Iowa State adds Merrill Holden as graduate transfer
After Iowa State's frontcourt was decimated by graduation, the Cyclones took a big step in addressing the issue Saturday as Louisiana Tech transfer Merrill Holden committed to the program as a graduate transfer.
"I picked Iowa State because every school that I met with presented a good opportunity and situation but really, Iowa State has a winning tradition," the 6-foot-6, 215-pound Holden told CycloneFanatic.com. "Coach Prohm is a great guy. Daniyal Robinson is a great dude. Everybody I am close to had great things to say about Coach Prohm and I love that style of play."
The Cyclones will look very different next season than the team that made a Sweet 16 run in 2015-16. Gone are all three starting forwards in Georges Niang, Jameel McKay, and Abdel Nader, who led the squad in rebounding.
Holden averaged 8.1 points and five rebounds per contest with Louisiana Tech last season, and will immediately add size to the Cyclones.
As per NCAA regulations, Holden will be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer next season.