JUCO forward commits to Cyclones

Iowa State has received its first basketball recruiting verbal commitment for 2015 from a 3-to-play-3 in-state junior college prospect.

Forward Darien Williams from Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs attended multiple Cyclone home games this past season on his own this season, even though Reivers head coach Jim Morris said his freshmen players didn't take recruiting visits. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Williams attended Don Bosco High School in Bellflower, California, before landing at IWCC at a non-qualifier.

Williams averaged 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this past season for Iowa Western, which went 23-8. Williams shot over 51 percent from the field and over 41 percent from three-point range.

Iowa State was one of four high major offers for Williams, who had also been offered by Kansas State, Nebraska and USC in addition to mid-major Fresno State. Williams also said that Kansas, Louisville, Illinois, Washington, Oregon, Oregon State, Marquette, Florida State and Creighton had shown recruiting interest in him.

Williams is not expected to play for Iowa Western next season as he finishes his two-year degree. That would leave him with three seasons of eligibility remaining. The earliest Williams can officially sign with ISU is the 2015 early signing period in November 2014.