Will he sign in 2019 or 2020? Either way, N'Faly Dante says Iowa State is in the mix

Iowa State is squarely in the mix for one of the country's most dominant big men.

After logging 31 points and 16 boards in Sunday's Cap City League game in West Des Moines, five-star 2020 center N'Faly Dante told the Register the Cyclones were among the schools most heavily involved in his recruitment, and that he hopes to take an official visit to Iowa State this summer.

The other four schools he mentioned? Kentucky, Oregon, Michigan State and Tennessee. LSU is also thought to be a contender.

"The team, they're always together," Dante said of the Cyclones. "Any time I went there to play, all of them are together. They play together, have a fun time."

Dante has plenty of experience with the Iowa State program.

When he's not down in Wichita playing at Sunrise Christian during the season, Dante lives with his host family in Des Moines — the same family that hosts Drake freshman Issa Samake. Just a 40-minute drive from Ames, Dante has visited campus several times and regularly plays in open gyms with current Iowa State players.

"I'm cool with them — all of them," said Dante, who is paired with Michael Jacobson and Caleb Grill on his Cap City League team, Des Moines Outreach Lions Club.

The Cyclones have no shortage of juggernaut competition for the 6-foot-11, 230-pound post who's already bigger and stronger than some high-major bigs.

But, with Dante, the biggest question isn't where he'll play college ball.

It's when he'll play college ball.

There's a chance Dante reclassifies to the 2019 class and joins a team later on this summer. He said he is currently enrolled in summer classes to help him become academically eligible to sign in 2019. Much of his decision, obviously, depends on whether he finishes his classes in time.

By no means is Dante married to the idea of switching to 2019.

Rather, he wants to see if it can become an option.

"Maybe. I don't know. I'm not trying to (reclassify), but if I can do it, I might do it," he said.

"I've got to finish the classes. I don't know for sure. I'm going to see if I can."

The ball is completely in Dante's court here. He is the type of talent that teams would have a very hard time turning down if he wants to play for them, and his recruitment reflects that: He said his impression is that the schools actively recruiting him, including Iowa State, would take him in either 2019 or 2020.

Dante said he hopes to be closer to a 2019 vs. 2020 decision after the second live NCAA recruiting period, which takes place July 11-14.

In the meantime, you'd better believe Iowa State's players will recruit Dante at Cap City.

Matthew Bain covers recruiting, Iowa/Iowa State athletics and Drake basketball for the Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Network. Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.

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