Iowa State basketball player Marcedus Leech is eligible

Iowa State basketball player Marcedus Leech is good to go, according to an NCAA ruling announced Friday. His academic transcript has passed clearinghouse inspection.

Leech was withheld from the three games on the Cyclones' just-completed Italy trip due to academic issues, and not because of anything related to a lingering injury.

Coach Steve Prohm addressed the situation with reporters on Thursday.

“He’s fine. He's healthy,” Prohm said at Cyclone Unplugged, a fan function at Cowles Commons in downtown Des Moines. “There were a couple of snafus getting him totally qualified. His transcript is still in the (academic) clearinghouse getting evaluated.”

Prohm correctly expected Leech to be available for the season.

“I look for everything to be fine,” he said Thursday. “We were able to take him (to Italy), just weren’t able to play him.”

Prohm said two other incoming freshmen impressed him — guards Tre Jackson and Caleb Grill.

“I like both those guys,” he said. “Caleb can really make shots, and he’s got good toughness. Tre can really, really shoot it with range. Both those guys can be in the rotation for sure.”

Also in the rotation will be Penn State transfer Rasir Bolton, assuming the NCAA allows him to play immediately. The guard left the Nittany Lions after his freshman year, but is seeking a waiver to skip what is usually a mandatory sitting-out for one season.

“He’s good. He’s a good player,” Prohm said. “I’m glad he’s with us. He can play some (point guard), if we want to take Tyrese (Haliburton) off the ball. He can get you double-figures. He can create offense for you, rebound and defend.

“I’m excited about what he can do.”

Randy Peterson is the Iowa State columnist for the Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter at @RandyPete. No one covers the Cyclones like the Register. Subscribe today at Des Moines Register.com/Deal to make sure you never miss a moment.