Recruiting...weigh in with your thoughts

H

hawkIhoops

Well-Known Member
I realize we aren't "in" on any big time recruits, but I am more anxious this year than any I can remember. I guess that is what a shred of optimism can do for a long suffering Iowa hoops fan.

Olaseni- Not the polished big we have been hoping for, but seems to have a high ceiling and really liked his visit. Probably more defense than offense in year one, but he has height and length.

Hubbard-Seems to address multiple needs. Athletic, scorer, defender, ballhandler and slasher. Appears it is down to Iowa and Iona with a couple more visits potentially. Again, very positive about the visit, staff, opportunity.

Shaq Stokes-Seems the ship has sailed since he visited TCU last weekend.

Carter-No visit, getting lots of attention, seems unlikely.

Cougill-Once he left, I didn't see him returning. Apparently has offers from WI-GB and South Dakota State with interest from Valpo. Seems like the level Cougs should play at.

Washpun-Getting more attention (at least on message boards). Apparently waiting on a SEC offer. Is he a fallback for Iowa? Haven't seem him play. By all accounts is athletic, but not much of a scorer.

Olaseni and Hubbard seem the most appealing / realistic at this point. Ideal scenario would be for Archie to graduate opening up another spot for a late signing of a kid who decides to decommit after a coaching change, etc.
 
Those two would round out a solid class (as long has Hubbard ends up staying out of trouble.) The line up could look like this

PG Cartright, Payne, Marble
SG Gatens, Marble, Olgesby, Stoermer
SF Hubbard, May/Marble, McCabe
PF Basabe, McCabe, White, Stokes
C Brommer, Archie/Olaseni, Stokes
 
I'm also extremely pumped about hawkeye basketball recruiting. I wish Iowa just bank the scholarship vs. giving it to Washpun. Olaseni would be nice and a PG. I liked Carter's tweet last night.
 
I would love for it to be Hubbard and Olaseni. Forget Hubbard's past, he made a mistake and did his time. I also think that hearing Rafferty calling "Basabi, Hubbard, Olaseni, and Cartwright with the scoop," sounds great.
 
It was a picture of a tigerhawk, but I think he is just trying to get more twitter followers. Don't get too excited about it.
 
Ihawk209 said:
I would love for it to be Hubbard and Olaseni. Forget Hubbard's past, he made a mistake and did his time. I also think that hearing Rafferty calling "Basabi, Hubbard, Olaseni, and Cartwright with the scoop," sounds great.
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Agree. Not sure why some are being so hard on this kid. He made some bad choices when he was 17, paid the price and wants to move forward with his life. It's not like his incident happened three months ago. He was 17 then, is 25 now, and if you read his comments, he holds himself accountable, says he made poor choices, is not hanging around that crowd and surrounds himself with people who want to make good choices.

Sure, anyone can bs the world with this type of dialogue if they want to, but I think the kid wants to prove himself and as we have seen in the tourney, big chips on shoulders make for great players.
 
This last weekend a friend and I were talking hawks. It started with "Are you coming up to the spring game?" It then immediately went into the excitement we have about the basketball program. We both admitted to searching the web throughout the workday for any news on new recruits.

We feel if Fran can pick up two solid recruits this spring next years season should be pretty fun to watch. We were not talking NCAA or even NIT, but I think the Hawks will turn some heads!

We also both agree on Hubbard, he's done his time and seems on the up side of his life. He's seen the bad part of life and ready for the good. I also think with his age he can become a natural leader, and "father" figure. Kind of like the role Cole played this year.

Ether way at the end of the conversation we realized I never got around to answering the original question. My passion for Iowa basketball is definitely back.

Go Hawks! I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for news.
 
The team needs a defensive presence on the front line and a go to scorer. With those two options, they should be capable of playing after the regular season ends.

Basically, you need to be able to keep Mel on the floor and also to be able to reduce the ability to double him. MSU figured out all you have to do is bracket him and control Cartwright's dribble drive and you pretty much have the team shut down.

They desperately need a third scorer. Preferably that player could also score outside to open up the middle.
 
I would be elated with any two of Hubbard, Olaseni or Carter. As much as we need a big my top two would be Hubbard and Carter, although I think any of the 3 will make a positive impact next season.

I think that these last two scholarships have the potential to put Iowa in the Bubble talk next season if used well. Hubbard and Carter along with our 2 existing recruits elevates Iowa's play next year the most I think. Olaseni's presence would help next year but likely pay a bigger dividend in the 12-13 season.

On the Hubbard subject, I believe in second chances for these types of things as long as a sufficient penalty has been handed down. In Hubbard's case I deffinately think it has. Where I draw the line on things like this (Second chances) are when it is obvious that a coach/ school or University are rushing to "forgive" or "Holding off Judgment" to gain a competative advantage.

