All his friends and fans know him as the “Dream,” but unless you are lucky enough to have a one-on-one conversation with Cyclone guard Ha-Keem Abdel-Khaliq, you can’t understand fully why he deserves the loving cheers he received from the Hilton crowd on Saturday as his name was announced in the starting line up for the only time in his career as a Cyclone.

Iowa State Head Coach Tim Floyd understands what type of person Ha-Keem is. “I appreciate the kind of person he is, [and] the kind of role model he’s been,” Floyd said. “He’s always been upbeat, [and] he’s been a great clubhouse guy.”

Ha-Keem was first introduced to ISU when he attended a Cyclone basketball camp one summer during high school.

Ironically, after staying in the old RCA dorms during the camp, he decided it was too hot and he would not plan on coming to ISU.

Lucky for Cyclone basketball and its fans, Ha-Keem changed his mind and came to ISU as a business student.

During his sophomore year while practicing with the team, Johnny Orr, who was the head coach at the time, pulled Ha-Keem to the side and told him he wanted him to play with the Cyclone team during the 1993-94 season as a walk-on.

Ever since that first season Ha-Keem has become an important part of Cyclone basketball. ISU guard Dedric Willoughby expressed how much the team appreciates Ha-Keem. “He’s the best part of our team,” Willoughby said. “He’s the man.

“He’s a comedian, [and] the coach. When something goes wrong, he holds us together,” Willoughby said.

Possibly the most impressive personality trait of Ha-Keem is his commitment to scholastics.

Ha-Keem is a graduate student in business and a research assistant. Between traveling with the basketball team, graduate studies and his duties as a research assistant, Ha-Keem still manages a 3.8 GPA. “[H]e has his priorities straight, and academics is number one,” Floyd said. “It’s always been that way.”

Floyd’s decision to start Ha-Keem came with the fact that there are five starting seniors and therefore all five would start on senior day.

“I felt like he deserved that,” Floyd said.”Had he not been the kind of person that he is, then we wouldn’t have done that,” he added.

“It meant a lot, and it was a big gesture for a coach just to do that,” Ha-Keem said. “I really appreciated it.”

Ha-Keem has always known his role with the team is primarily as a practice player, and it has helped the Cyclones.

“I give it my all in practice trying to make them better,” Ha-Keem said.

He is also a huge presence during the game as a supporter for his teammates. “I’m like a big cheerleader,” Ha-Keem said. “[If] they need some body to pick them up. I’m going to try and get them back into the game.”

Cyclone center Kelvin Cato was happy to see Ha-Keem get recognition. “It’s great to see ‘Dream’ get the start,” Cato said.

Cato pointed out that not many people know how hard it is being an athlete and keeping up with every thing.

“People don’t understand that it’s hard not being on a scholarship up here, and really practicing every day when you don’t have to do it,” Cato said. “He is a special kind of guy.”

Cyclone point guard Jacy Holloway has been around as long as Ha-Keem, and knows the contributions and hard work that Ha-Keem provides. “He comes to practice every day and works hard and tries to get everyone to stay together,” Holloway said. “It’s something that I think he’ll be very proud of in the future.

“He brings a lot of enthusiasm to the game, and just reminds you how fun it really is,” Holloway said.