NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon has announced that Leyton Wolf has accepted a walk-on position to play for the Redbirds starting in the 2026-27 season.
"We are thrilled about the addition of Leyton Wolf to our men's basketball roster," said Pedon. "Like his brother, we feel that Leyton will be a great fit for our program both on and off the floor. While he is a much different player than his brother, many of his intangible attributes are very similar. Â Leyton is a great teammate and he is all about winning. As a player, he has a unique blend of size and skill that will serve him well as his game continues to develop. We are thrilled to keep the Wolf family around and equally as excited to welcome Leyton as the next Wolf to wear a Redbird uniform."
A native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Wolf helped lead Cedar Falls High School to an undefeated 25-0 season, winning the Iowa 4A State Championship. The 6-8 forward averaged 8.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game as a senior, including scoring 13 points with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the State Championship Game.
Wolf, the younger brother of recently graduated Illinois State guard Landon Wolf, made 58 percent of his shots from the field, while adding 31 blocked shots during his senior season. As a junior he scored 191 points with 132 rebounds, 61 assists, 33 steals and 28 blocked shots. He also was a member of the Cedar Falls High School football team, helping the team to a 7-3 record as a senior.
The Redbirds are coming off a 23-13 season in 2025-26, advancing to the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament with wins over Kent State, Wake Forest, and Dayton. The Redbirds return their top two scorers – Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger – as well as 17-game starter Mason Klabo. Wolf joins a group of newcomers that include transfers Noah Cleveland, Demarion Burch, and Zaxton King, and incoming freshmen Jordan Williams and Matthew Szafoni.
