Jameel McKay chose to transfer to Iowa State for a number of things, but mostly because of the relationship with the coaching staff and the proximity of living in Ames. 

The six-foot-eight Marquette transfer was in Hilton Coliseum for the ISU mens basketball team’s regular season opener against UNC-Wilmington on Sunday.

McKay said the main reason he was drawn in was from the coaching staff and the style of play in Hoiberg’s offense.

“The familiarity with the coaching staff and living in Iowa, I’ve lived in Iowa the past two years,” McKay said. “The freedom he gives his players. All the players seem to have fun being here and playing for coach Hoiberg.”

McKay originally transferred to Marquette, but was on campus for a short while before ultimately deciding the team’s style of play wasn’t going to fit with his. 

McKay says he plans to enroll at Iowa State in the spring semester and with NCAA transfer rules he will likely be eligible in the spring semester of 2015 as well as the full 2015-2016 year. 

At Indian Hills, McKay averaged 18.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, two blocks and 1.6 assists per game in his sophomore season. He was also a two-time NJCAA Division I All-American. 

McKay said the fact that Hoiberg has had major success with transfers was another big part in his decision to transfer to play for the Cyclones,” McKay said.

He expects to play as a four or a five in Hoiberg’s offense and cited the versatile play of Georges Niang and Melvin Ejim as the type of player he can be in the offense.

“I think I could cause mismatch problems in the offense, do multiple things and be interchangeable,” McKay said. “Just the way he uses his fours and fives, the way he lets them move or take advantage of the mismatches.”