Deandre Kane’s performance at Marshall University last season put him in an exclusive group of college basketball players. 

He was one of only two players in all of college basketball last year to average more than 15 points and seven assists per game. He also pulled down four rebounds per game.

“Obviously Deandre Kane was a big pick up for us,” said ISU coach Fred Hoiberg at his media day news conference. “Getting some experience in the backcourt. A lots of the productions that we lost from a year ago were from our guards.

“So to get a guy in here that has that type of experience — you have one of two players in the nation that have averaged over 15 points in their first three years in college — is very important.”

Kane is eligible to play because he’s already completed his degree at Marshall. While at Marshall, Kane’s 3-point percentage decreased each year going from 35 to 25 to 24 percent.

That’s something Hoiberg has been working on with the versatile guard, and in an offense that spaces the floor like Iowa State’s, Kane plans to improve his long range shooting. 

“That’s one of the reasons I came here,” Kane said. “I knew coach Hoiberg would help me with my shot and every day when he came in and if he had time and I was shooting. He’d give me 30 minutes, and he’d teach me if I’m holding my [follow-through] too long, if I’m looking at the basket, he’s just helping me with pointers. He’s so good; it’s been great.”

With such a young backcourt, Kane has taken to the role of mentor for true freshmen Matt Thomas and Monte Morris, along with redshirt freshman Sherron Dorsey-Walker and sophomore Naz Long.

His versatility and experience will help replace a lot of what Iowa State lost last year in the four redshirt senior guards whom Hoiberg called not only talented, but battle-tested and experienced, which is what will be lacking in the young front court.

“He’s a guy that can play multiple positions, he averaged over seven assists a year ago,” Hoiberg said. “So to have a guy that can come in and handle the ball and handle responsibilities as a fifth-year player is something again that’s very important for us.”