Iowa State Basketball: Ray Kasongo headed to Ames

Iowa State basketball adds Ray Kasongo, formerly of Tennessee.

Iowa State is back to their bread-and-butter under Steve Prohm.

Jon Rothstein was among the first to report that the Cyclones had received a commitment from former Tennessee Volunteer, Ray Kasongo.

Tennessee transfer Ray Kasongo has committed to Iowa State, source told @CBSSports. Sit one, play two. Signed scholarship papers today.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 18, 2016

Kasongo is listed at 6’8″, 245 pounds. This is fantastic size for a transfer this late into the spring/summer.

The Toronto native averaged just 1.4 points and 1.5 boards in roughly five minutes of playing time per night. His stats certainly aren’t earth-shaking, but his primary role in Knoxville was as a substitute bruiser.

He did make up for low total offensive output with a quality 52 percent shooting percentage and a decent 64 percent free throw rate.

More from Busting Brackets

When he eventually takes the floor for the Cyclones in 2017-2018, he has a chance to be one of the team’s primary frontcourt options. By that time, the Cyclones will have seen bigs Darrell Bowie and Merrill Holden graduate.

This will leave just Simeon Carter, Cameron Lard, and Solomon Young to man the post based on the current scholarship chart.

I don’t have a lot of viewing information to judge Kasongo’s total skill set, but based on his size and current production, I could see him functioning similarly to former Cyclone Daniel Edozie.

Edozie was often utilized as an emergency center when foul trouble arose. He hit the post to provide toughness and energy whenever called upon. Given the athleticism of ISU’s other frontcourt prospects, Kasongo should likely move to center and try to stay close to the rim where he appears most comfortable at the moment.

Of course, one never knows what could happen in today’s college basketball landscape. Kasongo turned in a solid season when he played for College of Southern Idaho in 2014-15.

He put up 6.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. These don’t seem like spectacular numbers, but they do indicate an athletic rim protector who knew his role.

Even if Steve Prohm doesn’t coax wildly improved numbers out of his newest big man, he has an intriguing option that got buried wearing Tennessee orange.