Where I will have a problem is when a kid gets into serious trouble but continues to play or serves a minor suspension while the "legal process plays out" or a kid serves a Lindsy Lohan type of sentence to be welcomed aboard immediately with a joke of a suspension. Thats the kind of thing I tend to draw the line on and I think I look at these types of things the same with all schools. In short, I think Hubbard deserves his shot wether it be at Iowa or elsewhere.

If Iowa does not land any 2 of the 3 mentioned above, or a yet to be mentioned JUCO I would rather bank the last scholarship and pass on Washpun or most of the others I have read about and go hard after a monster class for 2012. I left Stokes, Katenda,
Achiuwa off because I think they are completely out of the picture.
 
Implicit in the OP is a hint of disappointment that blue-chip talent isn't suddenly knocking down the doors to wear the black and gold. I will admit that I have been disappointed that we have lost out on some of the better prospects who added Iowa to their interest list, but not really surprised.

I think we are seeing just how hard rebuilding Hawkeye hoops is going to be. If anyone really thought that just because a former Siena coach with a great smile and outgoing personality arrived in Iowa City the clouds were going to part, the good Lord would look down and immediately bless a downtrodden program with 4- and 5-star recruits, they were sadly mistaken.

Whatever you think of him, Bruce Pearl might have been able to bring some of those kids to Iowa. That's not a rap on Fran. Until the past year Pearl had the cachet and name recognition to attract better talent.

As we are being reminded almost daily, recruiting is a multi-year process that begins early in the athlete's career. Lackluster didn't get Iowa in on many good players early on, it appears. Fran understands the recruiting game, and he and the staff appear to be working hard to build that foundation for the long-term. I think we will begin to see the fruits in two or three years. Until then, we'll likely see Fran pick up more late commits and JUCOs, and piece together a team that moves towards what he would like it to be.

Will Iowa fans have the patience that will be required to plant stronger recruiting roots? I hope so.
 
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I will echo this sentiment over and over again, recruiting is important, but player development, especially at Iowa is just as important. With Fran he has developed players, but also gotten kids that blossomed after being passed over, he did it with Basabe and Cartwright this year.

Everyone is out for the athletic 3 player, remember that Marble is still on the roster and if he works hard on his shot this offseason, Iowa has that player who can penetrate and score. Again, back to player development portion here.

In recruiting, Olaseni is a player that could add needed shot-blocking ability and a taller rebounder, along with an athletic guy to team with Basabe.

If Iowa cannot secure a solid combo guard, then Washpun is a definite option to bring in, but to redshirt. If that happens, then he works on his shot and can get comfortable with Iowa's system. All indications are he is athletic and can play defense, something Iowa does need.

If Iowa banks the scholarship then that would not be the worst thing, but doubtful it will happen.
 
I just wish SOMEONE would sign already. All the waiting and wondering is really not helping the high blood pressure and anxiety I don't have. It's making me nervous that no one has signed yet despite all of Fran's efforts.
 
tweeterhawk said:
Implicit in the OP is a hint of disappointment that blue-chip talent isn't suddenly knocking down the doors to wear the black and gold. I will admit that I have been disappointed that we have lost out on some of the better prospects who added Iowa to their interest list, but not really surprised.

I think we are seeing just how hard rebuilding Hawkeye hoops is going to be. If anyone really thought that just because a former Siena coach with a great smile and outgoing personality arrived in Iowa City the clouds were going to part, the good Lord would look down and immediately bless a downtrodden program with 4- and 5-star recruits, they were sadly mistaken.

Whatever you think of him, Bruce Pearl might have been able to bring some of those kids to Iowa. That's not a rap on Fran. Until the past year Pearl had the cachet and name recognition to attract better talent.

As we are being reminded almost daily, recruiting is a multi-year process that begins early in the athlete's career. Lackluster didn't get Iowa in on many good players early on, it appears. Fran understands the recruiting game, and he and the staff appear to be working hard to build that foundation for the long-term. I think we will begin to see the fruits in two or three years. Until then, we'll likely see Fran pick up more late commits and JUCOs, and piece together a team that moves towards what he would like it to be.

Will Iowa fans have the patience that will be required to plant stronger recruiting roots? I hope so.
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This one will!
 
CAARHawk said:
The team needs a defensive presence on the front line and a go to scorer. With those two options, they should be capable of playing after the regular season ends.

Basically, you need to be able to keep Mel on the floor and also to be able to reduce the ability to double him. MSU figured out all you have to do is bracket him and control Cartwright's dribble drive and you pretty much have the team shut down.

