Cooke plans to take full advantage of sit-out year

Let the real work begin.

That is the attitude that Hallice Cooke, an Oregon State transfer who committed to Iowa State last night, is taking now that he knows where he will play the final three years of his college career.

Cooke, who averaged 8.2 points per game while knocking down 46 percent of his 3-point shots as a freshman in the Pac-12, now has the opportunity (that’s how he sees it) to take a year off and work on his game. Developing transfers during that year to grow is something that Iowa State’s current basketball regime has proven to be very good at."

“He has a track record with guys coming in and improving their bodies and game during that year,” Cooke told CycloneFanatic.com on Monday night. “I thought that wherever I went I would work hard but they have that track record and that makes them more impressive. They’ve taken 11 transfers and they’ve all been successful – each and every one of them. That was a big plus.”

In addition to Iowa State, Cooke took official visits to St. Joseph’s and Dayton. Cooke seemed high on Iowa State after his trip to Ames but said he wanted to get a good look around to make 100 percent sure it was the place for him. Ultimately, it was. 

“I was just comfortable with the team and the players,” Cooke said. “The style of play fits my game. The relationship with the coaching staff was very close. I just looked at the background of the program and what those guys have done with it in such a short period of time. That especially stood out to me.”

And Fred Hoiberg’s reaction to rounding out his roster for the 2014-15 season?

“He was excited,” Cooke said. “He told me that I made his day. He said that he was looking forward to the next four years.”

Cooke, of course, will have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will have three years to play beginning in 2015-16.

CLICK HERE for our updated Iowa State basketball scholarship chart at CycloneFanatic.com.