He wasn’t. Then he was. Then he wasn’t again. Now he is … a Cyclone.

Damion Staple, a highly regarded recruit from Southeastern Illinois Community College, signed a national letter of intent to play for Iowa State in April, but had second thoughts when Larry Eustachy resigned. Monday, Staple decided to play for the Cyclones next season after all.

Wayne Morgan, who was named head coach Wednesday after a weeklong search, traveled with assistant coach Bob Sundvold to speak with Staple and his coach, Todd Franklin, Thursday. Staple made another visit to Ames Saturday.

“I got the trust from Coach Morgan and Coach Sundvold and that was really important for me,” Staple said. “They told me that if I did not choose to attend, they would grant my release on the spot. I really enjoyed my visit to Ames and look forward to being a Cyclone.”

The recommitment ends an up-and-down trail for the 6-foot-8 forward. He gave a verbal commitment to Western Kentucky when Dennis Felton was the head coach, but backed out of that decision when Felton left to succeed Jim Harrick at Georgia.

Staple signed with Iowa State on April 24, but decided to rethink his options when Eustachy resigned following reports of his behavior at a party with Missouri students after a loss to the Tigers in January.

Morgan and Sundvold made the difference, Southeastern Illinois head coach Todd Franklin said.

“Damion decided that Iowa State was the best place for him because they were so honest and up front with him,” Franklin said. “They guaranteed they would release him if he did not like it. This alleviated many concerns for him and the trust factor is what really sealed the deal.”

The confirmation from Staple solidifies the once shaky 2003—04 recruiting class again. Since Eustachy went under fire on April 28, many of the five recruits who had signed with Iowa State made known their intentions to reconsider their options. But the hiring of Morgan had a lot to do with their recommitments, especially that of Curtis Stinson, a 6-foot-2 guard from Winchendon Prep in Massachusetts.

“When I called Curtis Stinson and told him I got the job, he actually started crying,” Morgan said Wednesday. “It took me about five minutes to get him to talk.”

Morgan said Will Blalock and Reggie George, both from Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts, are both very happy he has taken over the program and will both be Cyclones next season.

The fifth player of the class, Justin Holt, is still a question mark, though. Morgan said he is currently involved in an appeal with the NCAA.

Staple, who is originally from Kingston, Jamaica, averaged 15.3 points and 8.6 rebounds for Southeastern last season and earned second team all-American honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Current Cyclone Tim Barnes was a teammate of Staple’s at Southeastern Illinois two years ago when they led the squad to a 26—7 record and a berth in the Region XXIV championship game.

Morgan said Staple’s commitment was great news for his team.

“We are elated that Damion has elected to attend Iowa State,” he said. “He will bring us strength, character and great athletic ability to this team. This is great news for the Iowa State basketball family.”

Morgan said he is excited about the challenges that lie ahead of him and hopes to mend fences with the people in the ISU community who had taken sides on the Eustachy issue. He called for everyone in the Cyclone community to come together.

Morgan, who has over 30 years of coaching experience and spent last season as an assistant under Eustachy, said fans can expect a defensive-minded squad with an uptempo style on the floor next season.

He also said he hopes to schedule three or four non-conference games against major-conference schools.