Overview

The two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection came into his own as a senior, leading the league in scoring with an average of 20.5 points per game. The former Iowa State product has been a model of consistency during his three seasons with the Hawkeyes.

The team's Most Valuable Player added Team Leadership Award and Academic Recognition Award honors during his final campaign. He started all 129 games he played in at Iowa, the longest consecutive streak in college basketball among active players. He closed out his Iowa career ranked seventh on the school in scoring with 1,578 points (most ever by an Iowa player over a three-year span).

Haluska was an all-around athlete at Carroll High School, where his father, Steve, serves as the school's principal. Basketball Times rated him the best mid-range shooter in the country and he was named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year as the state's top prep hoopster. As a senior, he added All-State honors, as he ranked second in the state with a 30.1-point scoring average (256-of-461 field goals; 37-of-106 from three-point range) and an average of 9.9 rebounds per game.

The four-year starter finished his career with 2,209 points, the eighth-best total in Iowa prep history and the top scoring output for an Iowa large school (Class 3 A/4 A) player in state history. He averaged 17.6 points and 6.9 rebounds as a freshman, 21.5 points and eight boards as a sophomore and 29.8 points and 11 rebounds as a junior.

Haluska also lettered in baseball, football and track. He won eight individual prep state track titles: long jump (three), 100 meters (two), 200 meters (two) and 400 meters (one) and was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 2001 and 2002 Iowa State Track and Field Championships.

As a senior, he recorded one of the most prolific performances in Iowa State Track & Field Championship history, becoming only the fourth athlete in the 97-year history of the state meet to win four individual events, claiming victories in the 100 meters (10.91), 200 meters (21.56), 400 meters (48.48) and long jump (22 5 1/4). He broke the Class 3A 100 meter state record with a 10.79 clocking in the preliminaries and also broke the 200 meter state mark with his time in the finals.

In 2002-03, Haluska played in 31 games at Iowa State. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 28.6 minutes of action per game, shooting .398 from the floor and .760 from the charity stripe. That performance earned him Big 12 Conference All-Freshman Team honors. After the season, he decided to transfer to the University of Iowa, sitting out the 2003-04 campaign under NCAA transfer rules.

At Iowa, Haluska started all 33 games in 2004-05. He averaged 14.7 points and four rebounds per game, shooting 47.8% from the field, 38.9% from three-point range and a team-best 80.8% from the free throw line. He ranked fifth in the Big Ten Conference in free throw percentage, 10th in three-point percentage and eleventh in scoring.

During his junior season in 2005-06, Haluska was a third-team All-Big Ten Conference pick. He averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 rebounds while starting all 34 games. He shot 41.7% from the field, 34.6% from three-point range and 84.8% from the free throw line. His 185 three-point attempts rank seventh on the school's season-record list.

As a senior, Haluska was an Associated Press All-American honorable mention and All-Big Ten first-team choice. He added league academic honors while leading the conference in scoring with a 20.5-point average, shooting 40.8% from the field and 87% from the charity stripe. He grabbed 144 rebounds (4.6 rpg) with 80 assists, 42 steals and eight blocked shots. He had only 53 turnovers and 54 Personal fouls while averaging 34.5 minutes of action, starting all 31 games.

At Iowa, Haluska played and started all 98 games. He hit on 491-of-1,141 field goals (43.0%) and 384-of-454 free throws (84.6%) for 1,578 points. His 212 three-point shots made rank fourth and his 582 three-point attempts rank third on the school's career record list. He had 434 rebounds with 210 assists, 156 steals and 23 blocked shots. He was charged with 190 Personal fouls and had 167 turnovers.

For his entire collegiate career, he started all 129 games he played in, shooting .424 from the field, .837 from the charity stripe and .359 from three-point range. He scored a total of 1,862 points (14.4 ppg), with 546 rebounds (4.2 rpg), 240 assists (1.9 apg), 136 steals (1.1 spg) and 36 blocked shots.

Scouting Report

Positives: Well-built athlete with the wingspan, overall quickness and leaping ability to also gain some minutes at the point forward or guard positions...Has a strong drive to the basket, drawing contact along the way, making the defense pay for those fouls with good form, quick release and solid accuracy from the free throw line (career 83.7% shooter)...His power attacking the rim allows him to have good success in making difficult shots...Shows very good balance and body control gliding through the air, getting good elevation shooting from 8-10 feet from the rim...Pulls up quickly, sets his feet and gets off his fall-away jumper with no difficulty...More comfortable playing in transition than in the half court game...Has no problems getting his shots up and over a defender playing in his face...Absorbs punishment and finishes well after contact, doing a nice job of creating his own shot off the dribble...Has the power to bang heads with the more physical forwards going for the offensive rebounds.

Negatives: Good perimeter shooter, but his ball-handling skills need improvement (dribbles too high and keeps the ball on the floor too long, inviting the defender to steal the ball away)...Too right-hand predominant when shooting (has no left-handed skills)...Continues to attempt his three-point shot, but lacks range and consistency shooting from the perimeter...Has a quick release, but it is too unorthodox, as he tends push the ball from under his hip, causing his shots to be erratic and miss its destination when firing long range...Has good court speed, but is a bit stiff in the hips, lacking the lateral agility to stay on the smaller guards along the perimeter.

Compares to: MATT CARROLL-Charlotte...Like Carroll, Haluska has the strength to get the tough inside baskets and is a proficient free throw shooter. However, his ball handling skills leave a lot to be desired. He is a marginal perimeter defender due to stiff hips, but can power his way to the basket and draw contact to get to the free throw line. He is a tireless worker who will be good for a few minutes here and there off the bench, but he will go through long strength where his jump shot can't connect.

High School

Attended Carroll (La.) High School, playing basketball for head coach Keith Stribe...Was an all-around athlete where his father, Steve, serves as the school's principal...Basketball Times rated him the best mid-range shooter in the country and he was named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year as the state's top prep hoopster...As a senior, he added All-State honors, as he ranked second in the state with a 30.1-point scoring average (256-of-461 field goals; 37-of-106 from three-point range) and an average of 9.9 rebounds per game...The four-year starter finished his career with 2,209 points, the eighth-best total in Iowa prep history and the top scoring output for an Iowa large school (Class 3 A/4 A) player in state history...Averaged 17.6 points and 6.9 rebounds as a freshman, 21.5 points and eight boards as a sophomore and 29.8 points and 11 rebounds as a junior...Also lettered in baseball, football and track...Won eight individual prep state track titles: long jump (three), 100 meters (two), 200 meters (two) and 400 meters (one) and was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 2001 and 2002 Iowa State Track and Field Championships...As a senior, he recorded one of the most prolific performances in Iowa State Track & Field Championship history, becoming only the fourth athlete in the 97-year history of the state meet to win four individual events, claiming victories in the 100 meters (10.91), 200 meters (21.56), 400 meters (48.48) and long jump (22 5 1/4)...Broke the Class 3A 100 meter state record with a 10.79 clocking in the preliminaries and also broke the 200 meter state mark with his time in the finals.

Personal:

Business major...Younger brother, Sean, was a Class 3-A All-State selection in basketball at Carroll High in 2004-05...Son of Kim and Steve Haluska...Father is the principal at Carroll High School...Born 11/16/83...Resides in Carroll, Iowa.