ISU’s McKay waiting, eager to contribute

AMES - He has a couple of months before he will actually get on the court for Iowa State, but junior transfer Jameel McKay feels like the waiting has gone quickly.

McKay arrived in Ames last winter from Marquette - where he did not compete in games. He sat out the second semester of last season and per NCAA rules will be eligible to play for the Cyclones Dec. 20.

'Coach (Fred Hoiberg) always reminds me every day that Dec. 20 is going to be here (before) I know it,” McKay said. 'My job now is to just help the team while I'm here, while I'm sitting out, because I feel like I can be a part of the eight games I miss just by preparing them in practice.”

At 6-foot-9, 215 pounds with an 86-inch wingspan, McKay will provide something that hasn't been around in Fred Hoiberg's tenure: the presence of a true rim protector.

McKay can add to more offensively and defensively, though. Hoiberg was quick to note his ability to run the floor and score efficiently on the block. Having that kind of presence down low will allow Iowa State to do a lot on both ends of the court.

'You can get out and pressure a little more defensively when you have a guy that can block shots in the back,” Hoiberg said. 'We were 6-6 and 6-7 most games at the four and five last year. Melvin (Ejim) was fairly athletic, Georges (Niang) not so much, so it didn't allow us to get out and pressure as much because we didn't have that guy.”

While McKay continues to sit, Hoiberg plans to insert him into lineups with the first team in order to have him ready. McKay may have a little rust to knock off when he finally gets in a game, but junior Naz Long said his presence alone is enough to benefit the team.

'He changes shots; he alters shots,” Long said. 'Even with Georges' hook shot, he has to kind of put a little more air on it now, and you know how unstoppable that is.”

Niang fit, ready

The first two weeks were the most miserable.

Junior Georges Niang was recovering from foot surgery to repair a broken metatarsal he suffered against North Carolina Central in the NCAA tournament when he decided to make a change. Out with the junk food; in with healthy food.

'You're just pushing yourself into wanting to eat bad things, and if you can get past the first two weeks, you'll be fine,” Niang said.

Niang has lost 25 pounds.

'Being able to get up and down the court without huffing and puffing and being able to make smarter plays,” Niang said. 'I think that's helped me, but I haven't played in a game in I don't know how long it's been, so I'm going to wait and see until then.”

This slimmed down version of Niang will also allow the Cyclones' to better defend the 3-point line with Niang stepping out to the perimeter.

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