By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com Publisher
First it was Craig Brackins. Then, it was Melvin Ejim.
Who will be the next Iowa State Cyclone by way of the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.?
It could be 2011 point guard prospect and former Providence commitment, Naadir Tharpe.
“I have been talking to the coaches there for a while now,” Tharpe told CycloneFanatic.com on Tuesday afternoon. “I have very high interest in them.”
Tharpe, who stands at 5-foot-11, 170-pounds, has one very close connection to the current Cyclone program. That is Iowa State freshman, Melvin Ejim. The two were roommates last year at Brewster and are still very close friends today.
“We know each other on the court and each other’s game,” Tharpe said.
Tharpe said that he’s never met Brackins, who was the 21stpick in the 2010 NBA Draft (Hornets) but that the entire Brewster Academy is proud. That NBA thing is quite the draw for Tharpe. Now, insert Fred Hoiberg into this equation.
“Their coach (Fred Hoiberg) now used to be in the NBA. That helps out as well,” Tharpe said.
T.J. Otzelberger is currently Iowa State’s primary recruiter of Tharpe. Otzelberger is also credited for bringing Brackins and Ejim to Ames.
Tharpe said that he’s also currently considering: Miami, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, Rutgers, Marquette, Seton Hall and Boston College.
“Most of those schools have offered me,” Tharpe said. “I am talking to everybody right now.”
Tharpe is confident that he’ll make a college decision this fall.
Iowa State already has two verbal commitments for the class of 2011 in Anthony Odunsi (PG out of Texas) and Elgin Cook (SF out of Wisconsin).
