Tavon Sledge only needed one visit to pick his new school.
The 5-foot-9, 172-pound freshman point guard committed to Iona while visiting the school Saturday and will transfer from Iowa State.
Sledge played in just eight games for Iowa State, averaging 2.3 minutes and 1.0 point.
He will have to sit out one year per NCAA transfer rules.
“[Iona] gave me a vision of a place where I could improve my game a lot more and help me succeed,” Sledge, a former Long Island Lutheran star, told SNY.tv by phone.
Sledge figures to slot in in the backcourt when Lamont “Momo” Jones leaves after next season. Iona also graduates Scott Machado, who figures to get drafted by the NBA in June.
“They told me I’m going to be a starter,” said Sledge, who was recruited by assistant Jared Grasso. “I’ll have the opportunity to run the team and be the facilitator on the floor and help the team win. Hopefully, we can make it t to the NCAA Tournament.”
Iona made the Big Dance this season after losing in the MAAC Tournament semifinals and then lost the play-in game to BYU.
“I entertained a couple of schools but from the jump, my dad and Mike Moore, we all thought Iona would be the best for me as far as what they did with Scott Machado and Momo. And to be next in line after Momo leaves, that’s a great feeling for me.”
Sledge joins Da’Shawn Gomez, Grant Ellis and David Laury in Iona’s recruiting class. Laury becomes eligible mid-season.
Photo: Iowa State
