On June 28, the annual NBA draft will be taking place in New York, and a former Cyclone standout will be among the hopeful, watching and waiting to see if his name is called.

Jared Homan, a 6-10, 250-pound center from Remsen, Iowa, has steadily been improving his standing since graduation. Although many recruits spent their time working out and training on their own, a select few were invited to the prestigious Pre-Draft Camp held in Chicago on June 7-10.

Although Homan has said he will keep quiet until after the draft, his family was anything but.

The family said it looked to the future with great optimism.

“He’s worked really hard all throughout high school and college to get to this point,” said Megan, Homan’s 17-year-old sister and the youngest of the four Homan children.

“For him to make the NBA would say a lot.”

Homan’s parents, Dave and RaNae, said they are very excited and proud of their son’s accomplishments.

“This is like a dream,” RaNae said. “It’s what he’s been wanting.”

“He’s been focused ever since graduation,” Dave said.

Homan played basketball all four years he was at Iowa State, but he got his start in seventh grade.

“Every year we saw improvement in him,” Dave said. “He was very competitive and did not want to lose.”

As a senior at St. Mary’s, he earned a first-team Class 1A all-state selection by The Des Moines Register, All-America honorable mention by Street & Smith and was a McDonald’s All-American candidate.

Homan finished his career at St. Mary’s as the all-time shot blocker and chose Iowa State over Boston College, New Mexico, Creighton, Drake and Northern Iowa.

Homan then finished his career at Iowa State as the all-time blocked shots leader.

He finished last season ranked first in the Big 12 in blocks, second in the league in rebounding and second with double-doubles.

After the Cyclones bowed out of the NCAA Tournament, Homan was invited to play in the NABC College All-Star Game and then had a strong showing at the Portsmouth Invitational before being invited to Chicago.

Homan’s parents said he didn’t perform quite as well as he wanted in Chicago after being slowed by a hip bruise he sustained on a rebound.

“He’d hoped to do better,” RaNae said. “I don’t think he scored a lot of points, but he was enjoying the experience. You’d look up into the stands and see players like Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas.”

After the camp, Dave and RaNae said Homan continued to work on his game and Dave had an opportunity to work out with his son.

“It was the first time I’d worked out with him; he just needed someone to catch the balls for him,” Dave said.

“He worked hard on blocking shots, running the floor and working on his mid-range jumper.”

Even with his busy workout schedule, Homan did find some time to return home, but not for some rest and relaxation.

“He came home and mowed some lawns and helped me in the barn, do some milking,” Dave said.

Dave was a bit concerned, though, about his son’s return home.

“Farming is a hazardous occupation,” he said. “He could’ve gotten kicked by a cow.”

An injury could have forced Homan to wait a year before going to the NBA.

“We just want to see him drafted,” Dave said. “He’s got second round potential, but could go late first round.”

“He’d be happy to be drafted by anyone,” RaNae said. “He’d like to play here, but if he has to go overseas, he will.”

Dave would like Jared to get drafted by either Minnesota or Chicago because they’re close to home.

“I don’t care where he goes just so long as he’s happy,” Megan said. “That’s all that matters, and I’ll be behind him 100 percent.”

Although it was unknown at the time, RaNae said Homan would probably return home to watch the draft.

“We’ll probably have a huge party,” she said.