Iowa State women's basketball was the only major team to give Hannah Belanger a chance
AMES – Iowa State women’s basketball player Hannah Belanger grabs a seat in one of the team’s meeting rooms at the Sukup Basketball Complex on a February day. Belanger, who is proudly wearing her Cyclones practice jersey, has less than an hour before the team’s next workout and is chatting about her one season at Iowa State when the topic turns to the biggest highlight.
“Hopefully it hasn’t happened yet,” Belanger says with a smile.
Simply being at Iowa State and donning the Cyclones uniform has been a highlight. Playing for a high-major program was her goal. It almost didn’t seem achievable for Belanger.
“So far it's been everything I expected,” Belanger said.
Belanger’s dream of playing college basketball at the highest level almost didn’t happen. Only Iowa State gave her that chance. So Belanger has been making the most of that opportunity during what has turned into a special season.
“I hope it’s an experience she’s enjoyed because she’s been a true blessing for us,” said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly.
Another memorable moment will come Saturday when the Cyclones host Cincinnati at Hilton Coliseum at 1 p.m. The senior day celebrations will include Belanger, who has spent the season proving many doubters wrong while playing a vital role for Iowa State.
Belanger flies under the recruiting radar but tries to prove the doubters wrong
Belanger had her sights set on playing at a high-major school back in high school. She made a compelling case when she was the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association 3-point champion and knocked down 153 triples in three seasons for Grafton High School. But not everyone was sold on Belanger, who received interest only from NAIA, Division II and Division III schools. She was so intent on playing at the Division I level that Belanger reached out to some teams on her own.
No one was interested. Many of them ghosted her.
“They just said I was too small and not athletic enough,” said Belanger, who stands 5-foot-8.
Belanger wanted to prove them wrong. Her dad urged her to find a school where she was wanted. Truman State, a Division II program in Missouri, was one of those places. Belanger committed to coach Theo Dean and thrived with the Bulldogs. She became one of the team's biggest stars.
During her first season, Belanger was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year when she tied a Truman State record with 67 made 3-pointers and shot 42.7% from beyond the arc. Belanger followed with a strong sophomore season during the 2020-21 campaign by averaging 18.6 points per game and becoming Truman State’s fourth All-American.
Belanger proved she could shoot and score at that level. But she wanted to prove she could do it in Division I. Following that successful season, she talked with Dean about her goal of playing at the next level. He was not only supportive but went out of his way to help her find a new home. Dean, who schedules exhibition games every year against high-major schools, talked to opposing coaches about Belanger when they played. He urged them to give her a chance. He reached out to a few others.
That didn't draw any interest, either. Belanger, meanwhile, continued making her case. During her four seasons at Truman State, she averaged 17.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 40.4% from 3-point range. Dean urged her to keep chasing her dream.
“I just kept telling her, ‘Hannah, you could go big-time, you can go big-time,’” Dean said. “She’s like, ‘Really?’ It’s like, ‘Yes, trust me. You can go big-time.’”
Belanger entered the transfer portal following her senior season at Truman State. A few small Division I schools and a bunch of Division II teams reached out. But that’s not what she wanted. She wanted to play somewhere big.
“Obviously to fulfill that dream I’ve had,” Belanger said. “But also, I think, prove to myself that I could.”
Belanger wanted to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility she had been awarded by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic and be part of a winning program at an elite level.
Belanger once again emailed some high-major programs. They ghosted her again. Belanger went home to Wisconsin and worked out with high-level players. They constantly told her that she had what it took. She needed a chance. No one was offering.
“It definitely was defeating,” she said.
After a month, Belanger’s name was buried on the transfer portal list. Belanger was ready to move on and settled on a small Division I school. She was going to commit. But right before she did, Belanger got an unexpected message on Instagram from Emily Hatfield, Iowa State's coordinator of video and recruiting services.
Iowa State’s roster was undergoing a massive makeover with graduations and transfers in the offseason. The Cyclones needed a strong shooter. Hatfield came across Belanger and her stats and pitched the Division II star to Fennelly during a staff meeting.
“(She) said, ‘Coach, there’s this kid that’s at a Division II school, but look at her numbers,’” Fennelly said. “I don’t care what level you are, a made 3 is a made 3 and that’s what we were looking for.”
Belanger had been scorned by so many schools that she didn’t believe the interest was real. She scrolled through Hatfield’s bio page to make sure it was real. Dean reached out to the Cyclones staff to make sure there was legitimate interest. When he and Belanger realized it was true, they quickly set up a visit to Ames for a few days later.
Fennelly had Rob Jenkins, Iowa State’s player development coordinator, find some film of Belanger’s games. They paid extra-close attention to some of those Truman State exhibition games to see how Belanger could handle the bigger competition. During one game against Notre Dame, she shot 5-of-6 form 3-point range and tallied 16 points. Fennelly liked what he saw when he watched the film and met with Belanger. He offered Belanger her first and only high-major scholarship. Her dream had come true.
"Hearing those words come out of coach Fenn's mouth, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this can't be happening,'" Belanger said. "Obviously, I was really excited and proud of myself. It truly felt like a dream that I was sleeping the entire time. I was like 'This can't be real.'"
Belanger finds a home and a role at Iowa State while proving she can succeed
Belanger has made the most of the opportunity that Fennelly gave her. She's become an important part of his team, appearing in all 27 games and averaging 9.3 points and 30.2 minutes per game. She's shooting 37.3% from 3-point range. More important, she's provided leadership to a young Iowa State team that has relied on five freshmen.
"She's a huge factor to this team, just from an experience level and maturity," said Iowa State freshman guard Arianna Jackson.
Fennelly credits Belanger for being a major factor in Iowa State's surprise season in which the Cyclones have compiled a 17-10 record (11-6 in Big 12 Conference play). She’s had success against some of the top teams in the league, tallying 19 points against Kansas, 15 against Baylor and 13 against Kansas State.
Dean won't say who the schools are, but says some of her big games this season have come against schools that passed on Belanger.
"Those other schools regret not reaching out," Fennelly said with a smile.
While the numbers aren't the same as at Truman State, Belanger has had plenty of success at Iowa State in a different role. Instead of attacking the hoop as often as she did in her last stop, Belanger has been relied on for her spot-up shooting beyond the arc, her defense and her leadership. Fennelly is impressed with how quickly she adapted after missing most of the summer with a hand injury. In many ways, Belanger has been even better than the Cyclones expected.
"She's been so good in so many ways," Fennelly said.
After playing in small arenas in front of sparse crowds, Belanger is soaking up every moment of playing in front of packed arenas such as Hilton Coliseum. And Belanger is enjoying the team success she had hoped to find. The Cyclones are likely bound for the NCAA Tournament, and she believes they could be contenders at next week's Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.
They're in that position thanks to Belanger and the chance the Cyclones took on her.
"I think I've gotten the most out of my career," she said.
Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State women's basketball was Hannah Belanger's only college offer
