Kiah Stokes to UConn

BTW, if my son or daughter was good enough at basketball to be offered from multiple colleges to include the Hawkeyes... and they chose another college that wasn't the Hawkeyes, I would drive/fly them to the state they chose to attend to accept. Quite rude and ridiculous to announce otherwise.
 
greghammel said:
BTW, if my son or daughter was good enough at basketball to be offered from multiple colleges to include the Hawkeyes... and they chose another college that wasn't the Hawkeyes, I would drive/fly them to the state they chose to attend to accept. Quite rude and ridiculous to announce otherwise.
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It's not really that rude. She lives here. Linn Mar offered to host the press conference. It's easier to announce in one place and for all of the press to gather for their stories. The people at the press conference were her friends and family and the press (not necessarily Hawk fans).
If you watched the press conference, she was very nervous and just wanted to get through it. I do not believe it was intended to slap anyone in the face. I, for one, wish her the best going forward.
 
I do think it is wonderful that top programs in the nation has looked at several of our high school players (both in basketball and football) over the last decade or so. Actually, we can probably extend back to as far as LeFrentz going to Kansas. It goes to show that we can produce quality talent in the state of Iowa.

However, it is very disappointing that we are losing our top talent out of state. This is particularly true in basketball. It goes back to as far as Tom Davis (which is who I still have a lot of respect for) and the major damage done by Alford and Lickliter. Bluder, although having fun and competitive teams, has not made the splash nationally that Stringer did at Iowa in the 80s and early 90s. Injuries, bad luck, or whatever for Bluder. ISU has had to much coaching turnover.

When UNI and Drake have been the best basketball teams in the state as of late, that is terrible spot to be in if you are Iowa or ISU.

I am not happy at all about losing Stokes to UConn. I'm sure she was probably pretty torn on the decision. Personally, I think she could have made a tremendous footprint here at Iowa and Iowa would have been an instant top 10 team with her playing on it. But, she choose UConn. Personally, considering her background, I do think it is a little bit of a slap in the face, but ultimately, she is guilty of nothing, and it is her choice.

The bigger problem is our basketball programs getting much better so we stop losing our top talent out of state. That is Fran's challenge as well as the Mayor's challenge to do just that.
 
So wait, it is a slap in the face to you guys that she made an announcement in her town, at her school, surrounded by her friends and loved ones?

Why didn't she have the decency to drive across the country to make her announcement in front of strangers when doing it where she grew up is such a slap in the face to you guys? THE NERVE!
 
Why would I cheer for player X from Iowa, who chose to go to (insert out of state team here)? Why would I be happy about that? THE NERVE! Is right.
 
I just don't understand the self need to hold a conference. What about every kid? Why doesn't every kid hold a conference to announce what college they are going to? The more I think about it, the more ridiculously selfish it is. Why would anyone do this? Why would you assemble media in any state to tell people you are going to college somewhere else? Some kid that is choosing between Winona State and Drake should ask their school for a press conference and see what happens. What about a kid who is deciding if they should attend Purdue for an Engineering Degree or head out west? Shouldn't they be allowed to have a conference?
Why would you not find this whole thing not rude, selfish, and uncalled for? What was the point of the press conference? Was it enjoyable for her?
 
Heck, if a Sr in HS chooses to join the military and serve our country... they don't get the same media coverage a girl in Iowa gets announcing she is going to play basketball in another state. Wow... messed up priorities.
 
I have family that works with Greg Stokes and they have nothing but great things to say about him and his family. I believe Iowans have taken a liking to Kiah and figured she would be a great amabassador for the women sports here at Iowa. It does surprise me that she chose to leave. Especially the way she did it. I can't imagine her Father was too amused by it, and wonder if he agreed to the way it was handled? Very Lebron like... But... she chose to not be with us. So... Thanks for announcing you are heading to Connecticut. I would love to have been a reporter there. I would have asked her where the valedictorian was heading for college? I would have asked her when we could expect that announcement? I would have said it like this "First off, you are the greatest person I have ever met... I think UCONN might be good now that they have you... what do you think?" Good luck and God Speed Kiah.
 
