In-state forward is Prohm’s first ISU commitment

AMES - Steve Prohm wasted little time hitting the recruiting trail when he arrived at Iowa State two weeks ago.

For that, the new Cyclones coach picked up his first commitment on Thursday.

Clinton forward Brady Ernst, a 6-foot-8, 215-pounder, pledged to join the Cyclones as a part of the 2015 class.

'I've had this dream for so long and have worked so hard to reach this point,” Ernst told The Gazette. 'Now that it's here, it's just beginning really. I still have a lot of work to do and I'm just really looking forward to the opportunity Coach Prohm and the staff gave me.”

National interest in Ernst tapered off somewhat in February when he tore his right ACL in a substate game for the River Kings. He held a host of mid-major offers from the likes of Northern Iowa, Drake, Lehigh, South Dakota and San Diego, according to Rivals.com, but that high-major offer eluded him.

Ernst was told the recovery process would be roughly six months, which took its toll on the senior who was averaging 16.7 points and 12 rebounds per game before the injury. He plans to be on campus in the next couple weeks and begin summer school on July 13, with the hope to be full go in basketball by the end of August.

'When you're looking to make a push in the state tournament and when I wasn't committed or signed anywhere yet, it was rough,” Ernst said. 'It was just a dark time and really depressing, but people just kept telling me it'll work out. You hear that a lot and then it just isn't working out so (committing to Iowa State is) just a big relief.”

ISU assistant T.J. Otzelberger picked up Ernst's recruitment in April, guiding him through the departure of Fred Hoiberg to the Chicago Bulls and into the Prohm-run program. Ernst said he first met Prohm on a campus visit last Friday when he was offered a scholarship.

'He's obviously a great coach with a good track record at Murray State,” Ernst said. 'I even think he's a better person and really believes in me and that's what's gotten me here. I just had some times where I got really low and really bad so I just had to rely on my faith to keep me going.”

Ernst's commitment also provides Iowa State some depth in the frontcourt to go along with Georges Niang and Jameel McKay. The Cyclones now have one available scholarship - possibly two depending on the status of Georgios Tsalmpouris who is in Greece this summer - and will likely seek a mid-year transfer this fall.

'I couldn't be more thankful to Coach Prohm and the opportunity Iowa State has given me,” Ernst said. 'I'm just looking to make the best of it.”

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