Iowa State’s Nick Weiler-Babb eyes big summer with expanded role on horizon

WEST DES MOINES — Nick Weiler-Babb is approaching this summer like it's the most important in his basketball career thus far.

Given what Iowa State is losing and the number of new players it is producing, he knows the level of importance on his growth. Self-examination and a consistent workout schedule have helped him take positive steps.

'I didn't shoot it too well last year, so I think improving my shot will be a big thing,' Weiler-Babb said at the first night of the YMCA CapCity League. 'And just work on my handle and play the point, handle the ball and bring it down.

'Just staying in the gym, getting repetitions and just keep doing it over and over every day.'

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Weiler-Babb saw his minutes fluctuate last season, but played in 35 games while averaging four points and 3.1 rebounds. His versatility and athleticism are his biggest assets while his 30.8 percent clip from beyond the arc was his biggest knock.

If Weiler-Babb becomes a consistent 3-point threat, the Cyclones will have one of their concerns calmed — particularly given what they lose with Naz Mitrou-Long and Matt Thomas' departures. Iowa State Coach Steve Prohm is confident the fruits of that labor will arrive, particularly because of the discipline exhibited this spring by the former Arkansas transfer.

'He's going to have a chance this year to obviously play through a lot more mistakes than he did last year because he doesn't have those senior guards with him, so hopefully that'll bring with it a lot more confidence.' Prohm said last month. 'But he's got to do that in June and July and August to continue to build that.

'I like Nick and he's one guy that will be challenged to take a big step for us.'

Iowa State's four core seniors are gone. No scholarship player on the current ISU roster has played more than a year in the program, with senior Donovan Jackson and Weiler-Babb serving as the new elder statesmen. Four of nine scholarship players will be playing their first season in Ames.

Continuing the culture that has produced six straight NCAA tournament appearances and helping younger players along is on Weiler-Babb's mind almost as much as his individual goals.

'If somebody's at the end of conditioning or somebody's in last place, I'll go back with them and help them finish, or whatever they need,' Weiler-Babb said. 'It's just kind of encouraging everybody because they look up to me because I'm an older guy and I've been there before.'

Weiler-Babb also spent two weeks in Germany with his brother, Chris, a former Iowa State sharpshooter and well-regarded defender. Chris spent last season playing for Ratiopharm Ulm, and got Nick into the gym on every occasion during those 14 days.

'He's a gym rat so he was making me be a gym rat,' Weiler-Babb said. 'I would take every advice he could give me. It was a great experience to see a different profession, besides the NBA, being overseas and it was a really good experience.'