The wait is over. DeMarcus Phillips, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound shooting guard out of Marshalltown Community College will officially become a member of the Iowa State men’s basketball team later on today. Phillips will sign his National Letter of Intent today at 11 a.m. at a ceremony in Marshalltown. He’ll become the second member of Iowa State’s class of 2010, joining the Brewster Academy’s Melvin Ejim.
“This is a big day. I’m overwhelmed,” Phillips told CycloneFanatic.com. “Coming from my situation, it’s just really great to be in the Big 12. It’s great to come to Iowa State. I can’t wait to help those guys out and try to get back to the top of the Big 12. I’m overwhelmed with feelings of being a Cyclone.”
What Iowa State’s roster will look like next season is very unclear at this point. That will ultimately determine Phillips’ role on the team. If Craig Brackins and Marquis Gilstrap are gone, Phillips will be asked to score. If, for some reason they are still in town, Phillips is very happy with being a ball distributor as well. That’s the appealing thing about this prospect. He can do just about anything.
“I’m not going to come in and try to do too much. I just want to come in and bring intensity, full court pressure defense, just whatever coach wants me to do, that’s what I am going to do,” Phillips said. “I’ll shoot 3-pointers. I’ll try to make plays to get other guys open. Whatever he wants me to do I’ll do. I like making plays. I like to share the ball and make sure everybody else is into the game.”
There are plenty of reasons that Phillips chose to become a Cyclone.
“They have a great coaching staff. T.J. (Otzelberger), Coach McDermott, they’re all great guys. They have great players. It’s like a family over there,” Phillips said. “I like their style of play. I just fell in love with the whole Iowa State situation. It will be a great fit for me and the way that I play.”
Marshalltown will have their first home game of the 2009 season tonight when the Wartburg JV comes to town.
Phillips’ primary recruiter from the Iowa State staff was T.J. Otzelberger.
Chris’ Take:
I’m very happy with this pickup by the Cyclone coaching staff. I’ve heard people compare Phillips’ game to Mike Taylor. Anytime you can add a guy who can score like that to your basketball team, that’s a good thing.
I was very impressed with Phillips when I interviewed him last night. He was truly emotional when talking about his future at Iowa State. Ames is where he wants to be. This is a nice catch. Phillips is a guy who will contribute from the first day he steps on campus.
It’s likely that Iowa State is done with it’s 2010 class, at least for the early signing period at least. Depending on the two situations with Brackins and Gilstrap, going after a JUCO big man in the spring is a real possibility.
