2024 Recruiting. Orig Post Updated Oct 2nd. 36 Offers So Far (incl. Chris Tadjo & Cooper Koch). 2 Scholarships Available (NOT counting PMac & Tony)

[Franisdaman]

Caden Wilkins named 4A Second Team All State.

Iowa has been watching but has not offered. He unofficially visited Iowa on Sat Sep 18, 2021. He took a SECOND unofficial visit the weekend of Sat Sep 17, 2022 (Nevada football game).

 

[Franisdaman]

Andre Mills was offer #9 of the 27 offers Fran has given out so far for the 2024 class. Iowa offered on Nov 20, 2021.

 

[Franisdaman]

Iowa has also offered Bryson Tucker, a 6'7 PF out of Bradenton, FL. He's a 5 star and the #6 overall recruit in the country. Yes, I know, I know.

Nevertheless, Rivals shows him with a total of 12 offers: Iowa, Duke, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, LSU, Virginia Tech, Villanova, Penn State, Notre Dame, Georgetown and George Mason.

Some highlights:

 

[Franisdaman]

The original post has been updated.

As you can see, Fran has handed out 28 offers so far for the 2024 class. 10 of the 28 have visited Iowa City (2 Officially, 8 Unofficially). For comparison, Fran handed out 34 offers for the Class of 2023 and 31 offers for the Class of 2022.

For the 2024 Class:

* 1 has committed (Cooper Koch)

* 6 have committed elsewhere

* 21 are undecided

 

[Franisdaman]

Andre Mills was offer #9 of the 27 offers Fran has given out so far for the 2024 class. Iowa offered on Nov 20, 2021.

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[GunnerHawk]

Did he ever visit Iowa? I think he has been a strong Aggie lean for some time. Just because we offer and we make a short list, doesn't mean much.

 

[Franisdaman]

Did he ever visit Iowa? I think he has been a strong Aggie lean for some time. Just because we offer and we make a short list, doesn't mean much.

He never did visit Iowa, which is why it was surprising we made his final 3 and stayed on his final 3 list until the very end.

And you are correct. Everyone knew he was going to A&M but they had to do a live announcement nevertheless.

 

[perryhawk]

Love the information that you have compiled and kept on top of....thank you!

 

[drh1150]

Did he ever visit Iowa? I think he has been a strong Aggie lean for some time. Just because we offer and we make a short list, doesn't mean much.

We as Hawkeye Nation have become hardened to disappointment.

 

[Franisdaman]

Nick Janowski was offer #11 of the 28 offers Fran has handed out for the 2024 class. Iowa offered on June 15, 2022.

Nick visited Iowa City the weekend of Oct 29, 2022 (Northwestern game).

Jon McNamara, the Publisher of the Badgers Rivals site, predicted almost a year ago (Apr 18, 2022) that the Badgers would land the 4 star shooting guard. So much for that.

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

Fred's been snagging some nice commits out of the portal as well.

 

[GunnerHawk]

Wow, Fran keeps striking out. One very good legacy recruit for 24. I think Wilkins will get an offer. Not sure where this class gets filled. Freeman will end up at Texas or Maryland. Numerous offers are leaning elsewhere.

 

[Hawksfinal4]

Freeman is the recruit I lik d the best but also hoped JT Rock would have picked the Hawks

 

[Terrykohawk]

Nick Janowski was offer #11 of the 28 offers Fran has handed out for the 2024 class. Iowa offered on June 15, 2022.

Nick visited Iowa City the weekend of Oct 29, 2022 (Northwestern game).

Jon McNamara, the Publisher of the Badgers Rivals site, predicted almost a year ago (Apr 18, 2022) that the Badgers would land the 4 star shooting guard. So much for that.

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Hoiberg must be one heck of a salesman because Nebraska has very little that should be attractive to a player IMO.

 

[HawkHoops80]

For some reason Janowski was weirdly under-recruited for how highly rated he is. Wisconsin and Marquette both weren't pursuing him in-state. Iowa State backed off because they got another guard. Iowa never seemed to push hard. I'm very curious as to why these regional schools were all slow playing him. Good for Janowski to just commit early to the school that was pushing.

