Tre Singleton is set for a quick but meaningful reunion with Northwestern as Iowa State heads into an exhibition game this weekend, giving the sophomore forward a chance to face the program where he began his college career.
Singleton’s first season was brief, but it came with plenty of production. As a true freshman with the Wildcats, he appeared in 34 games and started 31 of them, making an immediate impact in the rotation.
In 25 minutes per game, he averaged 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks. For a player that young, those numbers tell the story of someone who earned trust fast.
His best nights stood out, too. Singleton put up a career-high 17 points against both Penn State and Howard, added 14 against then No. 8 Nebraska, scored nine against eventual national champion Michigan, and had 15 against Cleveland State.
After that season, he opted for a transfer and chose Iowa State, looking for a bigger stage. So far, the move has looked promising.
In his first exhibition game with the Cyclones against Creighton, Singleton delivered 12 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. He looked comfortable on both ends, showing the kind of scoring punch and defensive versatility that can make a player stand out right away.
That versatility is expected to matter a lot for Iowa State this season. Singleton brings size, rebounding, scoring, and the ability to defend all five positions. The Cyclones specifically need help guarding wings and forwards, and his athleticism gives them another option in that spot.
The early returns, plus the limited practice clips that have surfaced, suggest there’s real upside here. But the bigger test comes now.
Against Northwestern, Singleton gets a chance to show how far he’s come since leaving. And even with the transfer, this is still a homecoming of sorts - one that should come with appreciation from the people who watched him grow as a freshman.
At the same time, it’s also a chance for Singleton to reinforce why the move to Ames made sense for him. Sunday’s exhibition won’t decide his season, but it will give him another platform to prove that his offseason work has carried over.
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