2020 Class

[GunnerHawk]

Overall I'm feeling pretty good about this class.

It starts with Ulis. Young man will bring nice size at the point at 6'2". He looks like a true point guard who can penetrate and get to the rim or dish. His stock is rising and I think in a couple years will be darn glad he's a Hawk. Success in college ball starts with good PG play.

I don't know as much about Perkins but read where he was probably the 4th best 2-guard in Indiana. This was a very good year for guards in the state. I have read he's a solid perimeter defender. His videos look good but most kids videos do.

Very happy we got Ogendele. He has the build and size to play in the BIG, something that concerned me about Foster. Josh has a very soft shooting touch and can shoot from range. Is also very athletic. His commitment eases the sting of losing Foster, he may turn out to be just what the Hawks need.

I want to talk about the Murray twins individually. Keegan looks to be taller by at least an inch and bigger through the shoulders. Everything I read states that they are excellent shooters and defenders. It sounds like they have both gotten taller and stronger over the past year. In the end I'll bet at least one of the two becomes a solid contributor.

Yes, would have like to have gotten Jackson, Sibley and Foster in my order of preference but this class is solid. Let's give these young men our support, in the end they wanted to be Hawks. To those bone heads making derogatory comments about the class, maybe you should take Fosters lead and support the Clones. Don't tell me you're a Hawk fan personally then do something different, doesn't wash.

It's Great to be a Hawk!

 

[CalmHawk]

If this class is done it is missing that dynamic player, the one that puts all the other pieces to the puzzle together. I like the 5 guys we have, but someone like Sibley, Foster would have put this class over the edge.

 

[CalmHawk]

Overall I'm feeling pretty good about this class.

It starts with Ulis. Young man will bring nice size at the point at 6'2". He looks like a true point guard who can penetrate and get to the rim or dish. His stock is rising and I think in a couple years will be darn glad he's a Hawk. Success in college ball starts with good PG play.

I don't know as much about Perkins but read where he was probably the 4th best 2-guard in Indiana. This was a very good year for guards in the state. I have read he's a solid perimeter defender. His videos look good but most kids videos do.

Very happy we got Ogendele. He has the build and size to play in the BIG, something that concerned me about Foster. Josh has a very soft shooting touch and can shoot from range. Is also very athletic. His commitment eases the sting of losing Foster, he may turn out to be just what the Hawks need.

I want to talk about the Murray twins individually. Keegan looks to be taller by at least an inch and bigger through the shoulders. Everything I read states that they are excellent shooters and defenders. It sounds like they have both gotten taller and stronger over the past year. In the end I'll bet at least one of the two becomes a solid contributor.

Yes, would have like to have gotten Jackson, Sibley and Foster in my order of preference but this class is solid. Let's give these young men our support, in the end they wanted to be Hawks. To those bone heads making derogatory comments about the class, maybe you should take Fosters lead and support the Clones. Don't tell me you're a Hawk fan personally then do something different, doesn't wash.

It's Great to be a Hawk!

Being blind to the facts does not mean you are a better fan. Reality is this class has good role players and good pieces but is missing a top end player to put us on par with ISU, MSU, Mich, Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, Purdue, even Illinois. Right now Minnesota is a better basketball program than Iowa. We are about the same level as NW. give Nebraska some time and Hoiberg will get good players to show up. We absolutely need star caliber players. Missing on Foster, Carton, Sibley is what makes us a bubble at best team every year. I want more than that.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

I'm not sure how excited to be about Ogundele. 3* commit, but he does have a couple other P5 offers at least. He provides size, no doubt, and that can't be a bad thing. Overall, I do like the commit and I hope he does well here.

This class overall, definitely doesn't have any "splash" recruits, that's for sure. We'll see how they pan out. I still am not what you would call optimistic. I'm definitely in "prove it to me" mode.

 

[Raptorpeeps]

Five recruits -- two unrated and the other three average a rating of 307 (with the highest rated at 269!)?

Ooooooffff, that requires a level of trust in the coaching staff that is reserved for only the most hard core kool aid swillers.

Color me officially concerned.

You sign 5 guys. FIVE!!! and you still have the 10th best class in the league (so far...it will likely be rated worse when everyone is signed)?!!? For comparison, Wisconsin signed 5 guys and their class is rated #1. Not good, man. Not good.

