Up Close With Percy Gibson

AMES, Iowa - It's very rare to pick up a talented basketball player in May. Most star hoops recruits have been signed, sealed and delivered by then. But the Cyclones were fortunate when they added an outstanding player on May 21 in Detroit big man Percy Gibson.

Gibson, a 6-9, 240-pound center, had originally signed a letter of intent with Dayton in November of 2010. However, Dayton's coach, Brian Gregory, left for Georgia Tech in late March, opening up Gibson's recruitment all over again.

The Cyclones had an advantage. Assistant coach Cornell Mann, who left Dayton and joined the Iowa State staff in April, was the primary recruiter for Gibson at Dayton. A fellow native of Detroit, Mann had known Gibson for quite some time.

When Gibson inked with Iowa State in May, the Cyclones got a solid post player late in the recruiting period. Gibson, who was named to the Detroit Free Press' Six-Player Dream Team in 2011, was awarded first-team Class A (big schools) all-state honors while averaging 21.2 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Gibson has already shown the Iowa State coaching staff he is capable of playing valuable minutes as a true freshman in 2011-12. Gibson was a pleasant surprise in Iowa State's Italy trip, averaging 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and shooting 69.6 percent (16-23 FG) from the field.

Gibson recently sat down with cyclones.com to talk about his career.

cyclones.com: When did you decide to open up your recruitment?

PG: I waited until the new coach was announced, and then once that happened, I wanted to open up my recruitment and check out other options. Knowing Coach Mann was very critical and he made my recruitment a lot easier. I have known Coach Mann for a long time. We actually went to the same middle school, because we are from the same area. He knows so many people around there (Detroit).

cyclones.com: You led your Detroit Southeastern H.S. team to its first state championship game since 1926. What was the school spirit like heading into the game?

PG: It was unreal. The whole entire neighborhood was cheering for you. When we went up to the Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.), everybody from our area was there. I got so many text messages from numbers I had never seen before. It was incredible support.

cyclones.com: What was the basketball talent like growing up in Detroit?

PG: There are great players in Detroit. I played against guys like Manny Harris. Playing against that type of competition has really helped my game. I was always taller than most kids growing up. When I was in fourth grade, I was already the tallest kid in my elementary school. That's when I really started to notice I was taller than most people and basketball would be a sport to focus on.

Cyclones.com: As a Left-hander, do you think that has helped you?

PG: Being left handed has always benefited me, especially if there is no scouting report out there. Everybody just assumes you are right handed. I have a lot of right handed moves, so when I was younger I would use those moves in lay-up line to make everybody think I was right-handed (laughs). Once the game started, I went with my left hand and threw everybody off.

cyclones.com: You have been in Ames just a short time, but you have already had the chance to go to Italy. Have you enjoyed Ames and what did you get out of the Italy trip?

PG: I am really enjoying the environment in Ames. Everyone is so friendly and it is a great community. The Italy trip definitely helped out a lot, especially for the experience of playing with your teammates. You got the chance to see what your teammates are like and it helped us progress as a team.

cyclones.com: Is there anything unique about yourself most people don't know about?

PG: I like to draw. I don't have the chance to do it as much as I used to, because of practice and everything, but I draw whenever I have free time. It is very relaxing.

cyclones.com: Where was the spot to play basketball in your neighborhood growing up?

PG: We had a basketball rim in our back yard, so that was the place where everyone in the neighborhood played. It was all hours of the day, too. Random people would knock on our door and say, 'can we go play?' We didn't have lights, but our neighbors had a flood light, so it was just lit enough for us to play all night. It was hard to see the rim, but we had chain nets, so we knew if you made the shot.

cyclones.com: Who were your favorite teams growing up?

PG: I followed Michigan football and Michigan State basketball. I never liked the Pistons. I have always been a Laker fan because of Shaq. He was just so dominate. I idolized his game.

Players Mentioned

Percy Gibson

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