Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said he’s at his best when he makes decisions on his own. He tries to block out some of the outside noise. 

That process proved to be the case this week with forward Solomon Young. 

After a largely inconsistent season from transfers Merrill Holden and Darrell Bowie at the center position, Prohm threw Young, a freshman, into the starting lineup against Oklahoma on Saturday. Young responded with eight points and two blocks along with a stellar performance on the defensive end. 

Prohm said the coaching staff had discussed moving Young into the starting role previously, but the ultimate decision came down to him. 

“I just need to block out everything and start making decisions on what I think is best,” Prohm said Monday. “That’s when I’m better. I didn’t even ask anybody, I just came into the office and said, ‘I’m starting Solomon.’” 

Prohm said his hesitancy stemmed from Holden and Bowie’s wealth of experience. But when he looked at the game film after Iowa State fell to Texas last Tuesday, he noticed Young was the right man for the job. 

“He’s been ready when his number has been called,” Prohm said. “I thought about it before, and I’ve probably kicked myself a little bit. But we are where we are now. He’s there going forward.”

Senior guard Naz Mitrou-Long was in the same position when he was a freshman. 

Mitrou-Long played just 6.9 minutes per game in his first year at Iowa State, which fueled flames under the rumor that he would leave at the end of the 2012-13 season. Mitrou-Long rode it out and became one of the more prolific shooters in program history, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark earlier this season. 

Mitrou-Long said he talked to Young about playing time and told Young to just ride it out. 

“I have a soft spot who don’t get playing time freshman year,” Mitrou-Long said. “That’s a lot tougher than anybody knows. I definitely told him to ride it out. Because he’s special. He’s built like a Greek god. He has a great mind and feel for the game.” 

Cyclones a bit banged up

Now 24 games into the season, the Cyclones are feeling the effects of a busy Big 12 schedule.

Forward Merrill Holden is still dealing with concussion-like symptoms after taking an elbow from forward Ray Kasongo in practice Friday. Prohm said he didn’t have an update on his condition Monday. 

“I don’t know if it’s 100 percent a concussion or just lingering effects from getting hit,” Prohm said. “He took a pretty good elbow from Ray and has been struggling ever since.”

Guard Matt Thomas, who has been dealing with bone spurs in his foot and ankle since late December, will be held out of practice Monday. Point guard Monte Morris also has been banged up, Prohm said. 

Prohm said Monday’s practice will me primarily non-contact drills. On Tuesday, the team will be full-go in preparation for Wednesday’s game against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas. 

“We’ll probably do a lot more [5-on-0] and walkthrough stuff than competing,” Prohm said. “Then we’ll get back at it tomorrow.”