Iowa State women's basketball: Why Cyclones new 2025 recruit can be the next Emily Ryan

When Reese Beaty was visiting Ames over the summer, members of the Iowa State women’s basketball staff pulled up film of Beaty and the squad’s current point guard, Emily Ryan. As Beaty intently watched the footage, she could see the similarities in their games.

“It’s scary how similar we played,” Beaty said. “We’re almost identical.”

Beaty is following in Ryan’s footsteps and one day could replace her. The guard in the class of 2025 will have that chance after she announced on Tuesday that she was committing to play basketball for the Cyclones.

“It feels like a family and it’s a prefect fit for me and how I play,” Beaty said.

The commit out of the York Institute, a school in Jamestown, Tennessee, had previously committed to Clemson but changed her mind after the team went through a coaching change. Beaty reopened her recruitment and settled on Penn State, Mississippi State, Iowa State and Michigan among her final choices.

It was during her visit to Ames when Beaty saw how close the team was and learned what type of role the program might have for her that she decided the Cyclones were a perfect fit. Her commitment is a huge haul for Iowa State, who will certainly need a replacement for Ryan.

Ryan, one of the most decorated point guards in Iowa State history, used the extra season of eligibility she has from the COVID-19 pandemic to come back to Ames for another season. When she leaves following the 2024-25 campaign, Beaty believes she can be a similar type of player.

“How we come off screens, passing—stuff like that,” Beaty said.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State women's basketball: Why Cyclones new 2025 recruit can be the next Emily Ryan