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Cyclones add UNLV’s leading scorer, JUCO standout
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The Iowa State Cyclones added some needed help in the backcourt Sunday when former UNLV guard Bryce Dejean-Jones announced he would transfer to Ames.
The 6-foot-5 guard led the Rebels in scoring last season (13.6 PPG) while also averaging 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He will be eligible immediately since he’s already graduated.
“(Head coach Fred Hoiberg) does a good job with guys who transfer,” Dejean-Jones told the Des Moines Register. “I’ve seen Iowa State play. There’s good chemistry with everyone.”
Dejean-Jones will be expected to fill the loss of senior Cyclones guard DeAndre Kane, who helped lead the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 this past season.
The Cyclones also received a commitment from junior college standout Darien Williams, who averaged more than 16 points and nearly seven rebounds a game for Iowa Western Community College this past season.
“I am versatile and I can put the ball on the floor and I can shoot it. I grew up playing inside so I block shots at times, so I just bring a lot of versatility, which is obviously what Iowa State is about,” Williams told the Ames Tribune.
The 6-foot-8 Williams will have surgery on both shoulders and will redshirt this upcoming season.
