Staple Seeking Out of LOI
Damion Staple probably thought he had the recruiting process all figured out.
After committing to Western Kentucky in the fall, he declined to sign with the Sun Belt program in case Hilltopper Head Coach Dennis Felton left for a high major program.
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So Staple looked like a genious when Felton left Western Kentucky and took over the reins at Georgia this spring.
Staple quickly reopened the recruiting process, and it didn't take him long to sign with Iowa State University, sans an official visit.
But no one, including Staple or Southeastern Illinois College Head Coach Todd Franklin, could have foreseen what played out at Iowa State over the past week.
With Larry Eustachy out as Cyclone head coach, Staple now wants out of the letter of intent he signed with Iowa State a few weeks back, according to Franklin.
"He is not going to Iowa State," Franklin told JUCO Junction on Tuesday. "He has to go somewhere with people that he knows."
"He knew the coaches at Iowa State and Timmy [Barnes] is there," Franklin continued. "Damion walked into my office and told me he is not going to Iowa State, and he is adamant about that."
Franklin said that repeated attempts to reach the athletic department administration at Iowa State over the past week have been unsuccessful.
Franklin is hoping for a quick and speedy resolution to the situation. If Iowa State grants the release, Staple would be free to sign with another college this spring.
With graduation looming on May 16th and Staple set to return to his native Jamaica shortly thereafter, Franklin would like an answer from the Iowa State athletic department as soon as possible.
Many high major programs expressed interest in Staple this spring when he reopened his recruiting process. In addition to Iowa State, Mississippi State and Cincinnati made trips to Harrisburg, Ill., to look at the skilled and athletic big man.
Staple wound up committing to Iowa State without taking an official visit a few weeks back. Franklin said that Coach Eustachy and former SIC player Tim Barnes were key factors in Staple's decisions.
As a sophomore this past season, Staple was the second leading scorer for a 34-2 Falcon squad. He averaged 15.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and shot 61 percent from the field