ISU lands a shooting guard

AMES - The strains of “Sweet Caroline” left a lasting impression on four-star shooting guard Matt Thomas of Onalaska, Wis.

“I was at the game when (Iowa State) beat Kansas last season,” said Thomas, a top-100 Scout.com basketball player who committed to the Cyclones' class of 2013 Thursday. “That was crazy - just the whole arena going nuts like that and then running on the court. I hope I'm going to be in a situation like that when I'm there.”

Thomas chose ISU over Virginia.

Scout.com tabbed the 6-4, 190-pounder as the 20th-best shooting guard in the country and 87th-best recruit overall. He averaged 21 points, six rebounds and three assists as a junior in a state championship season.

He said the Cyclones were the first high-major program to offer him a scholarship.

“Not just that they were the first team in, but how they recruited me,” Thomas said. “Last summer at AAU, Coach (Fred) Hoiberg and (assistant) T.J. Otzelberger, at least one of them, pretty much came to all of my games. They've showed support for over a year. You know that you're important to them.”

Thomas said ISU's up-tempo style of play also factored into his decision.

“The whole (Coach) Fred Hoiberg (thing), too,” he said. “That was his second year there and he's already got the team into the NCAA Tournament.”