ISU Athletics Communications
Iowa State head men’s basketball coach Steve Prohm and his staff stayed largely in the Midwest to recruit this year and it paid off, as the program announced Wednesday it has signed a top-20 class.
The group includes three players from the Chicagoland area and another from Wisconsin, a state that has produced multiple 1,000-point scorers for the Cyclones in the past. The class has turned heads nationally, with Rivals ranking it No. 18, 247sports tabbing it at No. 19 with a composite overall rank of No. 25.
“I’m really excited and proud of my staff, they did a terrific job,” Prohm said. “I’m proud of our players and the university in general. You bring in recruits in the fall on football weekends, and you can see the family atmosphere and the electricity that is around the program and school. It helps a lot and it certainly paid dividends with this class.”
Prohm and his staff knew early the importance of this class.
“This was our second true recruiting class, an important class for us, and we were trying to bring in another good crop of high school kids, and I think we did that.”
The first commitment of the class came from Darien, Illinois native Zion Griffin, a 6-6 four-star recruit who picked the Cyclones over offers from Kansas, Pittsburgh and Illinois State shortly after officially visiting the campus. Griffin burst onto the scene while playing on the wing last summer for the Illinois Hoopers. Griffin, who preps at Hinsdale South (17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds as a junior), is the second-ranked player in Illinois and earned his top nationally ranking at No. 65 from Endless Motor Sports. He is also a top-100 recruit according to Rivals (No. 94).
“Zion is a great kid, from a great family,” Prohm said. “I ended up stumbling on his court this summer and he had 42 points against a Howard Pulley (Minn.) team that had a lot of Division I players. I kept watching and watching and Zion kept scoring and scoring. He has a real knack for scoring.”
Griffin played largely in the post prior to this summer, a move that fits his game perfectly.
“He’s a lefty, real skilled three/four,” Prohm said. “He’s probably going to end up being a big wing as he matures in college. He can score at all different phases. Zion has got a college body right now and has a chance to do some good things.”
Tyrese Haliburton committed to the program about a week later. A high-upside point guard from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Haliburton has grown 2-3 inches in the last year and currently stands at 6-5. The Oshkosh North product is a top-150 player nationally and the fourth-ranked player in talent-rich Wisconsin. Haliburton led Oshkosh North to a Fox Valley Association title in 2017, earning conference player of the year honors after posting 18 points, six assists and five rebounds as a junior. He and Griffin attended the Powerade All-American camp.
Haliburton picked the Cyclones over offers from Nebraska, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Northern Iowa.
“I’m excited to add Tyrese to our program,” Prohm said. “He’s a long, really versatile and highly skilled player with a great basketball IQ. His IQ is off the charts. Tyrese is a pass-first point guard that I think, as he gets bigger and stronger, could be compared to Diante Garrett. He can make threes and as he continues to fill out, he’s got a chance to be a special player.”
The Cyclones added a second Chicagoland player with the signing of ISU legacy George Conditt IV, whose father, also George, was a defensive lineman for the football team in the early 1990s. Conditt IV, who attends Corliss High School, is a fast-rising, versatile player who, like Haliburton, grew three inches in the past year and now stands at 6-10. A top-100 recruit according to Endless Motor Sports, Conditt IV averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds as a junior for Corliss. He picked Iowa State over Illinois and New Mexico.
“George brings size, length and really good skill in the frontcourt,” Prohm said. “I think that his best basketball is ahead of him. He’s 6-10, can make threes and score around the basket on the offensive end. Defensively he can really protect the basket, so he’s got a bright future. He’s a guy that when we went through the process, we had to get, especially when you look at the Iowa State pedigree and his great family. An opportunity to get a guy like George into the fold, it was huge for us and we’re ecstatic about getting him.”
The nation’s No. 54 recruit according to Rivals, Simeon (Chicago) product Talen Horton-Tucker capped off the class with his commitment in late October, picking the Cyclones over offers from Georgia Tech, Illinois and Xavier.
