ISU Athletics Communications
Iowa State head men’s basketball coach Steve Prohm announced the signing of four players to a national letter of intent for the 2016-17 season. The Cyclones’ class includes two prep and two junior college players.
“I think we have addressed many important needs with these four players and we are excited to add them to our program,” Prohm said. “We had a need for players that would be able to contribute when they arrive on campus and we feel like these players will be able to do that for our team.”
The Cyclone coaching staff targeted a pair of junior college players, signing Donovan Jackson and Emmanuel Malou. The four-player signing class also includes prep standouts Jakolby Long and Solomon Young.
Jackson, who is a sophomore at Iowa Western Community College, is ranked as the No. 7 JUCO player and top JUCO point guard by 247sports.com. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native, averaged 13.6 points while connecting on 66 3-pointers at a 40 percent clip. An 86.0 percent free-throw shooter, Jackson also averaged 2.3 assists per game as a freshman for the Reivers. Jackson picked the Cyclones over offers from Illinois, Miami and Oklahoma.
“Donovan is an explosive playmaking guard whose best attribute is his shooting,” Prohm said. “He’s able to get in the paint and set up his teammates. Donovan is a great leader that will be a big asset for our team in the future.”
Malou, who originally hails from Melbourne, Australia, will join the Cyclones after attending Yuba College (California). Malou ranks as the No. 2 JUCO player in the nation and a four-star recruit according to 247sports.com. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks as a freshman for Yuba, scoring in double figures in 19 of 23 games. The 6-9 Malou, who shot 54.4 percent from the field and 47.3 percent behind the arc, picked Iowa State over offers from Arizona, Kansas and Oregon.
“Emmanuel is such a versatile scorer,” Prohm said. “He’s got the ability to take advantage of the defense off the dribble and shoots the ball really well from long range. He’s an outstanding rebounder and shot blocker. The athleticism he possesses and his timing will be an asset for us on the glass.”
Long comes to the Cyclones after what has already been a successful high school career at Mustang High School in Mustang, Oklahoma. Long averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists as a junior while playing for his father, Terry, and helping Mustang to a perfect 28-0 season and a state title in Oklahoma’s largest class (6A) last winter. The top-ranked prep in Oklahoma, Long picked the Cyclones over offers from Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma State.
“Jakolby is a really good perimeter scorer that also makes plays off the dribble because of his ability to handle the ball,” Prohm said. “A big thing for Jakolby and us is that he is physically ready to play and contribute at this level.”
Young averaged 15.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a junior at Sacramento High School. He is a three-star recruit by all the major recruiting services. Young helped his NorCal high school finish last season 28-6, while earning a spot on the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro first team. Young picked ISU over offers from Arizona State, Nevada and Washington.
“Solomon provides frontcourt depth because of his physical stature, but he also can step out and shoot the ball at an effective clip that will force opponents to guard,” Prohm said. “He brings great energy to the court each time he steps out there. We really like his motor and what he can do to help our team.”
With the signing of these four players, Prohm and his staff have added six players in just six months on the job.
2016-17 MBB Signees
Donovan Jackson
6-2
Milwaukee, Wis. (Pius XI/Iowa Western CC)
Junior College
Played at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa … four-star recruit and No. 7 JUCO player according to 247sports.com … ranked top JUCO point guard by 247sports.com … three-star recruit by Rivals.com … second on team with 13.6 points … also averaged 2.3 assists per game as a freshman … made 66 3-pointers, shooting 40 percent from three-point range … shot 86.0 percent from the free-throw line … scored 24 points against Missouri State-West Plains, connecting on a career-high 6-of-9 three-pointers … hit at least four threes in six games … also had offers from Illinois, Miami and Oklahoma.
High School
Played at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee, Wis., the same high school as former Cyclones Korie Lucious … earned all-state and all-conference honors as a senior while averaging 18 points, six rebounds and five assists per game … team won conference and regional titles and earned a state tournament appearance … came off the bench in the 2012 state semifinals when Pius XI lost to current Cyclone Matt Thomas’ Onalaska team.
Personal
Son of Rose Blanco and Donald Jackson.
Emmanuel Malou
6-9
Melbourne, Australia (ABCD Prep/Yuba College)
Junior College
Attended Yuba Community College in Marysville, Calif. … averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks … shot 54.4 percent from the field and 47.3 percent from behind the arc … earned All-Bay Valley honors … No. 2 JUCO player and four-star recruit according to 247sports.com … picked Iowa State over offers from Arizona, Kansas and Oregon … tallied double figures in 19 of 23 games, including five games with 20 or more points … scored 24 points against Mendocino and Napa … recorded at least four blocks in 11 games, including a season-high nine against Contra Costa.
High School
Attended the now-defunct ABCD Prep in Des Moines, Iowa.
Personal
Son of Mary Oriah and Martin Malou.
Jakolby Long
6-4
Mustang, Okla. (Mustang)
High School
Attended Mustang High School … averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists as a junior while playing for his father, Terry … team finished 28-0 and won Class 6A, Oklahoma’s largest classification … scored 11 points in the state title game against Edmond Santa Fe to help Broncos win their first championship … earned a spot on The Oklahoman’s Super 5 team … three-star combo guard … ranked among Rivals top-150 … Scout.com’s top-ranked prep in Oklahoma … picked Iowa State over offers from Oklahoma State, Georgia and Missouri.
Personal
Son of Terry and Jackie Long.
Solomon Young
6-6
Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento)
High School
Attends Sacramento High School … averaged 15.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a junior … helped team to a 28-6 record … a three-star recruit according to 247sports.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com … earned Sacramento Bee All-Metro honors … picked the Cyclones over offers from Washington, Arizona State and Nevada.
Personal
Son of Tina Solomon.
