Cyclone Ties Too Strong for Staple
Damion Staple, a 6-7, 230 pound power forward from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Ill., signed on Thursday with Iowa State University.
As reported here last week, Staple's recruiting process reopened after Dennis Felton left Western Kentucky and took the head coaching job at the University of Georgia.
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Iowa State and Mississippi State emerged as the immediate front runners for Staple last week as MSU Head Coach Rick Stansbury and ISU Head Coach Larry Eustachy were in Harrisburg last week to make their pitches.
Cincinnati's Bob Huggins also paid a recent visit to Harrisburg to pitch for the Bearcats, but Staple committed to Iowa State without taking an official visit.
"Once he opened it up, he told me that he wanted to play in the Big 12 and SEC," SIC Head Coach Todd Franklin said. "A ton of schools called, but we were up front and told them that Damion wasn't interested."
There's a strong link between Iowa State and Southeastern Illinois. Incumbent Cyclone junior point guard Tim Barnes attended SIC for two years and played with Staple during the 2001-2002 season.
"That was the biggest thing, that Damion felt comfortable with the staff," Franklin said. "He roomed with Timmy here and they lived together last summer."
Other than familiarity with the Iowa State program, Staple also saw a chance to contribute.
"We saw them play 20 times on the Cyclone Network, and they really only had two inside guys last year in [Jared] Homan and [Jackson]Vroman," Franklin said. "They need another one in the rotation, and he gives them a different dimension."
Staple was one of the better power forwards in the JC ranks as a sophomore this past season. He averaged 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest, shooting at a 61 percent clip from the field.
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Staple committed to Western Kentucky back in the fall but never signed a national letter of intent. He will now bring his strong interior play to the Big 12 Conference rather than the Sun Belt.
"What Damion will bring is a tremendous ability to run the floor," Franklin said. "He is quick and explosive around the basket, he has a jump hook, and he gives them a different look from Homan and Vroman.
Staple will have two years of eligibility at Iowa State.