Nov 23, 2016; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Old Dominion Monarchs forward Zoran Talley (24) drives to the basket as Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) defends during the second half in the 2016 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Steve Prohm told Zoran Talley from the first time they talked how the recruiting process was going to go. Iowa State’s head coach made sure the Old Dominion graduate transfer knew he would be the hardest working head coach that recruited him.
Over the next several months, Prohm proved that fact to the 6-foot-7, 200-pound small forward from Merrillville, Indiana. That’s why Talley made the decision to become a Cyclone official when he signed his financial aid agreement on Thursday.
“Coach Steve Prohm and my old coach Jeff Jones, they were having a phone conversation and then Coach Jones talked to him (about me),” Talley told Cyclone Fanatic in a phone interview Thursday evening. “The following morning, they followed up and ever since then Coach Steve Prohm told me from the jump, when I first talked to him, he said he would be the hardest working head coach on (me). I’m going to be the most recruiting head coach and he stuck to his word. I just felt the love, the vibe from the staff. I just think it’s all good vibes.”
Talley, who was named the Conference USA sixth man of the year this past season, visited Ames in May. He also took an official visit to Boston College while receiving interest from Ole Miss, Washington State, SMU and Tennessee-Martin.
At the end of the day, it was what he saw in Ames that set the Cyclones apart.
“It’s a college town so that’s something I’ve been looking forward to,” Talley said. “The campus, it was a nice big campus. I felt like the professors and the staff there actually help and work with the student-athletes. The gym, the resources being open 24 hours, I don’t know, that’s just another thing I liked. I liked that the lady at the front desk, the tradition they have there, she’s been there 40 years.”
The Don Bosco Prep product averaged 11.3 points. 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game last season for the Monarchs. He said he considers himself a scorer, but it is the defensive end of the floor where he takes the most pride.
He pinpointed his shooting and ball-handling as the areas in which he wants to improve the most before he steps on the court for the Cyclones this season. Talley will graduate in August then will join the team for two more seasons of eligibility.
“The style of play is similar to Old Dominion’s style of play,” Talley said. “As far as the Big 12, it is a faster pace than the Conference USA so me personally I have to adjust to that transition game wise. Just coming in and being a big impact for the team and continuing that winning tradition.”
