Iowa State
University
(10)
by Jeff Feyerer
Projected Starters
G
6-2
PT%
84.78
G
PTE
28.26
6-4
PT%
68.68
G
F
PT%
76.84
F
6-8
6-9
PT%
49.93
HS100 AC/AA
2-AC
Naz Long
PTE
12.50
6-4
PT%
10.08
Monte Morris
HS100 AC/AA
Deonte Burton
PTE
0.77
HS100 AC/AA
54
Georges Niang
JR
NBA
47
SR
NBA
JR
NBA
SR
PTE
17.69
HS100 AC/AA
71
3-AA
NBA
PTE
17.22
HS100 AC/AA
3-AC
NBA
Jameel McKay
SR
Bench Rotation
G
6-4
PT%
35.88
F
PTE
2.68
6-6
PT%
38.53
G
G
HS100 AC/AA
52
Abdel Nader
PTE
1.74
6-3
PT%
65.86
Matt Thomas
HS100 AC/AA
Hallice Cooke
PTE
0.38
HS100 AC/AA
6-3 Nick Noskowiak
PT%
0.00
PTE
0.00
HS100 AC/AA
JR
NBA
SR
NBA
SO
NBA
FR
NBA
The true test of sustainability
for the success the Iowa State
Cyclones program has experienced
the last five seasons comes this year.
Fred Hoiberg remains an Ames
institution. Having played and
coached at his alma mater, Hoiberg
got the program back on track by
implementing an entertaining style
of play and taking advantage of
transfer rules to attract players on
the outs at other universities.
With his departure, a new
boss needs to step in and shepherd
an experienced group to a point
Hoiberg couldn’t get them: the Final
Four.
In very few instances do new
coaches at top programs inherit the
wealth of talent laid at the feet of
new coach, Steve Prohm. Returning
to build on last season’s Big 12
Tournament Championship—
Georges Niang, Monte Morris, Naz
Long, and Jameel McKay—with
a ton of experience, and a focus
on reaching the final weekend in
Houston.
If Prohm chooses to keep the
uptempo system that Hoiberg
implemented, it will benefit from
the presence of senior leader
Georges Niang. Niang is one of the
most unique college players to come
around in a long time. He has the
handle and passing ability to run
the offense, the shooting ability to
knock down perimeter shots, and
at 6-foot-8, 230 pounds, the size to
bang in the post. Despite playing
mostly power forward or center, the
Cyclones will rely on him to play
all over the floor. Last season, he
was the only Big XII player to finish
in the top 15 in points, rebounds,
assists, and 3-point field goals made.
Defensively, he has improved, but
still does not block shots or create
turnovers at a high rate, getting by
mainly on effort.
As far as translations to the
next level go, Niang does not fit the
traditional mold. He’s not overly
athletic, doesn’t rebound as well
as someone his size should, or do
anything at an excellent level. But in
the college game, his proficiency in
many different phases of the game,
his smarts, and his ability to take
advantage of opponents’ deficiencies
allow him to shine. He will be at
the top of almost everyone’s lists for
preseason All-American teams and
will depart Iowa State University
atop many of the Big 12 conference’s
individual leaderboards.
BBALLBREAKDOWN | 22