We've stacked up classes rated 12 (67), 11 (73), and now 10 (54) (so far). How the heck can you hope to move up in the league pecking order doing that? Seriously, anyone "feeling pretty good" about this class please explain that to me.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

On paper, this is probably the worst set of commits in the Big Ten (Rutgers may be worse) and possibly the worst in Iowa history since the rankings came out.

 

[Mohawkeye]

On paper, this is probably the worst set of commits in the Big Ten (Rutgers may be worse) and possibly the worst in Iowa history since the rankings came out.

That's the reality, and I'm a huge Fran fan. Hope it works out. Kind of reminds me of Fran's first class when he got a an undervalued legacy recruit (Devyn Marble), much needed quickness at guard (Cartwright) and some role players like McCabe and Basabe. If one of the Murray kids turns out as good as Marble then we will be okay. But that's a big ask.

 

[hooper56]

I hope you guys realize that once these recrui.ts get on campus, their high school ratings mean doodly-squat. How hard will they work and how will they accept coaching is much more important than what some pundit rated them in high school.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

I hope you guys realize that once these recrui.ts get on campus, their high school ratings mean doodly-squat. How hard will they work and how will they accept coaching is much more important than what some pundit rated them in high school.

Fine, but I can't do the "blind faith" thing and assume that THIS particular batch of low-ranked recruits is the one that's going to be different than all the others.

I think to a pretty big degree, stars and that sort of thing DO matter. Not that it's a guarantee, but.. Give me a highly ranked class over the alternative any day. I'll take my chances.

 

[Raptorpeeps]

I hope you guys realize that once these recrui.ts get on campus, their high school ratings mean doodly-squat. How hard will they work and how will they accept coaching is much more important than what some pundit rated them in high school.

Sure, dude. There’s no correlation between ratings and success in college. Lol.

What’s that sound?

Whistling past the graveyard...

 

[regibson1]

On paper, this is probably the worst set of commits in the Big Ten (Rutgers may be worse) and possibly the worst in Iowa history since the rankings came out.

Luckily, games aren't decided on paper and neither is the ultimate confirmation of how good the class will eventually pan out. RIght now the class is downgraded because of the Murray twins who have no rating.

Fran has seen the Murray's play this summer after having grown three inches and starting to fill out more physically. He then followed up on them while playing in a tournament in Florida and decided to offer. I think that Fran was in a great situation to evaluate the progress that they had made in a year after HS graduation after having seen them play numerous times in the past. I will give him and this class the benefit of the doubt.

In comparing Iowa's class with ISU, the only 4 star player that ISU recruited was Foster. The rest are 3 star. Ogundele over Foster may be the choice Iowa made after losing Foster to ISU.

 

[HaydenHawk8]

I’m not too optimistic about this class. But if they work hard and get better who knows. Aaron White was a 3 star and just hustled his butt off. He wouldn’t of been a “splash recruit” in terms of rankings. But he worked hard (lot of it on his own). If these guys get better who knows.

I hope Fran at least keeps Iowa at .500 or above. If we fall below that, then I foresee Frans seat getting HOT next year. No way around it. Year 10 you should have some pipelines established and getting 3/4 star players regularly.

 

[Hawkeyes1192]

How can Fran not land a single top 200 kid? It's hard to recruit like Rutgers and expect to compete with the top half of the big ten. This class was a total bust no way around it

 

[CalmHawk]

Luckily, games aren't decided on paper and neither is the ultimate confirmation of how good the class will eventually pan out. RIght now the class is downgraded because of the Murray twins who have no rating.

Fran has seen the Murray's play this summer after having grown three inches and starting to fill out more physically. He then followed up on them while playing in a tournament in Florida and decided to offer. I think that Fran was in a great situation to evaluate the progress that they had made in a year after HS graduation after having seen them play numerous times in the past. I will give him and this class the benefit of the doubt.

In comparing Iowa's class with ISU, the only 4 star player that ISU recruited was Foster. The rest are 3 star. Ogundele over Foster may be the choice Iowa made after losing Foster to ISU.

DePaul, Providence, Cincy, Rutgers..... 5 recruits and those are the P5 offers they have. I get it and I love me some no star proving everyone wrong, but 5 guys like that with a total of 4 other P5 offers is not good.

Iowa States lowest recruit has 6 P5 offers. and from decent P5 schools.

 

[David1979]

#55 class in the country...

