Iowa State Basketball: Cyclones give maximum effort in Prohm’s second year
By Doug Winkey
Iowa State basketball sent its seniors out on a high note with an incredible late winter run.
The anxiety surrounding Iowa State basketball was palpable in Ames after they lost four of six in January. Fans were even starting to question Steve Prohm’s ability to run the program.
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But things drastically changed during a February game against Kansas at fabled Phog Allen. The overtime victory propelled the team to nine wins in their final 11 regular season contests. Then they won their third Big 12 Tournament title in four years and won their Big Dance opener against Nevada. The run finally ended when their comeback fell short against Purdue in the Round of 32.
Four seniors keyed the charge. Monte Morris ended his career as one of the best point guards college basketball has ever seen. Deonte Burton might have played himself into the NBA Draft with his improved decision making complimenting his already crazy athletic potential. Matt Thomas and Naz Mitrou-Long rounded out their careers as two of the best Cyclone snipers to don the uniform. It is impossible to articulate how much those guys meant to the program and replacing them is near-impossible.
The team’s biggest improvement came on defense, where they ended the year in the top 50 for defensive efficiency compared to 91st last year. The stars are gone, but the remaining pieces and newcomers seek to keep the train rolling in Ames.
Final Grade: A-
So, what is next in Ames?
Who’s gone:
G – Monte Morris (16.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.5 spg)
G – Naz Mitrou-Long (15.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.2 spg)
G – Matt Thomas (12.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
G/F – Deonte Burton (15.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, 1.4 bpg)
F – Darrell Bowie (5.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
F – Merrill Holden (2.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
The four guards have done so much for the program that it is impossible to state how irreplaceable they look right now. Two or even three of them could have played their way into the NBA ranks as the season went on. That doesn’t mean they were the only ones doing good work.
Bowie came over from Northern Illinois to act as a stretch forward. He wasn’t a huge impact guy, but had some terrific performances down the stretch when needed; he scored in double-figures against Oklahoma State and West Virginia to help the Cyclones capture the Big 12 Tournament championship. Holden was a big disappointment transferring from Louisiana Tech but soldiered on through the adversity.
Who’s back:
G – Donovan Jackson (6.4 ppg)
G – Nick Weiler-Babb (4.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
G – Jakolby Long (1.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg)
F – Solomon Young (4.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.8 bpg)
There isn’t much returning, but the remaining players are promising. Donovan Jackson looks like a good point guard next year as he backed up Morris and hit an incredible 49 percent of his threes from the start of Big 12 play to the final game with Purdue. The big question is how much of a true point guard he can be next season. Weiler-Babb figures to start at the swing position and has a ton of potential with his versatility. Long is a sneaky option to factor in the rotation as ISU’s top 100 recruit from the 2016 class.
Young is the only big man back, but he adds a grit to the front court ISU has not had in several years. His 6’8″, 240-pound frame and a year of development bodes well for his production next year.
Who’s new:
G – Lindell Wigginton (6’1″, 180)
G – Darius McNeill (6’3″, 170)
F – Terrance Lewis (6’6″, 195)
F – Cameron Lard (6’9″, 220)
F – Ray Kasongo (6’9″, 245, transfer from Tennessee)
Wigginton is the jewel as a top 50 player and one of the best guard prospects in the nation. His pedigree from Oak Hill Academy gives him the inside track to start next to Jackson next year. Wigginton is the highest-rated recruit Iowa State has maybe ever snagged. McNeill is a southpaw from Houston who gives the Cyclones another option at both guard spots.
The two forwards are also big additions. Lewis is a big slasher from the wing that gives the Cyclones a guy like Burton, but the reports suggest he needs to work on his outside jumper to make him even more lethal. Lard will battle Lewis for a starting spot alongside Young after redshirting this year. He is a lanky forward who can block shots and run to floor. These four will go a long way in determining the team’s success next year. Kasongo will mix it up as well after spending 2015-2016 in Knoxville with the Volunteers.
The Cyclones have four remaining scholarships for 2017-2018, so plan on seeing them hit the transfer trail and junior college ranks hard.
Next: Ranking the remaining 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament
Final Number to know:
82 – The proportion of scoring graduating between the six seniors. That is a huge gap to make up for the nine players currently on scholarship. Someone will step up, but Iowa State might need a high-profile transfer to help fill up the stat sheet.