Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Utah on February 24, 2026 , Win , 75, to, 59
Final
Men's Basketball
75
Utah
59
Iowa State University Athletics
Craig Brackins: One of the Big 12's Best
01.22.2009 | Men's Basketball
AMES, Iowa- His numbers and accolades are too impressive to ignore any longer. You can now make the case that Iowa State sophomore forward Craig Brackins has emerged as an elite player in the Big 12 Conference.
Looking at numbers alone, Brackins has it covered. Third in the Big 12 in scoring (18.1 ppg) and fourth in the league in rebounding (8.8 rpg). You want double-doubles, the big man is third in the league in that category, posting seven in his last 13 games.
The league's media are starting to notice as well. Brackins and Oklahoma's Blake Griffin are the only two players in the conference to earn multiple Big 12 Player of the Week kudos this season.
Brackins' first major breakout game was a 32-point, 16-rebound performance at Northern Iowa to help the Cyclones come out with a 71-66 win in overtime. It was the first time a Cyclone had a 30-point/15-rebound game since 1995 when Loren Meyer did it at Nebraska. Less than a month later, Brackins posted a career-high 38 points and 14 rebounds in a 71-67 win at Houston. His 38 points is the most scored by a Big 12 player this season.
“Craig can score in a lot of different ways,” ISU head coach Greg McDermott said. “He can score on the block and has a nice mid-range game. He just keeps getting better and better. Good things happen for us when Craig touches the ball.”
Scoring has never been a problem for Brackins. The Palmdale, Calif., native was generally considered one of the top post players in the class of 2007. He had a solid freshman campaign for the Cyclones, averaging 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds.
His scoring is up from a year ago, but his transformation into an outstanding rebounder has enabled him to earn the label as one of the most improved players in the country.
The laid back Californian would be the first to tell you he doesn't consider himself as a rebounder. His performance on the glass in the early part of the season affirmed this sentiment, as Brackins was only averaging a meager 4.2 rebounds per game through the first five games.
This was a concern to McDermott. The mentor and pupil had a little heart-to-heart talk on how to change the trend. McDermott's advice must have sunk in, because Brackins has been a different player since. In his last 13 games, Brackins has been one of the nation's best rebounders, averaging 10.6 caroms a game, including three games with 16 or more boards. What changed?
“Early on, Craig was doing a good job of sealing his man, but he wasn't going after the rebound,” McDermott said. “Craig is one of our most athletic players and he has the capability to go get the rebound with his size and athleticism. We talked to him about wanting the ball and going after the ball better, and he has responded.”
“I have been really trying to focus on my rebounding,” Brackins added. “I remember when the coaching staff told me I was averaging just four rebounds per game, and I told myself I have to do something about that. I have been much more aggressive attacking the glass since.”
The soft-spoken Brackins is rather humble when discussing his accomplishments. He leads the team with nine 20-point games, has posted three 20-point/10-rebound contests in the last four games and has scored 19 or more points in a half three times this season. What Brackins wants more than anything are wins. He is a young player on a young team, and the Cyclones are building for the future.
“I have been playing with a lot more confidence,” Brackins said. “I have learned to handle double teams much better this year than I did my freshman season. We have some great shooters, so when teams double down on me, they are going to leave some guys open for some good looks and it is my job to find them.”
Getting To Know Craig Brackins:
Favorite food: Mexican food
Favorite TV show: Real World
Favorite actor: Adam Sandler
Biggest athletic thrill: My first dunk in sixth grade
Athlete I most admire: Dominique Wilkins
Person who I most admire: My mother
The best athlete I have played against: Javaris Crittenton
Person I would like to meet: Jessica Alba
What impressed me about Iowa State: The fan support and coaching staff. I got chills when I first walked into Hilton Coliseum.
Fun Facts: A native Californian, Craig loves to hang out on the beach...enjoys skateboarding...was a pitcher on his Brewster Academy Prep School team...he once struck out a player who went on to Rice and was selected in the MLB draft.
Players Mentioned
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