 

[Fsanford]

I hope you guys realize that once these recrui.ts get on campus, their high school ratings mean doodly-squat. How hard will they work and how will they accept coaching is much more important than what some pundit rated them in high school.

I never thought Ed O at LSU was a great coach, but that man could recruit a kid from Florida to play a game in Nome in December. He surrounds himself with strong assistants.

I don't think Penny Hardaway is a great coach, but talent alone (assuming the Wiseman will play) probably gets them to the NCAA


Sure there is the occasional upset, but long term success, you better be getting guys other top or solid programs were at least offering if not pressing hard to get.

Those guys are paid to coach and evaluate too.

Iowa plays in the Big Ten, gotta have at least 70% of the roster be guys that several coaches from P5 or strong hoops conferences (Big East) thought were worthy of an offer and got it.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

#55 class in the country...

Even with 5 recruits. You take the Murray twins out of the equation and it's still the second worst recruiting class in the Big Ten.

 

[Lumas Etima]

I am disappointed that we didn’t land more top prospects in this class, but I am curious to see how they pan out. I will withhold final judgment until we see them on the court.

Of course, the hope is that we have some diamonds in the rough — guys that others programs overlooked. With the Murray boys, it’s easy to see this as a possibility, with their late growth spurt and dedication to improving their games in Florida. But what about the other guys. Ulis is from Chicago and Perkins is from Indy — both basketball hotbeds. Why do we think they didn’t get more attention? Were they injured during the evaluation period? Late bloomers? Didn’t play AAU ball? Usually, with “overlooked” recruits, there’s a theory or two as to why they might outperform their rankings (like with the Murrays). But I am curious what those theories might be with some of these guys. I would feel better if I had a few theories.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

Even with 5 recruits. You take the Murray twins out of the equation and it's still the second worst recruiting class in the Big Ten.

Quantity over quality from where I'm sitting. Sure, I don't want to write anyone off, but only can go by what we know at the time I'm typing this.

 

[DanHawkPella]

I trust Fran with individual player evaluations, so I think at least 3 of these guys will outplay their ranking by quite a bit. However, the class lacks a recruit that looks like a future NBA player, a difference maker that allows you to win those close games against Top 20 teams in February and march. You need 2 guys on the roster that play like Top 50 guys to go with 6 other guys who play like Top 125 guys. Hard to win with 8 Top 125 guys against the better teams.

 

[seer_hawk]

I really hoped that P-Mac was a charismatic player that was going to draw other Top 100 players in this recruiting class. For 2 years I've been holding out hope players like Sugg's and Garcia would choose Iowa, so it's hard to be excited by the bunch we are signing. I still hold onto my optimism though, and hope 2-3 members of this class turn into good B1G players. Fingers crossed only Perkins was a reach in this class.

Ulis: If he has the competitive fire of his brother, that overcomes a lot of shortcomings. Give me a player with heart any day, and good things happen.

Murray twins: Not highly recruited, but size is nothing you have control over. They may have been blessed to be guards in HS, with a late growth spurt. It worked for Gordon Hayword.

Ogundele: Has only played in this country for a couple of seasons, so he may be a steal. He has intriguing size and offensive skills.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

I trust Fran with individual player evaluations, so I think at least 3 of these guys will outplay their ranking by quite a bit. However, the class lacks a recruit that looks like a future NBA player, a difference maker that allows you to win those close games against Top 20 teams in February and march. You need 2 guys on the roster that play like Top 50 guys to go with 6 other guys who play like Top 125 guys. Hard to win with 8 Top 125 guys against the better teams.

I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but I wish I shared your optimism. Certainly the jury is still out. Just have to see how these recruits develop.

Honest question: Other than White, which Fran recruits have significantly outperformed their rankings? For reference, you can change the year to see all the past commits:
https://247sports.com/college/iowa/Season/2020-Basketball/Commits/

Some of Fran's recruits have been contributors for sure, but how many of the 2-3* guys have blown our socks off relative to their rankings? There's an awful lot of Andrew Fleming, Dale Jones, Brady Ellingson types in there that play a year or two and then are gone. Or just never really do a whole lot. A lot of Fran's better players have been rated higher (Uthoff, Woodbury, Gesell, Cook, etc.) or Jok, who was looking looking a blue chip recruit before he got hurt and everyone backed off.

