Standing on the baseline at the Sukup Basketball Complex, they laugh and joke with one another.

Korie Lucious and Will Clyburn had seen each other before they arrived in Ames. In fact, while they did not know it at the time, the two played against each other one summer in high school.

More than a year removed from transferring to Iowa State in the spring of 2011, Lucious and Clyburn have heeded advice from their teammates as they wait to get on the court.

“They basically just told us to be patient,” Lucious said. “They told us that the year was going to go by fast — it was going to be a hard year, but at the same time it was going to go by fast — so just be patient.”

As they head into a summer of preparation before fall practice begins, Lucious and Clyburn are now practicing for their own games. And they have become good friends along the way.

Finding home in Ames

It did not take Lucious long to make a trip to Ames. After being dismissed at Michigan State for “conduct detrimental to the team,” the senior visited Hilton Coliseum just 11 days later.

Lucious had received a phone call from then-senior guard Diante Garrett, who is also from Lucious’s hometown of Milwaukee, passing along the team’s interest. With former Spartan teammate Chris Allen already a Cyclone transfer, Lucious jumped at the opportunity to visit.

“I loved the atmosphere during the Big 12 Conference game, and the fans welcomed me with open arms even though I hadn’t even committed here yet,” Lucious said of his visit to the game against Kansas State. “The [ISU] team treated me well; the coaches treated me well, and I had a lot of fun.”

Despite interest from Marquette and Baylor, Lucious said the experience during his visit cemented his decision. He would become a Cyclone.

Nearly one month after Lucious committed in March 2011, Utah fired its head coach, Jim Boylen. Clyburn began looking at other schools for his final season of eligibility.

Just one year earlier, Clyburn had been in Iowa, playing for Marshalltown Community College some 40 miles east of Ames. After his two years, he had decided to head to Utah. Now, he was looking to get closer to his hometown of Detroit and play in front of his family.

“After I left Iowa, I never thought I’d be back,” Clyburn said. “It is kind of crazy me being back here.”

When Clyburn officially visited Ames in April 2011, he met fellow transfer Lucious. Several years after unknowingly being on the same court in high school, they were now well aware of each other.

“We’ve kind of clicked since then; we became good friends, and we have a good relationship,” Lucious said. “We both kind of felt each other out and saw that we were going to be good friends.”

Building a basketball bond

During the 2011-12 season, four transfers — Royce White, Chris Allen, Chris Babb and Anthony Booker — took the floor in cardinal and gold after sitting out the previous season because of transfer rules.

As Lucious and Clyburn sat out last season, they took advice from the collective group. While the team was on the road, the two watched games with each other at their homes, at Sukup and even at a local restaurant.

The opportunities to hang out have built a bond between the two.

“We’re very close. On the court we know we’re the only two transfers that have been sitting out, so everything we’re going through we’re going through together,” Lucious said of the friendship. “Sitting on the sideline with each other for a year, it brings two players close.”

That closeness has shown to teammates, as well.

“I can tell they’ve gotten close to where they’re really good friends,” Babb said. “They’re actually going to be living together this next year; obviously that shows the type of relationship they’ve built over that year.”

In practice the two have developed a connection after spending a year together on the scout team. With Lucious running the team next season at point guard, there is hope that the camaraderie will carry over.

“We’re with each other every day, just about every hour of the day,” Clyburn said. “It’s great with him being the point guard next year and me and him being able to connect during the off-season and the summer.”

A new start awaits

It does not take much more than the mere mention of Hilton to bring a smile to their faces. The two friends and teammates are ready to play.

“That’s what I think about all the time,” Clyburn said. “I keep saying, ‘It’s right around the corner,’ and it is. Just a few months, and I’ll be on the court.”

For a guy that hit a 3-point buzzer-beater to send Michigan State to the Sweet Sixteen, waiting a season to play has been difficult. It has been equally difficult for a guy that averaged 17.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in his most recent season at Utah.

“[Basketball] is something I love doing, and being out for so long is hard for any competitor to just sit there and watch,” Lucious said. “[My excitement] is through the roof right now, but I’m really excited that’s it just around the corner.”

When the time comes, Babb thinks the friendship will shine on the game floor.

“They’ve built a great relationship,” Babb said. “And I think it’s going to show on the court.”

Until then, Lucious and Clyburn will keep spending time together in the gym — laughing and joking with each other along the way.