Iowa Forwards

[CAARHawk]

If, what I have never expected, Iowa were to get Katenda and Olaseni, they would have these two, Mel, White, and Meyer on the front line for a while. Does that mean Woodbury would basically finish it out for big men recruiting for a while?

Just think - 2012-2013 could be this front line.
C/PF - Olaseni - So, Woodbury - F - Meyer - F
PF/SF - Mel - Jr. White - So. - Katenda - So.

When you add in that Katenda and Olaseni are prep school kids, that is a prett decent line-up.

However, those of you who might know, is there enough difference in skill set amongst these players?

 

[BALDIES7980]

If, what I have never expected, Iowa were to get Katenda and Olaseni, they would have these two, Mel, White, and Meyer on the front line for a while. Does that mean Woodbury would basically finish it out for big men recruiting for a while?

Just think - 2012-2013 could be this front line.
C/PF - Olaseni - So, Woodbury - F - Meyer - F
PF/SF - Mel - Jr. White - So. - Katenda - So.

When you add in that Katenda and Olaseni are prep school kids, that is a prett decent line-up.

However, those of you who might know, is there enough difference in skill set amongst these players?

I don't think the skill set of these three needs to be different its the need of three guards that can penetrate and shoot the rock.
If both prep guys want to come I think FM has to have a sit down with Archie and make room and get a guard that can drive and dish.
Then next year bring in another guard that can drive and dish. We'll have some shooters on the team so I think that will be OK for a while but breaking down the D to get the bigs some space is important.
IMO there is something going on with Woodbury that is negative. No info just a feeling based on lack of action of any kind.

 

[JHHawk]

They are similarly sized forwards,no doubt, but every player is different,like snowflakes,LOL.
Mel- 15 ft and in,strong rebounder,and finisher at the rim,good shot blocker.
White- range to the arc, dribble-drive skills with both hands,passer,and runner.
Katenda- just from descriptions,sounds like a combo of the above,maybe leaning toward White, but more athletic.

Olesani- Marcus Camby-like,with less offense,defend the rim,run the floor.
Meyer- More Dirk than Camby...good touch out to 18 ft,can run,can pass.
Woody- Really tall,Randy Breuer-like....skilled but thin,like Meyers Leonard of Illini.

I would be quite pleased with this group,but not holding my breath on actually landing them all.

 

[CAARHawk]

I don't think the skill set of these three needs to be different its the need of three guards that can penetrate and shoot the rock.
If both prep guys want to come I think FM has to have a sit down with Archie and make room and get a guard that can drive and dish.
Then next year bring in another guard that can drive and dish. We'll have some shooters on the team so I think that will be OK for a while but breaking down the D to get the bigs some space is important.
IMO there is something going on with Woodbury that is negative. No info just a feeling based on lack of action of any kind.

Just totally brutal that we are looking to fill so many scholarships in spring, while the fall class only has one player. That is so many scholarships to fill in a really, really short amount of time. Seeing that not one recruiting service has indicated that any particular player is Iowa's to lose - this does not bode well.

The Hawks REALLY need to be able to get a kid or 2 to freaking pull the trigger. I understand not wanting to pressure a kid, but it is time to get a couple of these kids to dump or get off the pot.

You only have so many recruiting visits between now and November, to have to use them on 2011 recruits is going to severely put you behind for the 2012 guys.

I said when Fran was hired, we would know if he was going to be sucessfull by this November. Really is looking that way now.

 

[BALDIES7980]

Just totally brutal that we are looking to fill so many scholarships in spring, while the fall class only has one player. That is so many scholarships to fill in a really, really short amount of time. Seeing that not one recruiting service has indicated that any particular player is Iowa's to lose - this does not bode well.

The Hawks REALLY need to be able to get a kid or 2 to freaking pull the trigger. I understand not wanting to pressure a kid, but it is time to get a couple of these kids to dump or get off the pot.

You only have so many recruiting visits between now and November, to have to use them on 2011 recruits is going to severely put you behind for the 2012 guys.

I said when Fran was hired, we would know if he was going to be sucessfull by this November. Really is looking that way now.

Well I don't think Nov. is make or break but it will mean alot. I'm sure that FM will have another piece to the puzzle certainly by Nov. its just a matter of how big a piece he has by then.
The silence out of SC has me wondering if FM has grown impatient and is finding out that other prospects similar or better than Woodbury at this time are interested in Iowa.