Horton-Tucker, a versatile, do-it-all wing, played for Team Rose last summer, averaging 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds.
“Talen joins us from Simeon High School, coached by Rob Smith, one of the top high school programs in the country,” Prohm said. “When you talk about positions, Talen doesn’t really have one. He can play some one, he can play some two, he can play the three. You can play him a little bit of anywhere. If he would have signed with anyone in the country, I would’ve thought, “Hey, that’s a good sign.” I feel strongly about his ability and talent, his skill and versatility. He has a knack to really score. Talen is really long, plays both ends of the floor, but the biggest thing is he can put the ball in the hole.”
The addition of Horton-Tucker, a 6-5 wing and the second-ranked player in the state who signs today at just 16 years old, gave Iowa State three of the top five prospects in Illinois according to Prep Hoops Illinois.
2018-19 MBB Signees
Zion Griffin, 6-6, Forward, Darien, Ill. (Hinsdale South/Illinois Hoopers)
Preps at Hinsdale South … a four-star recruit by 247sports and Rivals and a three-star by Scout … the No. 132-ranked recruit by 247sports composite rankings (247sports, Rivals, Scout and ESPN), is ranked No. 75 individually by 247sports … 2nd-best player in Illinois according to 247sports … ranks in the top-100 by Endless Motor Sports (No. 65) and Rivals (No. 94) … burst onto the scene while playing on the wing last summer for the Illinois Hoopers after being relatively unnoticed prior to the 2017 AAU circuit … scored 42 points in one game and 31 in another at the Hardwood Classic in Lawrence, Kansas … averaged 17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds as a junior at Hinsdale South where he played in the post … attended the Powerade All-American camp with fellow commit Tyrese Haliburton … picked Iowa State over offers from Kansas, Pittsburgh and Illinois State ... Born June 30th, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois … son of Santina Guyton.
Tyrese Haliburton, 6-5, Guard, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh North/Wisconsin United)
Attends Oshkosh North High School … a top-150 player nationally and the fourth-ranked player in Wisconsin according to 247sports composite ranking … the 141st-ranked player according to Endless Motor Sports … a three-star recruit by 247sports, Rivals and Scout … led Oshkosh North to a Fox Valley Association title in 2017 … named conference player of the year after averaging 18 points, six assists and five rebounds as a junior … shot 39.7 percent behind the arc … attended the Powerade All-American camp with fellow commit Zion Griffin … participated in the 2017 Hoops 2 Help charity event in Kaukauna, Wis. … picked Iowa State over offers from Nebraska, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Northern Iowa ... Born Feb. 29, 2000 in Oshkosh, Wis. … son of John and Brenda Haliburton … cousin Eddie Jones was a three-time NBA All-Star, playing 14 years in the NBA.
George Conditt IV, 6-10, Forward, Chicago, Ill. (Corliss/Team RWA)
Attends Corliss High School … fast-rising, versatile player grew three inches in the past year … the No. 99 recruit nationally by Endless Motor Sports … a top-150 recruit and Illinois’ sixth-ranked player by 247sports … a three-star recruit by 247sports and Rivals … averaged a double-double as a junior at Corliss, posting 15 points and 12 rebounds per game to earn all-conference accolades … honor roll student … picked Iowa State over Illinois and New Mexico ... Born Aug. 22, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois … son of George and Carol Conditt … father was a defensive lineman for the Cyclones, lettering in 1990 and 1992.
Talen Horton-Tucker, 6-5, Guard, Chicago, Ill. (Simeon/Team Rose)
Attends Simeon Career Academy … ranked the nation’s No. 54 recruit by Rivals … earned a No. 87 ranking by Endless Motor Sports … a four-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout … second-ranked player in Illinois according to Rivals … the 108th-ranked recruit by 247Sports composite rankings … averaged 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds while playing for Team Rose last summer … picked Iowa State over Illinois, Xavier and Georgia Tech ... Born Nov. 25, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois … son of Shirley Horton and the late Marlin Tucker.
