MBB Recruiting: Cyclones Pick Up Big 10 Transfer

Credit: Iowa State Communications

AMES, Iowa-Iowa State head men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg announced today that Chris Babb, an outstanding shooter who averaged 9.3 points and shot 37.3 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore at Penn State last year, signed a financial aid agreement to attend ISU next season.

A native of Arlington, Texas, Babb will sit out the 2010-11 season as a redshirt under NCAA transfer rules and will be a redshirt junior in 2011-12. Hoiberg is eager to add the skilled shooter to his arsenal.

“Chris brings an unbelievable ability to shoot the basketball,” Hoiberg said. “He averaged double figures in Big Ten play last year and was a part of a Penn State team that won the 2009 NIT championship. He has a great build and will be able to handle the physical play of the Big 12. Growing up in Texas, he is also familiar with the Big 12 landscape.”

Babb had a breakout season last year where he emerged as one of the Big Ten’s best marksmen late in the season. Babb was 69-of-185 from downtown and made 81.6 percent of his free throws, as the Nittany Lions finished the year with an 11-20 mark.

The 6-5, 220-pound guard averaged 3.2 rebounds and was third on the team in both assists (69) and steals (22). He had nine games with four or more treys and ended the season making 48.8 percent (21-43 3FG) from beyond the arc in his last seven games.

The 23-game starter scored a career-high 20 points in an 81-70 win at Northwestern, going 5-of-9 from the field, 4-of-8 from 3-point range and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.

“This is a great opportunity for me to be able to play for Coach Hoiberg and Iowa State,” Babb said. “I am excited to be a part of this program and help Coach Hoiberg get this team back where it used to be.”

Babb had a standout prep career for The Oakridge School before attending PSU. As a senior, Babb averaged 31.2 points, eight rebounds, made 73 3-pointers and totaled a school-record 1,125 points. He scored 40 or more points in eight games, including a school-record 51-point outing.