greghammel said:
I have family that works with Greg Stokes and they have nothing but great things to say about him and his family. I believe Iowans have taken a liking to Kiah and figured she would be a great amabassador for the women sports here at Iowa. It does surprise me that she chose to leave. Especially the way she did it. I can't imagine her Father was too amused by it, and wonder if he agreed to the way it was handled? Very Lebron like... But... she chose to not be with us. So... Thanks for announcing you are heading to Connecticut. I would love to have been a reporter there. I would have asked her where the valedictorian was heading for college? I would have asked her when we could expect that announcement? I would have said it like this "First off, you are the greatest person I have ever met... I think UCONN might be good now that they have you... what do you think?" Good luck and God Speed Kiah.
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Greg was part of the process. If you saw the press conference, he spoke first and thanked the staff at Linn Mar for allowing the press conference there (they offered). I am sure it would have been great for Greg if Kiah had decided to stay, but he let her make her own decision. Remember, Greg has said on more than one occasion that leaving Ohio ended up being good for him (he still lives here).

My daughter is a senior at Linn Mar as well. She is choosing her college based on music (She plays in the orchestra). The fact of the matter is, more people care and wanted to know where Kiah is going to college. She is a top ranked basketball player in the state of Iowa. No one cares where my daugher is going to college for music (well, I care very much, and some friends are asking, but we will not be having a press conference :) ). That is just reality.

The press was always asking Kiah where she is going to college. Did you notice Pat Summit, Brenda Freese, Vivian Stringer and Lisa Bluder coming to her volleyball games? They were not going to the games to see anyone else play (again, that is just reality). Holding a press conference is an easy way for all of the local media to get together and hear the decision and then write stories for their paper and web site. It ends the process for Kiah in one shot. Does that make sense? If you watched the press conference, Kiah was extremely nervous. She was also relieved that the process was done. This was nothing like LeBron. This was more for the press than it was for Kiah in my opinion.

Also, I do think it would be great for all of the high school seniors that go on to serve their country to be honored or recognized in some way. The harsh reality of our society is, no one in the press is asking about those students.
 
I knew Greg was there... I didn't ask that. I asked if he agreed to the way it was handled. I know it had to be a tough thing to do, I can't imagine being the father in that situation. Nobody bleeds black and gold more than Greg Stokes and he has always been one of my favorite people. That is precisely why I was so upset to be losing a "family" member. It is all good, I just don't remember the large amount of players holding these press conferences in the past. I am sure in due time I will catch up with the reality that it is considered acceptable, but right now I just feel it comes off as selfish, self-promoting, and punkish when announcing to the wrong crowd without first letting them know... but then nobody would show up? Maybe that is why these kids keep it so tight. No matter. But to be a Hawkeye fan and be happy about it? Why? Sad loss and not just because she is great at basketball.
 
greghammel said:
I knew Greg was there... I didn't ask that. I asked if he agreed to the way it was handled. I know it had to be a tough thing to do, I can't imagine being the father in that situation. Nobody bleeds black and gold more than Greg Stokes and he has always been one of my favorite people. That is precisely why I was so upset to be losing a "family" member. It is all good, I just don't remember the large amount of players holding these press conferences in the past. I am sure in due time I will catch up with the reality that it is considered acceptable, but right now I just feel it comes off as selfish, self-promoting, and punkish when announcing to the wrong crowd without first letting them know... but then nobody would show up? Maybe that is why these kids keep it so tight. No matter. But to be a Hawkeye fan and be happy about it? Why? Sad loss and not just because she is great at basketball.
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I know you didn't say Greg wasn't there. Did you watch the video in the story I linked? He was introduced first and spoke a bit about how he was feeling. If you have time, watch it and see if you can tell how Greg (and Kiah for that matter) feels. There was nothing punkish or self-promoting about it. In my opinion, this was a matter of ending the process.

I agree this is a tough loss. It would have been great for Iowa fans if Kiah went to Iowa. I know that this was a very difficult decision for her and she considered everything. I can understand if people do not want to wish UConn any more success. I do wish the best for Kiah and her family. And, yes, I am a little biased. :)
 
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