RECRUITING: Iowa State lands 2024 four-star center JT Rock

Lincoln junior center JT Rock reaches around the rim for a layup against Harrisburg on Dec. 13, 2022. Syndication: Argus Leader

T.J. Otzelberger and his staff have made another big statement in recruiting the upper Midwest.

Iowa State has landed a commitment from the four-star class of 2024 center JT Rock, according to the Sioux Falls native’s Twitter page on Wednesday. The 7-foot-0, 225-pound joins Illinois guard Nojus Indrusaitis as the pledges in the Cyclones’ 2024 class.

While Otzelberger has already had some significant recruiting wins since taking over in Ames, this one will rank near the very top of the list. Rock is considered the No. 60 player in the country, No. 10 center and No. 1 player in South Dakota’s junior class, according to 247.

Iowa State became the first school to offer Rock when they did so on Oct. 6, 2021, just days after his initial unofficial visit to Ames. His list of offers grew quickly with Kansas, Purdue, Iowa, Creighton, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota State, Wisconsin and West Virginia all joining the pursuit.

Rock officially visited Iowa and Creighton in September then traveled to Purdue and Iowa State in mid-November.

The addition of Rock continues Iowa State’s run of success recruiting bordering states since Otzelberger took over in Ames. The Cyclones have now added the top player in South Dakota’s 2024 class after landing the No. 1 player in Iowa (Omaha Biliew) and the No. 1 player in Wisconsin (Milan Momcilovic) during the 2024 cycle.

Under Otzelberger, Iowa State has also added top-five players from Iowa (Tamin Lipsey, 2022), Illinois (Indrusaitis, 2024) and Minnesota (Demarion Watson, 2022). Additionally, the Cyclones have signed top-10 players from Minnesota (Eli King, 2022) and Missouri (Kayden Fish, 2023).

Rock is the fourth top-100 player to commit to Iowa State in the last four recruiting cycles. He would be the first player from South Dakota to sign with Iowa State in the recruiting services era, which goes back to 2002.

Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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