Iowa State head men’s basketball coach Steve Prohm and his staff stayed largely in the Midwest to recruit this year and it paid off, as the program announced Wednesday it has signed a top-20 class.
The group includes three players from the Chicagoland area and another from Wisconsin, a state that has produced multiple 1,000-point scorers for the Cyclones in the past. The class has turned heads nationally, with Rivals ranking it No. 18, 247sports tabbing it at No. 19 with a composite overall rank of No. 25.
“I’m really excited and proud of my staff, they did a terrific job,” Prohm said. “I’m proud of our players and the university in general. You bring in recruits in the fall on football weekends, and you can see the family atmosphere and the electricity that is around the program and school. It helps a lot and it certainly paid dividends with this class.”
Prohm and his staff knew early the importance of this class.
“This was our second true recruiting class, an important class for us, and we were trying to bring in another good crop of high school kids, and I think we did that.”
The first commitment of the class came from Darien, Illinois native Zion Griffin, a 6-6 four-star recruit who picked the Cyclones over offers from Kansas, Pittsburgh and Illinois State shortly after officially visiting the campus. Griffin burst onto the scene while playing on the wing last summer for the Illinois Hoopers. Griffin, who preps at Hinsdale South (17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds as a junior), is the second-ranked player in Illinois and earned his top nationally ranking at No. 65 from Endless Motor Sports. He is also a top-100 recruit according to Rivals (No. 94).
“Zion is a great kid, from a great family,” Prohm said. “I ended up stumbling on his court this summer and he had 42 points against a Howard Pulley (Minn.) team that had a lot of Division I players. I kept watching and watching and Zion kept scoring and scoring. He has a real knack for scoring.”
Griffin played largely in the post prior to this summer, a move that fits his game perfectly.
“He’s a lefty, real skilled three/four,” Prohm said. “He’s probably going to end up being a big wing as he matures in college. He can score at all different phases. Zion has got a college body right now and has a chance to do some good things.”
Tyrese Haliburton committed to the program about a week later. A high-upside point guard from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Haliburton has grown 2-3 inches in the last year and currently stands at 6-5. The Oshkosh North product is a top-150 player nationally and the fourth-ranked player in talent-rich Wisconsin. Haliburton led Oshkosh North to a Fox Valley Association title in 2017, earning conference player of the year honors after posting 18 points, six assists and five rebounds as a junior. He and Griffin attended the Powerade All-American camp.
Haliburton picked the Cyclones over offers from Nebraska, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Northern Iowa.
“I’m excited to add Tyrese to our program,” Prohm said. “He’s a long, really versatile and highly skilled player with a great basketball IQ. His IQ is off the charts. Tyrese is a pass-first point guard that I think, as he gets bigger and stronger, could be compared to Diante Garrett. He can make threes and as he continues to fill out, he’s got a chance to be a special player.”
The Cyclones added a second Chicagoland player with the signing of ISU legacy George Conditt IV, whose father, also George, was a defensive lineman for the football team in the early 1990s. Conditt IV, who attends Corliss High School, is a fast-rising, versatile player who, like Haliburton, grew three inches in the past year and now stands at 6-10. A top-100 recruit according to Endless Motor Sports, Conditt IV averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds as a junior for Corliss. He picked Iowa State over Illinois and New Mexico.
“George brings size, length and really good skill in the frontcourt,” Prohm said. “I think that his best basketball is ahead of him. He’s 6-10, can make threes and score around the basket on the offensive end. Defensively he can really protect the basket, so he’s got a bright future. He’s a guy that when we went through the process, we had to get, especially when you look at the Iowa State pedigree and his great family. An opportunity to get a guy like George into the fold, it was huge for us and we’re ecstatic about getting him.”
The nation’s No. 54 recruit according to Rivals, Simeon (Chicago) product Talen Horton-Tucker capped off the class with his commitment in late October, picking the Cyclones over offers from Georgia Tech, Illinois and Xavier.
