan Prather. “It will be teamwork at first, then if I do good stuff on the court, of course, everybody will know.”
That kind of confidence fits Iowa State’s identity. The Cyclones led all Power 5 teams in turnovers forced per game last season at 15.46, and under Otzelberger they’ve finished among the top 15 nationally in defensive turnover percentage in each of the past five seasons, according to KenPom.
For Toure, that’s not just a system. It’s the standard.
Otzelberger made it clear that the assignment for Toure starts with what he already does best.
“I think it starts by leaning into your greatness, your strengths, the things you’ve already proven (you can) do, and knowing that you can count on those things, but not taking them for granted,” Otzelberger said of Toure, who averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a freshman last season. “Knowing how important it is to be literally the best on-ball defender in the country this year, that’s the goal, that’s the mission, and that’s gotta be the mental buy-in.”
Toure has already shown he can bring that edge. He averaged 1.5 steals per game last season, ranked second on the team in dunks and twice gave Iowa State its first points by throwing it down at the rim.
The athleticism is obvious. The next step is making the rest of his game come more consistently, especially as a scorer and facilitator.
“I’m still doing my job,” said Toure, who also notched 1.5 steals per game last season. “So all the things I did last year, I keep doing those and just improving my game. Just take (on) this leadership and do my things better.”
For Otzelberger, that means cleaner decisions and more reliable shooting. Toure hit 31.3 percent of his 3-pointers last season, and the coach sees that part of the game as a major key moving forward.
“I do think it’s that ability for him to consistently make the right play very and over again, it’s gonna be important, and he’s gonna have more opportunities to demonstrate and prove that,” Otzelberger said. “And I also think the catch and shoot 3 is gonna be a big thing for him.
He’s put the work in. It’ a shot he makes at a high level and we have tremendous belief in him to make, so now it’s about hunting and taking the right ones.”
For Toure, the message is simple: keep defending, keep shooting, keep growing. The word “domination” works in both English and French, and that seems to suit him just fine as he enters his second season in the program stronger, wiser and more confident.
“I’m just shooting a lot and being confident,” he said. “So, yeah, no pressure.”
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