Shawn Taggart is used to the big-time.

The 6-foot-10-inch freshman, originally from Richmond, Va., spent last year at Mt. Zion prep school in North Carolina, where he averaged 20.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and four blocks a game.

Mt. Zion is one of the top high schools in the country, and won the prep school championship last season. The school has produced seven Division I basketball players in the past two seasons, including Cyclone guard Tasheed Carr, and routinely plays its games in college and NBA arenas.

Rated as the third-best center in the nation last year by www.rivals.com, Taggart is expected to fill the gaping hole inside vacated by Jared Homan and Damion Staple.

He, along with fellow newcomers Jiri Hubalek, Jessan Gray and Mike Evanovich will split time up front.

Homan and Staple combined to contribute 29 percent of Iowa State’s scoring, but more importantly 40 percent of the rebounding.

“Shawn will have a very good year, but Shawn is still a freshman,” said coach Wayne Morgan. “On Tuesday he may score 25 and then on Saturday he may score six. We’ll have a front-court by committee so Shawn won’t shoulder the load by himself.”

Although Taggart is only a freshman, he’s not afraid of responsibility.

“The reason I came here was to start,” he said. “I knew when those guys [Homan and Staple] left they would need someone inside.”

Taggart has even learned a thing or two from the man he is replacing.

“Homan told me to be physical, because the Big 12 is rough every night,” he said. “We played some pick-up games before he left and it made me tougher.

“He likes to bang.”

So who won the battles between the two of them?

“No comment,” Taggart said with a grin.

His new teammates already realize Taggart’s potential.

“He may be a little smaller [than Homan], but he makes up for it with quickness,” said senior forward Anthony Davis. “He brings an offensive presence in the post. He’s very skilled, and has a variety of moves.”

Taggart hopes to use his smaller stature to his advantage.

“They may be bigger than me, but I want to play physical and I can also run the court,” he said.

Taggart’s athleticism has the Cyclone backcourt excited.

“He is so mobile, lean, and fast,” said junior Will Blalock.

“He can run the court like one of the guards. It should be fun.”

Carr, a former Mt. Zion teammate, said he knows Taggart has the ability to battle with the Big 12’s best.

“He’ll do tremendously, he’s very skilled,” Carr said.

“He’s already better than most of the guys.”

Taggart is glad Carr is there to help him with the transition from prep school.

“He’s helping me out on the court, in the classroom and just telling me to keep my head on straight,” Taggart said.

In his short time at Iowa State, Taggart hasn’t missed too many meals, but in his case that’s a good thing.

“My weight is the thing I need to work on the most,” Taggart said.

“I’ve put on 15 to 20 pounds since summer and am up to 228 now.”

The Cyclones hope Taggart is ready to feast on the college basketball world as well.