Go ahead and ink a top-100 point guard onto Fred Hoiberg’s 2015 recruiting class.
On his official visit to Iowa State this weekend, Nick Noskowiak, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound point guard out of Sun Prairie (Wis.), verbally committed to the Cyclones.
“The people here are the biggest reason,” Noskowiak told CycloneFanatic.com. “Coach (Fred) Hoiberg and Coach T.J. (Otzelberger) are awesome. The guys on the team are great. I stay in touch with Matt (Thomas) a lot.”
Even before this weekend, Noskowiak had been very familiar with Iowa State’s program. Prior to his original commitment to Marquette, he visited Ames as a sophomore in high school. On that trip is when Noskowiak formed a connection with Matt Thomas, another Wisconsin native.
“I’ve known T.J. since I was a freshman in high school,” Noskowiak said. “I have a great relationship with Coach Hoiberg as well but when Otz came back it was a deal sealer.”
Rivals (95) and ESPN (76) both rank Noskowiak as a top-100 prospect in the national recruiting class of 2015, making the spring signee an impressive late snag for the Cyclones.
The Monte factor
Monte Morris learned a lot from veteran DeAndre Kane during his rookie season in Ames. Noskowiak is hoping to do the same the Morris over the next two years. He isn’t worried about beating Morris out in the starting five. Noskowiak, however, is more concerned about becoming the best point guard he can be. That’s where Morris comes in.
“I just feel like being able to go at a top-three point guard in the country on a daily basis is the key in making me better,” Noskowiak said. “That will make me a much better player. I’m just going to take it all in. He’s a great guy, a really ice kid.”
From his home in Wisconsin, Noskowiak has sat back and admired Morris and the Cyclones the last two season.
“I feel like I can compliment his game,” Noskowiak said. “He distributes the ball so well and makes his teammates better.”
Mutual release from Marquette
Noskowiak originally committed to Marquette in April of 2013 (under Buzz Williams) and eventually signed there as well (with Steve Wojchiechowski). In February, Marquette agreed to release him from his letter of intent due to personal reasons.
"We support Nick’s request to be granted a release from his letter of intent," Marquette head coach Steve Wojciechowski said in a release. "After a discussion with Nick, we decided it was best for our program, and for Nick personally, to explore other options and wish him the best of luck as he continues his basketball career."
The only condition in Noskowiak’s release from Marquette was that he could not sign with another school from the Big East.
Noskowiak averaged 20.0 points per game during his senior season.
With the recent additions of Noskowiak and Arkansas transfer Nick Babb, Iowa State now has two scholarships to fill prior to the 2015-16 season.
Two graduate transfers, Max Biefeldt (Michigan) and Tyler Harris (Providence), are also on campus this weekend. Neither prospect has yet to commit to the Cyclones.
