PARIS – Three former Iowa State men’s basketball players have advanced to the “Knockout Stage” of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Knockout Stage is the matches up the top eight teams from the group stage.
Melvin Ejim, Tyrese Haliburton (United States) and Nick Weiler-Babb (Germany) are all part of teams that advanced to the quarterfinals. Marial Shayok (South Sudan) and George Conditt IV (Puerto Rico) both concluded play at the Olympics in the group stage, with South Sudan finishing third in Group C and Puerto Rico finishing fourth.
Canada went 3-0 to win Group A and will face France in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Ejim made his Olympic debut against Spain.
The United States also went 3-0, as they won Group C. The United States will face Brazil on Tuesday after earning the top seed in the Knockout Stage. Haliburton appeared in a pair of games, averaging nine minutes per game in victories over Puerto Rico and South Sudan. He had six points and an assist against South Sudan, while tallying a steal against Puerto Rico.
Germany won Group B with a 3-0 record as well and will face Greece on Tuesday. Weiler-Babb appeared in all three games off the bench for Germany, averaging 2.3 points in 17.1 minutes per game. He tallied a pair of rebounds, three assists and five steals in group play.
All three are looking to earn an Olympic Medal and would join Jeff Grayer (Bronze in 1988) as the only former Cyclone basketball players to medal in the Olympic games. A spot on top of the podium would be the eighth former Cyclone athlete to win an Olympic Gold Medal and earn a banner in Hilton Coliseum.
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