2012 prospect Niang to visit ISU next week

By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com Publisher

The Iowa State men’s basketball program will host an unofficial visitor next week.

Georges Niang, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound power forward out of Tilton, a prep school in New Hampshire, plans to be in town on Thursday, March 24.

“Coach Hoiberg has that program going in the right direction,” Niang told CycloneFanatic.com. “They play in a great conference and they are on the rise.”

Niang recently led Tilton to a New England Prep School Athletic Council championship game victory with 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 16-poing win over St. Mark’s School. Niang went 11-for-11 from the field in that victory. Niang was named the Class AA tournament’s MVP.

“He (Fred Hoiberg) said that he really likes the way that I play,” Niang said. “He told me that I remind him of Kevin Love.”

Those are some big words. It is a good thing that when it comes to the NBA, Niang hangs on every word that comes out of Hoiberg’s mouth.

“He knows what he is talking about,” Niang said. “I believe everything that he says. I’m close to the whole coaching staff already.”

After his unofficial to Iowa State next Thursday, Niang then plans to cruise down I-80 to pay Fran McCaffrey and his Iowa program a visit on the 26th. Like Iowa State, Iowa also recently extended a formal scholarship offer to Niang.

Some other heavy hitters, including Texas A&M are now in the mix. A&M has not offered Niang yet, but he still plans to pay the Aggies a visit this summer.

Niang currently claims official scholarship offers from: Iowa State, Iowa, Rhode Island, UMASS, George Mason and Sienna.

When will a commitment come?

“I am thinking at the end of the summer,” Niang said.