DES MOINES — The Steve Prohm era is officially underway at the Sukup Basketball Facility.
This week, the Iowa State basketball team started its summer workouts every morning at 6:30, and thus started the transition from Fred Hoiberg to the newly hired Prohm.
“Everything is going well,” Marquette transfer Deonte Burton said at opening night of the 2015 YMCA Capital City League. “He is in a transition phase, so he is here, but he is gone because he has to find the coaching staff that we need. But so far it is very good.”
The transition from Hoiberg to Prohm might not be as difficult for Burton as it will be for some being that he only practiced with the Cyclones for half of last season.
Junior point guard Monte Morris is getting some help with the change from people with first-hand knowledge of Prohm’s coaching style. Former Murray State guards Isaiah Canaan (Houston Rockets second round draft pick in 2013) and Cameron Payne (a hopeful 2015 NBA lottery pick) both reached out to Morris about their former coach.
“They say he’s a good guy and I ain’t got nothing to worry about,” Morris said. “He trusts his point guards. They told me I’m in a good position and I won’t regret it.”
Quick Hits
*** Incoming freshman Nick Noskowiak has suffered a compound fracture in his right pinky finger. He said that doctors expect it to take six to eight weeks to heal.The injury won’t keepNoskowiak from suiting up in the 2015 YMCA Capital City League.
“It’s a little swollen, it’s nothing serious,” Noskowiak said.
*** Junior sharpshooter Naz Long continues to recover from two offseason hip surgeries. Long first went under the knife 10 weeks ago and then had the second surgery four weeks later.
“I feel very strong,” Long said.
Long was initially expected to be able to return to action sometime in October, just over a month before Iowa State’s season opener, but he doesn’t have a specific date in mind.
“It might be early, it might be later,” Long said. “Just going to push it as far as I can, make sure I’m good to go.”
CCL Recaps
Walnut Creek YMCA 133, Capital Orthopedics 114
*** Walnut Creek YMCA was able to battle past Capital Orthopedics despite being without the reigning league MVP Jameel McKay.
Arkansas transfer Nick Weiler-Babb scored 17 points, grabbed five boards and dished out seven assists for YMCA. Drake freshman Billy Wampler led the team in scoring with 34 points.
Junior guard Matt Thomas scored 27 points, grabbed eight boards and dished out seven assists in the losing effort for Capital Orthopedics. Iowa State freshman guard Nick Noskowiak scored 14 points and knocked down four three-pointers.
Phoenix Renewable Resources 120, Hannah Homes 107
*** Monte Morris poured in a league-high 47 points on opening night to lead Phoenix Renewable Resources past Deonte Burton’s Hannah Homes squad. Morris dished out six assists, made eight 3-pointers and was 8-of-9 from inside the arc.
Burton added 43 points on 17-of-31 shooting, including four three-pointers. He also grabbed 11 boards and threw down a monster slam in the losing effort.
Former Cyclone and current Southern Mississippi player Kourtlin Jackson scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Phoenix Renewable Resources.
Adio Chiropractic 119, Renaissance Granite & Quartz 87
*** Georges Niang proved why he was the number one pick in the CCL draft on opening night when he scored 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Adio Chiropractic to the win. Niang made four 3-pointers and was 10-of-14 from inside the arc.
Iowa State walk-on Jordan Ashton poured in 25 points and knocked down six threes for Adio Chiropractic.
Former Cyclone Daniel Edozie scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds for Renaissance Granite & Quartz.
