Georges Niang

Classroom

Georges Niang is a business marketing major who is active inside the college of business. He was a second-team academic All-Big 12 honoree as a junior and has been on the Big 12 Commissioner’s honor roll. Niang is an Iowa State Scholar-Athlete.

Character

Niang is probably one of the most loved student-athletes that Iowa State has ever had. He is consistently giving of his time. Whether it is at a football game or just out in the community, Niang is always willing to take a picture with the fans or sign an autograph for a young Cyclone admirer. Niang treats all that he comes across with the utmost respect. He’s extremely gifted in the art of conversation and in a day in which we often take sports too seriously, Niang is out there having a blast doing what he loves. On numerous occasions, fans have Tweeted at ISU regarding how giving Georges was with his time. He’s a fan favorite and it isn’t just for his efforts on the basketball court.

“Georges, he’s extremely unique, and what makes him so special is that I think he’s an unbelievable ambassador at this university.” - Head Coach Steve Prohm

Community

Niang’s activity in the community goes well beyond typical community service. In Niang’s world, every time he steps out of his apartment he is active in the community. Some of the community service activities that he has officially taken part in include the following: speaking at an anti-bullying assembly at Granger Elementary, speaking to youth at the Des Moines YMCA, volunteering at ISU blood drives, volunteering at Cyclone Experience, Skyping with middle school students from Fairfield, Iowa, to talk about balancing school and athletics, visiting Blank Children’s Hospital and participating in a Wounded Warriors charity softball game.

Competition

Niang is one of the top players in the nation. As a junior, he earned All-America honors from the Associated Press and the National Association of Basketball Coaches and was an All-Big 12 First Team pick, in addition to being a finalist for the Karl Malone Award (best power forward). He also was on the Wooden Award, Lute Olson Award, Oscar Robertson Award and Naismith Trophy watch lists. At the beginning of the season, Niang was fifth among active NCAA players with 1,510 career points and was the only player in the nation with 1,500 points, 450 rebounds and 300 assists, proving his worth as one of the most versatile players in the country. Niang earned most outstanding player honors at the Big 12 Tournament after leading the Cyclones to a second title in a row. He was third among Big 12 players and led ISU with 15.3 points per game and was in double figures 28 times, including eight games with 20 or more points. One of the Big 12’s best shooters, he hit 46.1 percent on field goal attempts, 80.8 percent on free throws and 40 percent on three pointers through three seasons. Niang was also a 2015-16 Preseason All-Big 12 pick. He is second among Big 12 players averaging 19.8 points, shot 54.7 percent from the floor and 80 percent at the line. Niang is the only Big 12 player to rank among the league’s top-12 in scoring, rebounding and assists. He is a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team pick and ISU’s first-ever two-time All-American after being named to the second-team by Sporting News, Scout.com and USA Today. A wooden Award Finalist, Niang is the only player in the nation averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds and shooting 50 percent from the field and 80 percent at the line.