 

[HawkHoops80]

Hey Fran, just curious--you're counting Perkins and Patrick not using their covid years in your open scholarship count? I have no idea with how those 2 are leaning, but with how prevalent it is in college hoops for guys to use their 5th year, I wouldn't just immediately discount it.
That's kind of why I think Iowa has been slow playing '24 kids except for their top targets. I don't know if the staff fully knows just how many rides are available to give out at the moment. If Iowa were to find a multi-year transfer + give a ride to Nimmers like people suggest, then Iowa is back to being technically full on scholarships again. It's why I doubt that Nimmers gets a scholarship until he proves it in games.

 

[Franisdaman]

Hey Fran, just curious--you're counting Perkins and Patrick not using their covid years in your open scholarship count?

I have no idea with how those 2 are leaning, but with how prevalent it is in college hoops for guys to use their 5th year, I wouldn't just immediately discount it.
That's kind of why I think Iowa has been slow playing '24 kids except for their top targets. I don't know if the staff fully knows just how many rides are available to give out at the moment. If Iowa were to find a multi-year transfer + give a ride to Nimmers like people suggest, then Iowa is back to being technically full on scholarships again. It's why I doubt that Nimmers gets a scholarship until he proves it in games.

Correct. I am not counting Tony and PMac until they declare that they will use their free covid year. So, for now, we have 4 open scholarships.

In the original post I deliberately wrote this as a reminder for myself:

"at one time we had 6 players scheduled to graduate/be done in May, 2024: Josh Ogundele, Tony Perkins, Ahron Ulis, Keegan Murray (entered NBA Draft in 2022), Kris Murray, and Patrick McCaffery. Will any of these players take advantage of the free, additional covid year (they would count against the 13 scholarship limit)? Stay tuned."

 

[hawkjt]

Hoiberg was on the hot seat until they had that late season surge.
These days when I hear of a surprise commit, I assume money talks...right or wrong that my default notion.

 

[cleotishaywood]

Correct. I am not counting Tony and PMac until they declare that they will use their free covid year. So, for now, we have 4 open scholarships.

In the original post I deliberately wrote this as a reminder for myself:

"at one time we had 6 players scheduled to graduate/be done in May, 2024: Josh Ogundele, Tony Perkins, Ahron Ulis, Keegan Murray (entered NBA Draft in 2022), Kris Murray, and Patrick McCaffery. Will any of these players take advantage of the free, additional covid year (they would count against the 13 scholarship limit)? Stay tuned."

....Patrick I'm sure

 

[Franisdaman]

Iowa is watching but has not offered Caden Wilkins. He unofficially visited Iowa on Sat Sep 18, 2021. He took a SECOND unofficial visit the weekend of Sat Sep 17, 2022 (Nevada football game).

Looks like Caden is still growing; the QC Times lists him at 6'7 (Rivals has him at 6'6).

The Quad City Times All Metro Boys Basketball Team:

 

[CarterHall]

We as Hawkeye Nation have become hardened to disappointment.

It's called body of work.

 

[Franisdaman]

Liam McNeeley was offer #5 of the 28 offers Fran has handed out for the 2024 class. Iowa offered on July 23, 2021.

A couple years ago, he was listed at 6'6. He's now up to 6'8.

He's a 5 star and everyone of course will immediately dismiss Iowa's chances. Nevertheless, it's interesting that just 3 schools (Indiana, Texas and Oklahoma) are currently showing him love/interest. And as you will hear, it would help if the city where he ends up at has a What a Burger.

The joys of recruiting.

Check this out & listen:

 

[Terrykohawk]

Not sure why Fran has not offered Wilkins yet. Kid has visited multiple times so the interest seems to be there.

 

[Franisdaman]

Not sure why Fran has not offered Wilkins yet. Kid has visited multiple times so the interest seems to be there.

I think the issue is with how the 4 open scholarships eventually get allocated.

* PMac and/or Tony could take one or two of them if they use their free covid year.

* If a transfer (who Fran adds this spring) has more than one year remaining, that would take away another scholarship.

* The staff obviously has some high school prospects who they've offered who are high on their board (it will be interesting to see who the coaching staff is watching this spring and summer). Will any of them commit?


Unfortunately, I am afraid Caden is going to have to be patient.

I am going to be glad when all of the free covid years are used up. It's hurting high school prospects like Caden in getting offers, imo.

 

[Rifler]

Hoiberg must be one heck of a salesman because Nebraska has very little that should be attractive to a player IMO.

Fred was able to sell Ames so Lincoln shouldn't be much more difficult...

 

[HawkHoops80]

I think the issue is with how the 4 open scholarships eventually get allocated.

