Northern Iowa guard Leon Bond III dunks against St. John’s during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 20 in San Diego. Bond has since transferred to Iowa State.
Associated Press
AMES — He’s athletic. He’s an elite defender. And he delights in putting in the unglamorous work on the court.
Suffice it to say, then, that transfer guard Leon Bond III checks all the boxes for Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who expects the former Northern Iowa standout to make a big impact on the Cyclones’ 2026-27 season.
“He’s got unbelievable spirit, he’s got a big smile on his face, he brings energy to the floor every single day, and enthusiasm, passion for the game, a gratitude to be here,” Otzelberger said of the 6-5 Bond, who averaged 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 36.2 percent from 3-point range last season. “There’s really nothing in this game that Leon Bond isn’t capable of doing.”
The confident and experienced Bond’s well aware of all that — and eager to unlock his high-end potential. Want proof? Here’s how the soon-to-be senior describes himself as a player:
“I feel like I bring athleticism, of course,” Bond said. “I feel like I bring defensive versatility. I would say offensively I bring a little bit of everything — a little Swiss Army knife.”
Bond, like teammate Blake Buchanan, started his college career playing for Tony Bennett at Virginia, but then chose to transfer to UNI, where he served as a vital cog for then-head coach Ben Jacobson in each of the past two seasons.
He became a consistent double-digit scorer and didn’t need a lot of volume to get there. He also shot 75 percent or better from the line in the past two seasons, so efficiency serves as another element in his wide-ranging game.
But it’s his defensive tenacity that sets him apart. Bond earned a spot on the all-MIssouri Valley Conference defensive team last season, as did fellow transfer Jaquan Johnson (Bradley) — who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Bond said all of ISU’s transfers share Swiss Army knife attributes, which should excite fans eager to see the team remain among the Big 12’s top title contenders.
Northern Iowa’s Leon Bond III brings the ball down the court during the MVC championship game against UIC on March 8, in St. Louis. Bond has since transferred to Iowa State.
Associated Press
“We’ve got a bunch of dudes who do a little bit of everything and play hard,” Bond said while also referencing returning guards Jamarion Batemon and Killyan Toure, among others. “Maybe its’s not like a 30-point game (for anyone), but everybody’s just got 12, or everybody’s got 15. Like, it’s just anybody can kill you any given night.”
Bond plans to kill it for the Cyclones from all angles, turning live ball steals into transition scoring opportunities for both he and his teammates. His game — like Otzelberger’s program — begins with and is based upon stern ball pressure. And that’s why he fits perfectly as its latest Swiss Army knife.
“I do really feel confident that his spirit is gonna unlock his entire game,” said Otzelberger, who’s led the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first five seasons, along with three Sweet 16 appearances in that span. “And what we’re gonna see is the harder he plays on defense, the more deflections, collisions, steals, blocks — I feel like the greater aggression he’ll play with on the offensive end, because that will get him out in transition and finishing on the glass.
“But I’ve been really pleased with his effort his energy. Excited to work with him every day. He’s a special young man.”
Bond smiles as he hears those words. Then he grins again and gets back to work. It’s his actions that matter and he’s planning to “leave it all on the table.”
“Hearing (Otzelberger) say that, I mean, all you can do is bet on yourself,” Bond said. “And with coach believing in me, my teammates believing in me, I mean, all we can do is succeed.”