In my honest opinion, the Aaron White deal has tricked a lot of people into thinking that Fran is a master at finding hidden talent. What I REALLY believe, is that Fran caught lightning in a bottle with White, and now this is kind of a myth that a lot of people think is fact. All in my opinion of course.

Dev Marble was a Lickliter recruit, by the way, so I don't really give Fran credit for finding him. Keeping him in the program when Lick was fired, yes. But not finding him and bringing him in.

 

[VicHawkeye]

Perkins looks like a high flying scorer, Ulis should be solid. We got a talented big man and got a double flyer in the legacy Murray twins. I wouldn’t be surprised if the group far exceeds its ranking.

 

[regibson1]

I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but I wish I shared your optimism. Certainly the jury is still out. Just have to see how these recruits develop.

Honest question: Other than White, which Fran recruits have significantly outperformed their rankings? For reference, you can change the year to see all the past commits:
https://247sports.com/college/iowa/Season/2020-Basketball/Commits/

Some of Fran's recruits have been contributors for sure, but how many of the 2-3* guys have blown our socks off relative to their rankings? There's an awful lot of Andrew Fleming, Dale Jones, Brady Ellingson types in there that play a year or two and then are gone. Or just never really do a whole lot. A lot of Fran's better players have been rated higher (Uthoff, Woodbury, Gesell, Cook, etc.) or Jok, who was looking looking a blue chip recruit before he got hurt and everyone backed off.

In my honest opinion, the Aaron White deal has tricked a lot of people into thinking that Fran is a master at finding hidden talent. What I REALLY believe, is that Fran caught lightning in a bottle with White, and now this is kind of a myth that a lot of people think is fact. All in my opinion of course.

Dev Marble was a Lickliter recruit, by the way, so I don't really give Fran credit for finding him. Keeping him in the program when Lick was fired, yes. But not finding him and bringing him in.

I believe that CJ Frederick will eventually exceed expectations. Bohannan obviously has. Moss was more than serviceable and was thought of highly enough to be recruited at Kansas.. Jok was just a 3 star and not recruited by others because of injury. Clemmons became an excellent defensive player and sorely missed after he left. Gabe Olaseni had some great moments at Iowa and Cartwright came at a crucial time at the beginning of Fran's tenure.

 

[Wyominghawk]

I believe this has been posted before but I am still a bit confused by the size of the class. By my calculation with Riley Till not having a scholarship next year, this five person class would put us at 14 Scholarships next year assuming Bohannan is back next year. Is Fran just assuming someone else will leave or does he know something?

 

[HawkLogic]

I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but I wish I shared your optimism. Certainly the jury is still out. Just have to see how these recruits develop.

Honest question: Other than White, which Fran recruits have significantly outperformed their rankings? For reference, you can change the year to see all the past commits:
https://247sports.com/college/iowa/Season/2020-Basketball/Commits/

Some of Fran's recruits have been contributors for sure, but how many of the 2-3* guys have blown our socks off relative to their rankings? There's an awful lot of Andrew Fleming, Dale Jones, Brady Ellingson types in there that play a year or two and then are gone. Or just never really do a whole lot. A lot of Fran's better players have been rated higher (Uthoff, Woodbury, Gesell, Cook, etc.) or Jok, who was looking looking a blue chip recruit before he got hurt and everyone backed off.

In my honest opinion, the Aaron White deal has tricked a lot of people into thinking that Fran is a master at finding hidden talent. What I REALLY believe, is that Fran caught lightning in a bottle with White, and now this is kind of a myth that a lot of people think is fact. All in my opinion of course.

Dev Marble was a Lickliter recruit, by the way, so I don't really give Fran credit for finding him. Keeping him in the program when Lick was fired, yes. But not finding him and bringing him in.

Aaron White was Fran's big score....but he was only 6'6 power forward when Fran offered and didn't have any big offers. White grew 2-inches and it made big difference in his success. Fran got lucky--not every recruit is going to grow into their position after you offer. Fran has identified some good guys early...Tyler Ullis...and of course he whiffed...but more often he has locked on to secondary targets that have zero upside and lots of downside. Flemming and Ellingson stick out as rediculous offers.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I believe this has been posted before but I am still a bit confused by the size of the class. By my calculation with Riley Till not having a scholarship next year, this five person class would put us at 14 Scholarships next year assuming Bohannan is back next year. Is Fran just assuming someone else will leave or does he know something?

If you look at any college basketball roster there is a very high probability that at least one player will transfer each season.