Although the two grew up lifelong Cyclone fans, Biliew did not know Kelderman was planning to walk on at Iowa State.

As a five-star recruit, Biliew made his intentions clear to the world when he chose Iowa State, but Watson said Kelderman was not like other recruits. He did not tweet or announce anything; he just talked with the people close to him.

Despite having scholarship offers from smaller colleges, the decision to go to Iowa State was not hard for Kelderman. 

“Iowa State just fits who both of us are as people but also as players,” Kelderman said.

Kelderman’s brother was a manager for the Cyclones when T.J. Otzelberger was an assistant coach. The two became friends, so the connection formed between Otzelberger and Kelderman as well.

Otzelberger was at the first game between Waukee and Waukee Northwest when Kelderman took the reins and willed his team to a win. According to Watson, that was the point when Otzelberger told assistant coach JR Blount that Kelderman would be a good walk-on candidate.

When Kelderman announced his decision to go to Iowa State to his coaches, they in turn told Biliew. Biliew texted Kelderman that same morning, excited to become teammates again, and the two even worked out together before they got to Iowa State.

Even though they were rivals, the familiarity they had helped them respark the bond they had as teammates and make the transition to Iowa State easier.

“You have someone to lean on that you’ve been through it with,” Kelderman said.

However, the rivalry between the two was not going to die just because they were teammates.

“As soon as we [saw] each other, we had to get a squabble in about what happened,” Biliew said.

Biliew and Kelderman are “extremely competitive,” so it was no surprise that they would carry over their rivalry from high school. Although, it took on a more friendly look as they were teammates again.

Being familiar with each other’s games allowed them to push each other in practice again, and the rivalry made them even more motivated to outwork each other.

“It’s all part of the game,” Kelderman said. “We still respect each other and love each other off the court. It’s just on the court, it can get a little chippy. That’s what makes basketball basketball.”

Despite the chippiness, Kelderman was the first to breathe a sigh of relief to see Bilew in the same uniform as him again. Biliew also did the same given what he saw on the court in all three of their past meetings. 

“I’m glad that we’re teammates again,” Kelderman said. “It’s a lot better competing with him instead of competing against him.”

Although the high school days are slowly shrinking into the rearview mirror as they tackle the challenge of the next level, both Biliew and Kelderman still hold a place in their hearts for their alma maters.

“We used to it. We talk normally now,” Biliew said. “But whenever Northwest and Waukee play again, I’m the first person to talk about it when they win.”

The first time Waukee won when they were both at Iowa State, Biliew went to the next practice and flaunted the win to Kelderman. He had to let him know what school was on top.

“The rest of our career here, we’ll be reminding each other of who wins upcoming games,” Kelderman said.

The uniqueness of the situation is something that may never be rivaled again, according to Kanaskie. 

It is rare for a school to split into two and for both basketball teams to continue being top programs in the state. Add to that the fact that Biliew and Kelderman would lead their respective teams to marquee matchups and then be reunited at one of the top basketball programs in the toughest conference in collegiate basketball, and it makes for a storybook reunion.

“I don’t know if it will ever happen again…Usually a community doesn’t split into two high schools and both high schools be good, and both players be good enough to play in the Big 12,” Kanaskie said. “I think it’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Given all that the two went through to get to where they are, the rivalry and bond between them have strengthened who they are as people and players.

They may be teammates now, but their rivalry clearly still goes strong. Even as the two find success at the next level, the old high school days will still live on and give them a fire to compete hard against each other every single day.

“Yeah, that ain’t never gonna stop,” Biliew said.