Staiger Happy To Be Back At ISU

AMES, Iowa-Iowa State sophomore Lucca Staiger is back in Ames after spending the last month playing with Germany's U20 national team and A2 national team. Staiger's U20 national team won the FIBA U20 Division B European championship in Romania in August. He averaged 10.3 points and led his squad in 3-pointers (16) to help his team finish 8-0 in the tournament. He also competed on Germany's A2 national team for a number of exhibitions before returning to Ames. Cyclones.com got a chance to catch up with him about his summer on the court.

What was the most important thing you got out of playing for your country this summer?
“The most important thing for me was getting the nerves out of the way. After one year of sitting out, I was nervous getting back on the court for competition. We played some teams that weren't very good and I was even nervous against those teams in the beginning. It did not feel right at first. The actual game is so much different than practice. It was important for me to get back into the flow of game situations. I could not imagine after a year of sitting out playing in front of 14,000 people for the first time.”

Was it awkward at first playing competitive games again?
“It was awkward getting a chance to finally play again, but I was so excited. It was a great feeling to be able to play in a competitive game again.”

What are some of the improvements you made this summer?
“I am so much stronger now than I was before. Last year really helped me build up my strength. My defense has improved a lot with a year of practice at Iowa State. I could really tell I have improved in both of those areas.”

What was it like playing with the German A2 national team?
“The top-notch players punish you for every little mistake you make. For example, I played against a 30-year old guy from Poland who was so tough mentally and physically. He knew how to play the game. It was a great experience for me to get a chance to play with and against those types of players.”

Did you get a chance to see friends and family while you were there?
“Two of my best friends were on the A2 team. It was great to be able to travel, hang out and play with them. My parents got a chance to see me play a couple of times, which was nice. I have a real good friend in Romania and we hung out together during the tournament. I got a chance to catch up with a lot of old friends.”

Are you happy to be back in Ames?
“I am really excited to be back in Ames. It is great to see my teammates, coaches, fans and everybody again. It is really great to be back.”

Players Mentioned

Lucca Staiger

Lucca Staiger

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