Iowa State head men’s basketball coach Steve Prohm announced the signing of four players to a national letter of intent for the 2016-17 season. The Cyclones’ class includes two prep and two junior college players.
“I think we have addressed many important needs with these four players and we are excited to add them to our program,” Prohm said. “We had a need for players that would be able to contribute when they arrive on campus and we feel like these players will be able to do that for our team.”
The Cyclone coaching staff targeted a pair of junior college players, signing Donovan Jackson and Emmanuel Malou. The four-player signing class also includes prep standouts Jakolby Long and Solomon Young.
Jackson, who is a sophomore at Iowa Western Community College, is ranked as the No. 7 JUCO player and top JUCO point guard by 247sports.com. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native, averaged 13.6 points while connecting on 66 3-pointers at a 40 percent clip. An 86.0 percent free-throw shooter, Jackson also averaged 2.3 assists per game as a freshman for the Reivers. Jackson picked the Cyclones over offers from Illinois, Miami and Oklahoma.
“Donovan is an explosive playmaking guard whose best attribute is his shooting,” Prohm said. “He’s able to get in the paint and set up his teammates. Donovan is a great leader that will be a big asset for our team in the future.”
Malou, who originally hails from Melbourne, Australia, will join the Cyclones after attending Yuba College (California). Malou ranks as the No. 2 JUCO player in the nation and a four-star recruit according to 247sports.com. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks as a freshman for Yuba, scoring in double figures in 19 of 23 games. The 6-9 Malou, who shot 54.4 percent from the field and 47.3 percent behind the arc, picked Iowa State over offers from Arizona, Kansas and Oregon.
“Emmanuel is such a versatile scorer,” Prohm said. “He’s got the ability to take advantage of the defense off the dribble and shoots the ball really well from long range. He’s an outstanding rebounder and shot blocker. The athleticism he possesses and his timing will be an asset for us on the glass.”
Long comes to the Cyclones after what has already been a successful high school career at Mustang High School in Mustang, Oklahoma. Long averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists as a junior while playing for his father, Terry, and helping Mustang to a perfect 28-0 season and a state title in Oklahoma’s largest class (6A) last winter. The top-ranked prep in Oklahoma, Long picked the Cyclones over offers from Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma State.
“Jakolby is a really good perimeter scorer that also makes plays off the dribble because of his ability to handle the ball,” Prohm said. “A big thing for Jakolby and us is that he is physically ready to play and contribute at this level.”
Young averaged 15.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a junior at Sacramento High School. He is a three-star recruit by all the major recruiting services. Young helped his NorCal high school finish last season 28-6, while earning a spot on the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro first team. Young picked ISU over offers from Arizona State, Nevada and Washington.
“Solomon provides frontcourt depth because of his physical stature, but he also can step out and shoot the ball at an effective clip that will force opponents to guard,” Prohm said. “He brings great energy to the court each time he steps out there. We really like his motor and what he can do to help our team.”
With the signing of these four players, Prohm and his staff have added six players in just six months on the job.
2016-17 MBB Signees
Donovan Jackson
6-2
Milwaukee, Wis. (Pius XI/Iowa Western CC)
Junior College
Played at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa … four-star recruit and No. 7 JUCO player according to 247sports.com … ranked top JUCO point guard by 247sports.com … three-star recruit by Rivals.com … second on team with 13.6 points … also averaged 2.3 assists per game as a freshman … made 66 3-pointers, shooting 40 percent from three-point range … shot 86.0 percent from the free-throw line … scored 24 points against Missouri State-West Plains, connecting on a career-high 6-of-9 three-pointers … hit at least four threes in six games … also had offers from Illinois, Miami and Oklahoma.
High School
Played at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee, Wis., the same high school as former Cyclones Korie Lucious … earned all-state and all-conference honors as a senior while averaging 18 points, six rebounds and five assists per game … team won conference and regional titles and earned a state tournament appearance … came off the bench in the 2012 state semifinals when Pius XI lost to current Cyclone Matt Thomas’ Onalaska team.
Personal
Son of Rose Blanco and Donald Jackson.
Emmanuel Malou
6-9
Melbourne, Australia (ABCD Prep/Yuba College)
Junior College
Attended Yuba Community College in Marysville, Calif. … averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks … shot 54.4 percent from the field and 47.3 percent from behind the arc … earned All-Bay Valley honors … No. 2 JUCO player and four-star recruit according to 247sports.com … picked Iowa State over offers from Arizona, Kansas and Oregon … tallied double figures in 19 of 23 games, including five games with 20 or more points … scored 24 points against Mendocino and Napa … recorded at least four blocks in 11 games, including a season-high nine against Contra Costa.
High School
Attended the now-defunct ABCD Prep in Des Moines, Iowa.
Personal
Son of Mary Oriah and Martin Malou.
Jakolby Long
6-4
Mustang, Okla. (Mustang)
High School
Attended Mustang High School … averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists as a junior while playing for his father, Terry … team finished 28-0 and won Class 6A, Oklahoma’s largest classification … scored 11 points in the state title game against Edmond Santa Fe to help Broncos win their first championship … earned a spot on The Oklahoman’s Super 5 team … three-star combo guard … ranked among Rivals top-150 … Scout.com’s top-ranked prep in Oklahoma … picked Iowa State over offers from Oklahoma State, Georgia and Missouri.
Personal
Son of Terry and Jackie Long.
Solomon Young
6-6
Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento)
High School
Attends Sacramento High School … averaged 15.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a junior … helped team to a 28-6 record … a three-star recruit according to 247sports.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com … earned Sacramento Bee All-Metro honors … picked the Cyclones over offers from Washington, Arizona State and Nevada.
Personal
Son of Tina Solomon.
