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Westchester Native Helps Iowa State Soar To 16th In National Rankings

YONKERS, N.Y. – Iowa State’s men’s basketball team entered this week ranked No. 16 in the nation in the Associated Press poll. One of the key reasons has been the emergence of Yonkers native Dustin Hogue.

Yonkers native Dustin Hogue soars for two points for Iowa State in a win over Auburn.

Yonkers native Dustin Hogue soars for two points for Iowa State in a win over Auburn.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Iowa State
Dustin Hogue, who played at Lincoln High in Yonkers, has helped Iowa State reach No. 16 in the latest Associate Press poll.

Dustin Hogue, who played at Lincoln High in Yonkers, has helped Iowa State reach No. 16 in the latest Associate Press poll.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Iowa State
Dustin Hogue goes up for a basket against Kansas State.

Dustin Hogue goes up for a basket against Kansas State.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Iowa State
Dustin Hogue is averaging 10.6 points per game for Iowa State.

Dustin Hogue is averaging 10.6 points per game for Iowa State.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Iowa State

Hogue, a junior, has made a profound impact in his first year with the Cyclones. He entered the week third in the Big 12 in rebounding with 8.6 boards per game. He has started every game, and is averaging 10.6 points for Iowa State (22-7). The Cyclones finish the regular season Saturday at Oklahoma State.

Hogue played at Lincoln High before beginning his college career at Indians Hills Community College in Iowa. That’s where Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg found him, and he recruited him to come to Ames. Hogue, a 6-foot, 6-inch forward, helped Iowa State win its first 14 games before losing to Kansas on Jan. 29.

"He's just an absolute warrior,’’ Hoiberg said in a SportingNews.com story. “He goes after every ball. The rebounds he gets, he gets up higher than everyone else and then he elevates a couple of inches. It's just amazing to see how he goes after that ball.".

Hogue, whose brother Douglas played linebacker for Carolina and Detroit in the NFL, has had six games with double figure points and rebounds. He scored a career-high 22 points in a win over Auburn on Dec. 2. He has had 16 rebounds in two games, and had four blocks in a game against Oklahoma on Feb. 1. Hogue was featured on the Iowa State Facebook page in a video with a tremendous block in a game against Texas.

"He's a mean cat, man,’’ teammate Georges Niang said in the SportingNews.com story. “When he wants something, he gets it. Whether it's a sandwich after practice or a rebound. He's just determined. When you have determination like that, nothing's going to stop you."

Hoiberg, a former standout jump shooter who played for a decade in the NBA, has helped Hogue refine his shooting technique. Now Hogue has become one of the most critical players on a team that should make the NCAA Tournament.

"Coaches saw me as being athletic,’’ Hogue said in the SportingNews.com story. “They didn't let me showcase everything that I could do like passing or playing defense. They just wanted me to do a specific thing. Coach Hoiberg, he just let me play the game and utilize all of my talents."

Hogue was named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week in December when he averaged 19.5 points and 15.0 rebounds in wins over Auburn and Northern Iowa. He also earned the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week for that week.

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