Iowa State adds Simeon Carter to 2015 recruiting class

AMES - Moods were light and loose on the court of the Iowa State practice facility Friday, no one exemplifying that more so than coach Steve Prohm.

Prohm stood behind the wall of reporters, grinning ear-to-ear, and fired a question at Georges Niang, much to the amusement of the rest of the team. And with the news Prohm and the Cyclones received Thursday about the addition of Simeon Carter, they had every right to have an extra spring in their step.

Carter was officially announced as part of the 2015 ISU recruiting class Friday morning and will be immediately eligible. He averaged 14.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game as a high school senior.

Prohm called the signing of the 6-foot-8 forward from West Charlotte, N.C. a 'home run.”

'He's real long, but has got some pretty good skill and an awesome kid. A real humble kid,” Prohm said. 'Once he gets in here and gets to work with eating and lifting and conditioning, his best basketball is ahead of him. To play with Jameel (McKay) and Georges for a year and then come back as a sophomore is huge.”

With the signing of Carter, Iowa State has issued all of its available scholarships for 2015-16. The status of Greek-born Georgios Tsalmpouris is not 'definitive” yet, but Carter's presence gives the Cyclones depth in the front court not just this season, but provides a base for 2016 and beyond.

Carter originally committed to SMU, but a delay in his admission to the university led him to seek other options. Prohm attempted to recruit Carter to Murray State, but didn't get heavily involved until he got to Iowa State and spoke with Carter's AAU coaches as well as SMU coach Larry Brown.

'They were terrific in the process and to get Simeon, not only another guy up front but you're getting a very talented player and he's going to be a freshman and here for four years,” Prohm said. 'We're excited about him.”

Because he hasn't been enrolled at Iowa State, Carter will not be allowed to travel with the Cyclones to Spain on Monday, but is expected to be in Ames within a couple days of when the team returns on Aug. 20. Nick Weiler-Babb - sitting out as a transfer this year - and freshman Nick Noskowiak (family situation) will also not be travelling to Spain.

Iowa State will have six scholarship players and three walk-ons available, with Naz Long, Brady Ernst and Deonte Burton travelling but not participating. The Cyclones will play four games in three cities during a 10-day span, and besides team bonding have one objective while in Europe.

'Win. Just win and spend time with my teammates,” said senior Jameel McKay. 'Most of us have been around each other so long. I guess our chemistry can improve, but we just want to have fun. It's going to be exciting to see the world with my teammates.”

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