Feb 13, 2018; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Cameron Lard (2) reacts after scoring a basket against the Kansas Jayhawks at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
After spending the summer in a wellness treatment facility, Iowa State star sophomore center Cameron Lard has returned to campus and the basketball program. Needless to say, his coach is happy to have him back in the Sukup Basketball Facility.
Iowa State head coach Steve Prohm told Cyclone Fanatic on Thursday at the Coaches vs. Cancer Charity Golf Classic in Ankeny that while the summer seems to have been productive for Lard, the battle is still just beginning.
“I think the guys were all glad to see him. You know, the coaches, we had all been up there to see him so we were in good contact, but it’s good to see him back in class, working out in the gym, just having a pop in his step. He looked really good,” Prohm said. “Now it’s just a day to day process of continuing to build good habits and he’s kind of laid some good areas of his foundation down. Now, we’ve got to keep building, strengthening those pillars.”
“It’s about tomorrow and then the next day and the next day. You’ve just got to win each day.”
The primary concern for Lard, who averaged 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and shot 60 percent from the floor during his breakout redshirt freshman season in 2017, was building good habits and finding a way to live a more balanced lifestyle.
Those were the things Prohm wanted Lard focusing on during his time away from the school and program even if he did have an opportunity to work on his game on the court.
“They had different things that he could work out or they could take him over to a gym to workout. He had access to do a lot of things athletically,” Prohm said. “My thing was if they had nothing up there I couldn’t care less. It’s not about that. I wanted to help him and I think we’re in the right direction. Now we’ve just got to continue to stay the course.”
