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We continue our season preview coverage with Iowa State SR PG Prentiss Nixon. If you can score 16 PPG in the MWC then you know that you can play: Caleb Martin did so in 2019, Prentiss in 2018, Brandon Clarke in 2017, etc. After transferring from Colorado State and redshirting last year he is ready to suit up for the Cyclones and take on the best that the Big 12 has to offer, while also facing 1 of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Prentiss about why he chose Iowa State and how he plans to be a senior leader.
You grew up in Illinois: what made you choose Colorado State to begin your college career? I just felt that they had a good family atmosphere.
In 2018 you led the Rams in scoring with 16.1 PPG: what is the secret to being a good scorer? Just hard work during the offseason. I also had great teammates who put me in a great position to be successful.
You redshirted last year: why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Iowa State? When Coach Larry Eustachy resigned I was just looking for a fresh start after coming off of some injuries. I wanted to be at a program that could get to the NCAA tourney as soon as possible. Iowa State has a great background with PGs, which is what I needed.
You play for Coach Steve Prohm: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is a guy who cares about both his players and his school: he has invested so much of his time here. He taught me to take things 1 day at a time and try to get better every day.
Your brutal non-conference schedule includes games against Oregon State/Michigan/Seton Hall/Iowa/Auburn and 1 of Alabama/UNC: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Every game will be tough. People think that we have some question marks on our roster but we will go out and show everyone what we can do.
You are 1 of 2 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? I would not say that it is pressure: Mike Jacobson and I embrace it and will try to do the right things to help take our team as far as we can. There is an expectation here that the seniors lead but that is not done by yelling: we have to lead by example to get to our highest level.
The other senior (Mike Jacobson) was a 2nd-team Academic All-American last year: what is it like to play with a guy who is that smart? Mike does a lot of great things and we talk about basketball a lot off of the court. He is a great player and it will be a lot of fun to play with him.
1 of the other transfers on your roster is PG Rasir Bolton (who came from Penn State): how difficult has it been for the veterans and the freshmen and the transfers to all get on the same page? It has honestly been pretty smooth for everyone to get adjusted. We have gelled better than any other team I have been on before: we work hard together on the court and hang out together off the court. Once Rasir is eligible in 2020 he will help us reach great heights.
Your father Tracey played college basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? He might say differently but if you ask me…I would say me!
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Every team expects to win a regular season title and make the NCAA tourney, which is our goal too, but we will just take it 1 game at a time and try to build on that. The standard is the standard: that will never change so we will be fine.