Blue-chip JUCO commits to Iowa State

Arguably the best junior college basketball player in America has committed to Iowa State.

Emmanuel Malou, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound power forward out of Yuba College in California, made his pledge to the Cyclones on Friday afternoon. 

“The system and the people. With Coach (Steve) Prohm and Coach T.J. (Otzelberger), I just feel so comfortable with everything. I’ve never been so sure about something in my life. I feel like it is just the right decision for me. I have so much support in Iowa and I’m familiar with the area. I’m just happy, so happy.”

Malou, an Australia native who also claims offers from Kansas, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, West Virginia, Oregon State, Marquette, Oklahoma State Texas Tech and others, attended prep school at ABCD in Des Moines before going the route of junior college. He averaged 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game during his freshman season at Yuba a season ago. 

That background and familiarity with the state absolutely helped Iowa State in its recruiting efforts.

“When I was out there, it was like a second home to me,” Malou said. “I feel like I’m going home when I go to Iowa.”

Maybe the most impressive stat from his freshman year was a 47.3 mark from 3-point range, hence why Iowa State’s system was such a big deal in his decision.

“That’s just how I was raised, on the perimeter. There aren’t too many big men at my height who are as versatile as I am,” Malou said. “I’ll be pretty much what Georges Niang has been doing but we are different players. I am a little more explosive. It’s a really free running type of offense and that’s what I wanted. It helps players just be who they are. It’s perfect.” 

Malou joins fellow JUCO Donovan Jackson and another California big man, Solomon Young as Iowa State’s third member of the 2016 class. Iowa State now has three scholarships available for the class of 2016. 

Iowa State assistant coach T.J. Otzleberger was Malou’s primary recruiter for the Cyclones. 

Check out CycloneFanatic.com later today for more information on this commitment.