ISU announces signing of 7-foot-1 recruit

AMES - It's official - and it's a Greek to the Iowa State men's basketball team.

Cyclones Coach Fred Hoiberg announced Monday 7-foot-1 Veroia, Greece, native Georgios Tsalmpouris signed his national letter of intent.

The member of the Greek national team will be eligible this season.

'Georgios gives us another big man that is able to run the floor and shoot the ball,” Hoiberg said in a statement. 'He fits with how we want to play while giving us more length. I'm looking forward to helping him continue to develop as a basketball player.”

Tsalmpouris, who will turn 18 on June 22, averaged 27 points, 17 rebounds, 10 blocks and three assists for his under-17 regional team.

'As an elementary school student in Greece I started playing basketball having a dream, a big dream, for a country boy from a small rural town named Katerini.” Tsalmpouris said in a statement. 'I hoped that one day I would be able to cross the Atlantic Ocean and playing basketball at a big university. Today I feel blessed because my dream came true on the best possible scenario.”

Tsalmpouris will become the seventh 7-footer in ISU history. The Cyclones didn't feature a player taller than 6-8 during a run to the Sweet 16 this season.

'I am so grateful to Coach Hoiberg and (assistant) coach (Matt) Abdelmassih, who recruited me and gave me the opportunity to learn from the best and contribute to the future success of the Iowa State basketball program,” Tsalmpouris said.

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