Iowa State has made a name for itself in the transfer game over the past decade. From Royce White back in 2011 all the way to Marial Shayok, Nick Weiler-Babb and Marial Shayok this year, transfers have been critical to Iowa State’s basketball resurgence.

The next in line could be Prentiss Nixon, a 6-foot-2 guard who is sitting out this season after transferring from Colorado State. Nixon started 61 games over his last two seasons (2016-18) and as a junior in 2017-18, he led the Rams with 16.1 points per game.

Nixon has a connection to a former Iowa State coach. Larry Eustachy, who coached the Cyclones from 1998-2003—including an Elite Eight run in 1999-2000—was Nixon’s coach at Colorado State.

Nixon will be eligible next season for his redshirt senior year.

The Daily sat down with Nixon to discuss his year off, his recruitment process and memories with Eustachy.

What led to the decision to transfer? Was it mostly about getting a change of scenery?

Nixon: Really it was just that I could be a big-time guard in the transfer market and [Iowa State coach Steve Prohm] has a good history with transfers and guards. He molds guards into pros. I thought Iowa State would be the best spot for me. It worked out great that I’m here now. Coming from Colorado State we had a lot of freedom in the offense but not a lot of structure; here there’s a lot of freedom within structure and I think that’ll help me take my game to the next level.

What was the recruiting process like the second time around?

Nixon: In high school I took one official visit off the jump to Colorado State and I committed right away. Transferring from college to college, the process is a lot quicker. I got my release and probably two weeks later I was committed to a school. In high school you’ve got months, a couple years to narrow that process down. I was very selective in the schools I picked. Coach D Rob [Daniyal Robinson] recruited me here and it’s a decision I’ll never look back on or regret.

What coaches were you closest to during the recruiting process?

Nixon: It was coach Robinson. He called me the day after I got my release. He just kept in touch with me. A lot of coaches said they would call me back and never did. He just stayed on it, called me every day just to check in. We didn’t even always talk about basketball, just talk about how I was doing. He and coach Prohm flew out to see me and the rest is history.

Have you learned from guys like Marial Shayok who sat out last season?

Nixon: Marial, he’s my roommate too. So living with him, just picking his brain on different things he did when he was sitting out. Even Mike [Jacobson], we’re the same age. It’s just picking their brains about what they did when they were sitting out. The biggest thing I got from them is just to stay in the gym. Work hard, work on your craft. Coach Prohm always says ‘love the game and it will love you back.’ I’m gonna just keep working hard and doing my part, and next year we’ll see what happens.

What was Larry Eustachy like as a coach?

Nixon: [Laughs] He was a tough guy. He’s a hard-nosed guy. At the end of the day though it made me better. I love the guy for it. We have a great relationship. On the court, he was tough as nails and he expected us to be tough as nails too. But off the court the dude was a teddy bear. He loved everybody. I’d always crack jokes to try and make him laugh. At the end of the day he made me a lot better player and person.

How does Eustachy compare to coach Prohm?

Nixon: [Laughs] Night and day, night and day. Coach Prohm never really yells, you really gotta get coach Prohm going for him to yell. It’s night and day, two different types of guys. But I love the dude.