Was thinking the exact same thing. Gessel and Woody were both top 150. Woody def was and I think Mike was too. Absolutely no development between the 2 from year to year. Oglesby... top 150, comes to Iowa? Cant make a shot. Absolutely embarrassing on the coaches part. They have no clue how to develop the players and thats why we under perform.
I agree to a point but these guys are tapped out athletically. None are big time ballers. How many guys from the state of Iowa go onto to become marquee program making players?
The answer is very, very few and most of those guys do not stay home. Collison, Heinrich, Barnes, McDermott, Paige. There might be a few others but that is spread out over 20+ years.
I am not even sold on Paige being all that great. He gets far more pub just because he plays for UNC. Would he get that same love at Penn State or even Iowa? He would be seen as a solid player. UNC helps him a ton pub wise.
Woody has heart and is a great kid but lacks the physical skills of arm length and jumping ability. You cannot develop that. If he was not 7 foot he would have never played.
Gesell just cannot shoot the three ball or needs a couple of inches to be able to finish or be a 2 guard.
Olgesby lacks athleticism and is a mental head case shooting wise. Has a slow, long shot as well. He makes them when it does not matter in garbage time especially.
This is why you cannot base the essence of your program on Iowa guys. You bring a few in to be role players and they are usually great kids.
