Why Iowa and ISU cant get instate recruits

G

GrimesHawkI

Active Member
I'd like to know why Iowa and to a lesser extent, ISU, doesnt seem to get in state recruits anymore? Seems like several of our top high school players are "defecting" to out of state schools. Not only for males, but for females as well.

I wonder if its because of
A. Both programs on the men side have not had a good track record lately. The ladies have been pretty "decent".

B. Coaching. Although I wouldnt see any problem with our womans coaches.

C. Out of state school are promising more playing time.

Thoughts?

GHI
 
This trend started in the 80's when Iowa was a regular in the NCAA tournament (although not elite) and ISU was a regular B8 contender (also not elite).

Big name coaches from big name BBall schools began to pull in state talent away.

I think the emergence of ESPN had a lot to do with the trend as elite schools got a lot more exposure and local kids understandably became enamoured with that. Just a guess.

Going back to my days, the mid early 80's also produced a pretty good crop of d1 kids and Iowa didn't have the schollies for them all so schools like Wisconsin, OSU, Western Illinois, Creighton, St Louis, Colorado jumped in and grabbed some up.

I think those things combined started making it tougher for the 2 instate schools.
 
If Iowa had maintained its 75% into the NCAA tourney rate it had from the late 70's through the end of the Davis era, they would have gotten the majority of the players. if Davis had not been lame duck status, they would have gotten Nick Collison. Had Tim Floyd not left for the Bulls, ISU would have gotten Hinrich.

To that point, the biggest player from the state not to stay in state was Raef LaFrentz..and he was pretty much the only major player I can recall that left, up to that point.

Start winning again, and that will change a bit...but its hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube.
 
I agree with JM. Lafrentz might have been viewed as one time aberation if TD and Floyd had stayed. Once kids go out of state and have tremendous team and individual success, it opens the eyes of recruits and other programs.
 
Winning will cure all those ills. That is not going to happen anytime soon. Let's see put yourself in a young recruits place: both coaches are on the hot seat, Iowa plays a slow down style, Iowa State is a mess, throw in a big name coach who you see on TV all the time and I would jump ship too. Especially if I have aspirations of playing in the NBA...neither of these guys are going to help me out in that aspect.
 
JonDMiller said:
If Iowa had maintained its 75% into the NCAA tourney rate it had from the late 70's through the end of the Davis era, they would have gotten the majority of the players. if Davis had not been lame duck status, they would have gotten Nick Collison. Had Tim Floyd not left for the Bulls, ISU would have gotten Hinrich.

To that point, the biggest player from the state not to stay in state was Raef LaFrentz..and he was pretty much the only major player I can recall that left, up to that point.

Start winning again, and that will change a bit...but its hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube.
Click to expand...

Around that same time iowa lost out on Adam Spanich, and a young man from I believe Clear Creek Amana whose name escaped me. I'm not sure you can say for sure the 75% NCAA aperance rate would have kept us in the money for the majority of top 100 in state talent. It seems as that was begining to turn years ago.

Majority of players? Sure but majority of elite in state players? Not so sure.
 
Elite Iowa prep players the last two decades:
Raef,Hinrich,Collison,Davis,Oliver,Bru,Horner,Haluska,Gatens,Barnes,with Staten,Paige and Jok on the way. Iowa has gotten 6 of the past 10...with only Raef,Hinrich,Collison,and Barnes leaving. The real problem is that there is only about 1 elite player every two years in the Iowa prep ranks and that is not enough to elevate 4 division 1 programs in the state.
If it were not for Roy Williams, all those kids that did leave,might have stayed at home...we have a Williams problem.
 
Unless staying close to home is REALLY important to them, good players go to good teams. I've never really understood why some people believe that geography = allegiance. Unless there is a family history with a certain university, it's overly-presumptuous to assume that a player would have too much interest just because they're from the same state.
 
I know growing up I would have gone no other place then Iowa (exactly same reason Dean and Horner went to Iowa) but now that I think about it Iowa would be on my list but if I was a top recruit I would have a hard time not looking somewhere else.
 
HandsyHobo said:
Unless staying close to home is REALLY important to them, good players go to good teams. I've never really understood why some people believe that geography = allegiance. Unless there is a family history with a certain university, it's overly-presumptuous to assume that a player would have too much interest just because they're from the same state.
Click to expand...



+1 Never quite understood that thought process either.
 
I dont know why any elite players would even consider Iowa currently. Can you imagine being a elite player who likes to get up and down the court and show case your skills, and be forced to play that system. Most of us cant stand watching it. Can you imagine being forced to play it. My hat goes off to the staff for being able to convince anyone to come and play that style.

The only chance we have to land an elite player is to find a kid who doesnt have a TV and signs without ever seeing us play.....How do you like are chances?
 
losing record --> empty seats in CHA --> coach on hot seat --> good prospects go out of state --> losing record --> empty seats in CHA --> coach on hot seat --> good prospects go out of state --> losing record --> empty seats in CHA --> coach on hot seat --> good prospects go out of state --> losing record --> empty seats in CHA --> coach on hot seat --> good prospects go out of state --> ...

The way to break the cycle is to win games. And pay players to stay in Iowa--a new SUV might help. :)
 
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