Iowa State added a JUCO big man to its 2013 basketball recruiting class on Friday afternoon.
Richard Amardi, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward from Indian Hills Community College unofficially visited Iowa State last weekend. The Cyclone coaching staff offered him a scholarship at that time and earlier today; Amardi picked up the phone and verbally committed to Fred Hoiberg.
“I think it’s a good fit for Coach Hoiberg and what he is trying to do, Indian Hills head coach Barret Peery told Cyclone Fanatic on Friday afternoon. “He can be a multi-dimensional player. I think Richard can play a couple of spots and defensively guard a few spots.”
Amardi, who will attend Iowa State during the 2013-14 school year, will only have one year of eligibility to play for the Cyclones.
Amardi attended God’s Academy, a prep school in Dallas, where he was originally a member of college basketball’s recruiting class of 2009. He redshirted his true freshman year at Weatherford Junior College in Weatherford, Texas.
Amardi played in 12 games during his redshirt freshman season before his year was cut short due to an injury. As a sophomore, Amardi had issues with his visa and was sent back to his home in Toronto, Canada.
Amardi will be classified as a sophomore this season Indian Hills but because it will be his fourth year of eligibility (you only get five years to complete four), he’ll only have the one year to compete at Iowa State.
Peery said that Iowa State started recruiting Amardi at the perfect time.
“Richard came here under the radar,” said Peery. “If they would have waited a few more months, he wouldn’t be an under the radar guy. I think that they did a good job of knowing what is here and what they wanted.”
Iowa State is currently recruiting one of Amardi’s teammates at Indian Hills, a 6-foot-6 wing named Dustin Hogue (who has unofficially visited Iowa State multiple times).
“Coach Hoiberg and his staff have done a great job of getting the pulse of our program,” said Peery. “I told him that I thought Iowa State is a fantastic fit for him both as a person and as a player.”
Amardi joins point guard Monte Morris and shooting guard Matt Thomas (both prep players) in Iowa State’s 2013 recruiting class. According to our scholarship chart at Cyclone Fanatic, Iowa State now has three more to give in this class should the coaching staff choose to do so.
Scouting Report
Indian Hills head coach Barret Peery on Richard Amardi’s game…
“He can impact the game in a lot of ways. He’s a big, long athlete. He really has a good motor and energy for the game. For a guy his size, he’s very skilled. He can catch and shoot or put it on the floor. What’s great about him is his activity around the glass. He’s got a lively body and can finish high above the rim.”