 

[JHHawk]

Just totally brutal that we are looking to fill so many scholarships in spring, while the fall class only has one player. That is so many scholarships to fill in a really, really short amount of time. Seeing that not one recruiting service has indicated that any particular player is Iowa's to lose - this does not bode well.

The Hawks REALLY need to be able to get a kid or 2 to freaking pull the trigger. I understand not wanting to pressure a kid, but it is time to get a couple of these kids to dump or get off the pot.

You only have so many recruiting visits between now and November, to have to use them on 2011 recruits is going to severely put you behind for the 2012 guys.

I said when Fran was hired, we would know if he was going to be sucessfull by this November. Really is looking that way now.

I thought I was a recruit-nik,but you take the prize.
Couple of thougths:
VCU and Butler have like one top 100 recruit between them,so player development and coaching do impact performance on the floor.
After the top 30-40...it is a very mixed bag of success with recruits..go look at the lists. I know,we should just go get the top 30 guys then...but aint happening quite yet.
There are still good players available in the spring,and de-commits,and transfers....college bb recruiting has changed in recent years,with a lot of top guys waiting til spring.
You sure about the limits of visits? Is it by school year? I know players only can take 5 but schools are limited by calender year?

Is 5 players a lot to sign between now and November? Yes...of course lavin signed 9 in the past year,so it is done. But,when was the last time Iowa had 13 on scholly? Long time. So,if we only have 12 on the roster after November signing date, is it the end of the world? No...next spring there are jucos,transfers,late signees,and de-commits again.

Talent is important,but it is not the sole element to success in college bb,as we have seen with all the mid-major upsets this spring.
I just do not think you can simply reduce it to a formula and unequivically say that Fran will fail if we do not have X number of top 100 players on the roster or in the pipeline by Nov 15. If Fran finds 5 more Bryce and Melsahn caliber player, I think we will be ok.

 

[IAJay]

There are still good players available in the spring,and de-commits,and transfers....college bb recruiting has changed in recent years,with a lot of top guys waiting til spring.

That last part is 100% false. This year nearly all Top 100 players had committed during the fall signing period. Very few top players are waiting until the spring signing period and the ones who do hold out recieve massive amounts of attention because the talent pool is so small come this time of the year.

 

[jo12208]

I don't know what the deal is with Woodbury. People say he is a Hawk fan but why doesn't he want to commit and try to persuade others to join him?

Something doesn't seem right with posters saying he is a life long Iowa fan.

It is probably just internet chatter.

 

[uofihawkInation]

Woodbury Is a lifelong Iowa fan. Regularly attends games on his own. He probably just wants to wait it out and make the right decision. He's only a junior and there are other reasons to choose a college than who his favorite team is. Just give the guy time to pick.

 

[BALDIES7980]

Woodbury Is a lifelong Iowa fan. Regularly attends games on his own. He probably just wants to wait it out and make the right decision. He's only a junior and there are other reasons to choose a college than who his favorite team is. Just give the guy time to pick.

A on the whole I agree with your sentiment but if both these two prep player like what they see and commit he better be on the phone to FM in a hurry if he still wants to play in black and gold.
As of today, no worries but the Iowa staff is doing their job and they are determined to make things happen in IC.Its possible to get left on the outside looking in even at Iowa.

 

[sportstalent]

Just totally brutal that we are looking to fill so many scholarships in spring, while the fall class only has one player. That is so many scholarships to fill in a really, really short amount of time. Seeing that not one recruiting service has indicated that any particular player is Iowa's to lose - this does not bode well.

The Hawks REALLY need to be able to get a kid or 2 to freaking pull the trigger. I understand not wanting to pressure a kid, but it is time to get a couple of these kids to dump or get off the pot.

You only have so many recruiting visits between now and November, to have to use them on 2011 recruits is going to severely put you behind for the 2012 guys.

I said when Fran was hired, we would know if he was going to be sucessfull by this November. Really is looking that way now.

This just in...Iowa has not been very good and programs that aren't very good or, like Iowa, have been down are doing the same. The good news is Iowa is in on some quality players and the staff has proven it can find talent.
Don't worry Iowa will be fine. Keep in mind the already is one 2012 kid now and hopefully, there will be a couple more in the fall. Fran and staff out work a lot of staffs, that will pay off.
I think the "monster" class will be the 2013 class, but I believe what I have seen so far with Cartwright and Basabe.