They desperately need a third scorer. Preferably that player could also score outside to open up the middle.
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Sorry, I didn't want to turn this into a Matt Gatens Hate thread, but a lot of folks were expecting him to be that player. Being a top 100 player coming out of HS. So I'd have to say he has underperformed in a lot of fans eyes. (If that hasn't been obvious already) Again, don't want to beat the obvious again and again....
 
I wasn't implying any disappointment that we aren't in on big time recruits, just stating what we all know. Secondly, you realize Pearl couldn't get those kids he got into TN into Iowa right? You understand TN doesn't care about compliance and Iowa does. TN is a rogue program and Iowa isn't. Wow, are there still people drinking Bruce Pearl kool-aid out there? Yeah, let's win for a couple years and get put on probation. Good plan.
 
IATrainMaster101 said:
I would be elated with any two of Hubbard, Olaseni or Carter. As much as we need a big my top two would be Hubbard and Carter, although I think any of the 3 will make a positive impact next season.

I think that these last two scholarships have the potential to put Iowa in the Bubble talk next season if used well. Hubbard and Carter along with our 2 existing recruits elevates Iowa's play next year the most I think. Olaseni's presence would help next year but likely pay a bigger dividend in the 12-13 season.

On the Hubbard subject, I believe in second chances for these types of things as long as a sufficient penalty has been handed down. In Hubbard's case I deffinately think it has. Where I draw the line on things like this (Second chances) are when it is obvious that a coach/ school or University are rushing to "forgive" or "Holding off Judgment" to gain a competative advantage.

Where I will have a problem is when a kid gets into serious trouble but continues to play or serves a minor suspension while the "legal process plays out" or a kid serves a Lindsy Lohan type of sentence to be welcomed aboard immediately with a joke of a suspension. Thats the kind of thing I tend to draw the line on and I think I look at these types of things the same with all schools. In short, I think Hubbard deserves his shot wether it be at Iowa or elsewhere.

If Iowa does not land any 2 of the 3 mentioned above, or a yet to be mentioned JUCO I would rather bank the last scholarship and pass on Washpun or most of the others I have read about and go hard after a monster class for 2012. I left Stokes, Katenda,
Achiuwa off because I think they are completely out of the picture.
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I find myself agreeing with a lot of what you have to say in this post Trainmaster. Although I think Olaseni and Hubbard are the most likely recruits (and best for the Hawks IMHO), a combination of one of them and Carter, Stokes, Jackson, or Glover would be OK with me. I agree that in some ways Hubbard/Carter would be the best combo for us in 2011, but I'm leery of going into 2012 with just freshmen at center. I think the reason we've held off on Washpun, in addition to the grades, is that Fran feels the need to sign a handler who's also a scorer (i.e. Hubbard and/or Carter). Wash is more of a defender PG. For 2012, depending on who we sign out of the above group, I could see some combination of the already committed Meyer, plus Woodbury, Niang, Lomomba, Phillip Miller (after prep school), and Gesell. I'm looking forward to seeing how this shakes out.

UncleHawk
 
hawkIhoops said:
I wasn't implying any disappointment that we aren't in on big time recruits, just stating what we all know. Secondly, you realize Pearl couldn't get those kids he got into TN into Iowa right? You understand TN doesn't care about compliance and Iowa does. TN is a rogue program and Iowa isn't. Wow, are there still people drinking Bruce Pearl kool-aid out there? Yeah, let's win for a couple years and get put on probation. Good plan.
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I don't know that and you don't, either. It's mere speculation on both of our parts. Would he have some "in"s and get better players interested immediately on coming to Iowa? I think so. Would some of them not qualify academically, or for whatever reason? Probably. But Pearl has been a much better known D1 coaching commodity than Fran. Not so say Fran won't get there -- I think he will.

Would Pearl have had less chance to go astray at Iowa? I'd like to think so. But no one knows for sure.
 
I would say Katenda and Carter are pretty big recruits with major schools recruiting them. Unfortunately I doubt we land either

Olaseni and Hubbard also have major schools after them and would definitely be a step up from our last couple of recruiting classes

I would be very excited with any of the above four and I'm sure there are some solid JUCO prospects we are looking at too
 
The other tidbit here is whether or not Archie or someone else has indicated they aren't returning. Semester is not up yet, so unlikely anything will break publicly until then. If Archie is on track to graduate in May, or after taking a summer class, is he going to pursue a graduate degree to play one more year? If a current player sees the writing on the wall with respect to who is coming in and who has been offered, do they opt to pursue other opportunities?

I have no clue, but it would be nice if a third spot opened up and we could pull off a hat trick. What will the domino affect be if Hubbard signs? Will that deter Olaseni or be a plus? How will Katenda react if Olaseni signs....could we still get both / would we want both at the expense of a guard? My take on the deal is we need scoring, regardless of where it comes from.
 
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