Just a day after former Cyclone forward Wesley Johnson announced his departure for the NBA (ESPN.com projects Johnson as a top five pick), center Justin Hamilton found a school that isn’t exactly “closer to home.”

The 6-foot-11-inch Alpine, Utah, native said when he announced he was transferring from Iowa State he wanted a school where he could play in front of his family. Hamilton chose Louisiana State University, where he’ll sit on the bench for a season, per NCAA transfer rules.

Hamilton averaged 6.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 31 games for Iowa State last season, and will likely emerge a redshirt junior for the Tigers in the fall of 2011.

The Baton Rouge Advocate reported today that Hamilton was influenced by current LSU big man Malcom White, who also transferred to play for the Southeastern Conference’s last place team in the 2009-10 season.

Hamilton’s transfer leaves a big hole in the center for the Cyclones who will need to replace all the front court starters for next year’s team.

LSU now has six players signed to its class for next season. However, LSU would have 14 players on scholarship if Hamilton is given the same treatment he was given in Ames, one more than the NCAA allows.

Iowa State will return just four scholarship players that finished last year healthy.