Bad News for Iowa State

[oakas]

Iowa State guard Lucca Staiger stunned the Cyclones on Tuesday by announcing plans to leave the program and pursue professional opportunities in his native Germany.

Staiger, a junior, started all 17 games this season. He is averaging 9.4 points and shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range in his second year with the Cyclones.

Iowa State coach Greg McDermott said Tuesday night that Staiger informed the coaching staff of his decision Tuesday morning, about 36 hours before the Cyclones (12-5, 1-1 Big 12) play at Texas Tech.

"An opportunity to play professionally in my home country has come my way and I've decided to pursue it right away. I will miss my teammates and the greats fans at Iowa State and I know this is a bad time to leave," Staiger said in a statement released late Tuesday night. "I felt like it was important to make this move now because the opportunity might not be there in the future for me."

Staiger's departure leaves the Cyclones with seven available scholarship players. McDermott indicated Tuesday night that redshirt sophomore guard Scott Christopherson will take Staiger's place in the lineup.

"Obviously I'm very disappointed with the timing of the decision in particular," McDermott said in a hastily assembled teleconference with local reporters. "We don't have any choice but to move forward with the guys we have."

Staiger, 21, had entertained thoughts of leaving for Germany last May to play professionally before deciding to return to school.

Staiger came to Iowa State with dreams of playing in the NBA, but he said Tuesday that after a couple of years in the Big 12 he "realized that dream has become less likely."

Staiger's brief career at Iowa State got off to a shaky start. He was forced to sit out the 2007-08 season and forgo a year of eligibility after the NCAA ruled that several of his teammates on a German club team received stipends deemed to be above actual and necessary expenses.

[upinya83]

[skrilla]

maybe it will turn out good for them. look at tennessee for example