Horton-Tucker, a versatile, do-it-all wing, played for Team Rose last summer, averaging 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds.
“Talen joins us from Simeon High School, coached by Rob Smith, one of the top high school programs in the country,” Prohm said. “When you talk about positions, Talen doesn’t really have one. He can play some one, he can play some two, he can play the three. You can play him a little bit of anywhere. If he would have signed with anyone in the country, I would’ve thought, “Hey, that’s a good sign.” I feel strongly about his ability and talent, his skill and versatility. He has a knack to really score. Talen is really long, plays both ends of the floor, but the biggest thing is he can put the ball in the hole.”
The addition of Horton-Tucker, a 6-5 wing and the second-ranked player in the state who signs today at just 16 years old, gave Iowa State three of the top five prospects in Illinois according to Prep Hoops Illinois.
2018-19 MBB Signees
Zion Griffin, 6-6, Forward, Darien, Ill. (Hinsdale South/Illinois Hoopers)
Preps at Hinsdale South … a four-star recruit by 247sports and Rivals and a three-star by Scout … the No. 132-ranked recruit by 247sports composite rankings (247sports, Rivals, Scout and ESPN), is ranked No. 75 individually by 247sports … 2nd-best player in Illinois according to 247sports … ranks in the top-100 by Endless Motor Sports (No. 65) and Rivals (No. 94) … burst onto the scene while playing on the wing last summer for the Illinois Hoopers after being relatively unnoticed prior to the 2017 AAU circuit … scored 42 points in one game and 31 in another at the Hardwood Classic in Lawrence, Kansas … averaged 17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds as a junior at Hinsdale South where he played in the post … attended the Powerade All-American camp with fellow commit Tyrese Haliburton … picked Iowa State over offers from Kansas, Pittsburgh and Illinois State ... Born June 30th, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois … son of Santina Guyton.
Tyrese Haliburton, 6-5, Guard, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh North/Wisconsin United)
Attends Oshkosh North High School … a top-150 player nationally and the fourth-ranked player in Wisconsin according to 247sports composite ranking … the 141st-ranked player according to Endless Motor Sports … a three-star recruit by 247sports, Rivals and Scout … led Oshkosh North to a Fox Valley Association title in 2017 … named conference player of the year after averaging 18 points, six assists and five rebounds as a junior … shot 39.7 percent behind the arc … attended the Powerade All-American camp with fellow commit Zion Griffin … participated in the 2017 Hoops 2 Help charity event in Kaukauna, Wis. … picked Iowa State over offers from Nebraska, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Northern Iowa ... Born Feb. 29, 2000 in Oshkosh, Wis. … son of John and Brenda Haliburton … cousin Eddie Jones was a three-time NBA All-Star, playing 14 years in the NBA.
George Conditt IV, 6-10, Forward, Chicago, Ill. (Corliss/Team RWA)
Attends Corliss High School … fast-rising, versatile player grew three inches in the past year … the No. 99 recruit nationally by Endless Motor Sports … a top-150 recruit and Illinois’ sixth-ranked player by 247sports … a three-star recruit by 247sports and Rivals … averaged a double-double as a junior at Corliss, posting 15 points and 12 rebounds per game to earn all-conference accolades … honor roll student … picked Iowa State over Illinois and New Mexico ... Born Aug. 22, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois … son of George and Carol Conditt … father was a defensive lineman for the Cyclones, lettering in 1990 and 1992.
Talen Horton-Tucker, 6-5, Guard, Chicago, Ill. (Simeon/Team Rose)
Attends Simeon Career Academy … ranked the nation’s No. 54 recruit by Rivals … earned a No. 87 ranking by Endless Motor Sports … a four-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout … second-ranked player in Illinois according to Rivals … the 108th-ranked recruit by 247Sports composite rankings … averaged 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds while playing for Team Rose last summer … picked Iowa State over Illinois, Xavier and Georgia Tech ... Born Nov. 25, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois … son of Shirley Horton and the late Marlin Tucker.
