Peterson: Cap City League features new wave of Cyclones

And the first pick in the 2017 YMCA CapCity League draft is ...

Your guess is good as anyone else’s, but this much is known:

This popular summertime experience is as alive and well as it’s always been – even with popular former Iowa Staters Monte Morris, Naz Mitrou-Long, Matt Thomas and Deonte Burton now out of the mix.

It’s a new era, featuring a new wave of Cyclones combined with the guys recruited by rookie Drake coach Niko Medved. That’s even what league director Derek Hannah called it. This is his ninth summer running the fan-friendly entertainment that’s technically called the YMCA Capital City League.

“This is going to be an exciting summer, what with the changing of the guard at Iowa State and Drake,” Hannah told me. “That personality and the atmosphere that ended, and now the era that’s beginning, it’ll be interesting to see how everyone jells with the fans.”

And vice versa. And that’s the deal.

What this league that leans heavily toward Iowa State players lacks in defense (really, really, really lacks in defense, by the way) makes up for it with up-close and personal interactions among fans attending games at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in West Des Moines.

Conversing with the players. Doing the selfie picture thing. Filling an autograph book.

I remember some guy named Georges Niang doing that – during a game.

“It’s mostly just a lot of fun,” Hannah said when I asked why he continues to do this for free. “With all the social media that’s out there these days – there’s a lot of fans that look forward to it.”

From an Iowa State perspective, they’ll meet five-star recruit Lindell Wigginton and Cam Lard. Cyclones newcomer Terrence Lewis will probably will play, too. Maybe even Marial Shyock and Jeff Beverly, also.

They’re among the most massive Iowa State roster revamping in years. Eight scholarship players from last season’s team that played in its sixth NCAA Tournament in a row won’t be back.

“I’m excited about our freshmen,” Cyclones coach Steve Prohm said. “They’re going to get to play. They’ll play through mistakes. That’s the only way for them to get better.”

They’ll also play in the summer league, but on different nights than in the past. The league starts on June 15. Games are on Thursdays and Sundays.

No more Wednesdays and the conflict it had with a night class that Iowa State newcomers MUST attend. On those Wednesdays, it was hit-and-miss as to which Cyclones players would even show up to play.

Additionally, some games will be played at the Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny.

“At no request of Iowa State, we wanted to serve them a little better – to make it a little easier for the guys on the weekdays,” Hannah said.

As engaging as the Cyclones have been, driving to West Des Moines twice a week is a grind. Practice. Driving south on Interstate 35. Hitting the freeway during the 30 minutes or so that we in Des Moines call our rush hour. Playing a game. Hanging with the fans. Stopping for a bite of food while returning to Ames.

Again, that’s a grind.

“This isn’t something that we take for granted,” Hannah said of Iowa State players’ participation.

But back to the draft that will be held on one of the first two nights in June. Who’s going No. 1?

There’s no Monte. There’s no Georges. There’s no Royce White.
So who’s going first?

“It could be wide open,” Hannah told me.

Wigginton or Donovan Jackson or Nick Weiler-Babb?

Solomon Young or Lard?

If I was picking?

Wigginton.

Randy Peterson, senior sports reporter, has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete