ISU senior forward Georges Niang returned to the Capital City League with some extra experience after spending his weekend in California at the Nike Basketball Academy.

The prestigious camp invites the best players in the college game to be mentored by Lebron James, Kevin Durant and more of the top players in the NBA.

“It was really cool,” Niang said. “It was a great learning experience, definitely learned a lot with all the pros they have out there, so I’m glad I got the opportunity to do something like that.”

Niang attended the Nike Big Man Academy last summer. He said the opportunity to learn from the best players in the world is invaluable.

“You really got to soak in everything that they’re talking about,” Niang said. “These guys are at the point you want to be at, they’re the best players in the world. If I can learn anything from them, like little tricks of the trade, how the game works, life lessons, I’m definitely going to listen and even ask them questions.”

Added experience and insight weren’t the only things Niang returned from the camp with. An accidental collision with Gonzaga’s Kyle Wiltjer left Niang with four stiches above his right eye.

Niang was forced to sit out the final session of the weekend because of the minor injury.

While at the camp, Niang roomed with Big 12 foe Buddy Hield of Oklahoma. Although the two aren’t particularly friendly when competing against each other during the conference season, Niang said the two are buddies.

He also liked seeing the Big 12 conference represented at the camp.

“It’s always good when you see guys from your conference there, so you know that you’re playing against some of the best competition night in and night out in your conference,” Niang said.

The camp also provided Niang the opportunity to get up close and personal with NBA players. Being in the gym with the pros was an eye-opening experience, Niang said.

Niang’s biggest takeaway from the weekend was the determination and effort players have to give to be successful at the next level.

“Just how hard you got to work,” Niang said of what stood out to him most. “These pros are in there five, six hours a day and they’re getting paid to do this and we’re trying to get to that point and be the greatest.”

Many critics contend that while Niang has been successful at the college level, his style of play might not translate to the NBA. Getting invited to elite camps like this suggest otherwise.

Niang said he doesn’t read into what other people say about his prospects of a professional career.

“I have some confidence in myself,” Niang joked. “I’m not really too concerned with what other people are saying, I’d rather just use it as motivation just to prove them wrong.”