The gymnasium at Valley Southwoods School in West Des Moines can feel like a fishbowl.
Just ask Marcus Brister, one of eight newcomers for the Iowa State men's basketball team who signed up to play in the Capital City League.
"That's one of the reasons I chose (the Cyclones), because their fans were so loyal," said Brister, a 6-foot-3 freshman from Duncanville, Texas. "It's a great feeling coming out of high school knowing that you're going to be looked at, and everybody is watching your every move."
Iowa State followers are starved for improvement after missing the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons. Brister is among the recruits trying to win approval while competing in a recreational league this summer.
"When I first came, I felt I had something to prove, and it really didn't work out that well," Brister said. "But now, after being here, I'm starting to calm down, and it's getting easier."
Brister isn't the only one settling into the role of a potential Cyclone savior.
Craig Brackins, the most-touted big man to land in Ames since Marcus Fizer, was a crowd favorite before he even played his first Capital City League game.
"You're walking around and kids are like, 'Can I have your autograph?' It's kind of overwhelming," said Brackins, a 6-10 forward from Palmdale, Calif., who was rated the 18th-best player in the nation by Rivals.com.
"I come from a place where you're nothing, because there are celebrities and NBA players."
Fizer created a stir when he joined the Cyclones in 1997, but Brackins downplays comparisons.
"Marcus was a great player," he said. "That's a lot of shoes to fill."
For Charles Boozer, signing with Iowa State was a chance to sidestep his brother's shadow.
Carlos Boozer, a 6-9 power forward, helped Duke win the 2001 NCAA title and became a star for the NBA's Utah Jazz.
Charles is a 6-3 guard who scored 1,720 points in his high school career in Raleigh, N.C.
"It's fun to come into a gym and everybody expects you to be down low getting buckets and rebounds, and I'm outside shooting 3-pointers," Charles said.
Sean Haluska resembles his brother in body type, but offers a contrast in style.
Adam Haluska played his freshman year at Iowa State before transferring to Iowa. The 6-5 shooting guard led the Big Ten Conference last season with 20.5 points per game and was the 43rd player selected in the NBA draft, by New Orleans.
"Me and my brother are two different players," said Sean, a 6-3 transfer from Indian Hills Community College. "We do different things. I kind of handle the ball a little bit more."
Haluska and Bryan Petersen, who played at Kirkwood Community College, joined the Cyclones as walk-ons.
Diante Garrett and Lucca Staiger will provide depth in the backcourt.
Clayton Vette, an all-state performer for Waverly-Shell Rock, continues to recover from a sore hamstring but should be healthy when the season begins.
"Living in a small town, it was kind of common that everyone knew who I was," Vette said. "When I came here, I didn't expect it as much.
"I can go eat or to Wal-Mart and people are staring, all the little kids are looking at us.
"It's a good feeling knowing that you're wanted."