* PMac and/or Tony could take one or two of them if they use their free covid year.

* If a transfer (who Fran adds this spring) has more than one year remaining, that would take away another scholarship.

* The staff obviously has some high school prospects who they've offered who are high on their board (it will be interesting to see who the coaching staff is watching this spring and summer). Will any of them commit?


Unfortunately, I am afraid Caden is going to have to be patient.

I am going to be glad when all of the free covid years are used up. It's hurting high school prospects like Caden in getting offers, imo.

Yeah I agree with this take. I do think if Wilkins is patient this could be very similar to Harding last year. Fran should have a better sense of what the roster will look like here in the next month or so. Best thing Caden can do is to go out and tear it up in AAU during the live periods this spring and force Fran's hand. I'd bet if other P6 schools start gaining interest that Iowa will move quickly.

 

[Franisdaman]

Yeah I agree with this take. I do think if Wilkins is patient this could be very similar to Harding last year. Fran should have a better sense of what the roster will look like here in the next month or so. Best thing Caden can do is to go out and tear it up in AAU during the live periods this spring and force Fran's hand. I'd bet if other P6 schools start gaining interest that Iowa will move quickly.

So, during the 2025-26 season and moving forward, there won't be anyone in the country using a free covid year, correct?

Just want to make sure.

 

[HawkHoops80]

So, during the 2025-26 season and moving forward, there won't be anyone in the country using a free covid year, correct?

Just want to make sure.

That should be correct for the most part. Do red shirts get the covid year? That would be the only guys who would get it, and I'm not even sure they count. But that's rare enough that it shouldn't come up much.

 

[perryhawk]

Yeah I agree with this take. I do think if Wilkins is patient this could be very similar to Harding last year. Fran should have a better sense of what the roster will look like here in the next month or so. Best thing Caden can do is to go out and tear it up in AAU during the live periods this spring and force Fran's hand. I'd bet if other P6 schools start gaining interest that Iowa will move quickly.

I think if Caden gets to a legitimate 6' 8" he appears to have a PF frame where he could add some additional muscle......just my wild guess at that point he is a solid B10 player......I love it when Iowa kids play for the Hawks.

 

[Franisdaman]

That should be correct for the most part. Do red shirts get the covid year? That would be the only guys who would get it, and I'm not even sure they count. But that's rare enough that it shouldn't come up much.

if they redshirted in 2020-2021, not sure if they get 5 years after that; I am guessing not

 

[Franisdaman]

I think if Caden gets to a legitimate 6' 8" he appears to have a PF frame where he could add some additional muscle......just my wild guess at that point he is a solid B10 player......I love it when Iowa kids play for the Hawks.

He has 2 offers: Bryant and Indiana State. Iowa, Marquette, Wisconsin, Butler and Drake have all shown interest.

Hopefully things work out where he ends up in the black and gold.

 

[HawkHoops80]

He has 2 offers: Bryant and Indiana State. Iowa, Marquette, Wisconsin, Butler and Drake have all shown interest.

Hopefully things work out where he ends up in the black and gold.

Speaking of which, new Wilkins aau highlights just dropped.

 

[icwesthawk]

There are some very good looking things going on in that video. How will he play when he's not one of the biggest guys on the court?

 

[HawkHoops80]

There are some very good looking things going on in that video. How will he play when he's not one of the biggest guys on the court?

I mean that video is from AAU this past weekend where there is plenty of 6'7+ guys playing. He also averaged 17.8 last summer in AAU, so he did fairly well against decent competition last year. The problem is that the Barnstormers don't play on a shoe circuit so it's not the top of the top guys.

 

[perryhawk]

Those are really good numbers….especially from 3!

 

[Franisdaman]

I think if Caden gets to a legitimate 6' 8" he appears to have a PF frame where he could add some additional muscle......just my wild guess at that point he is a solid B10 player......I love it when Iowa kids play for the Hawks.

me too.

I just wonder if Fran already knows that Tony & PMac will use their free covid year and play in 2024-2025. If so, he then knows he goes from 4 open scholarships for 2024 to just 2 open scholarships.

 

[Franisdaman]

Some notes on Caden Wilkins:

* This past high school season he averaged 20 points and 10.5 rebounds.

* His AAU team, the Iowa Barnstormers, plays on the New Balance circuit

* The Barnstormers will be playing in St. Louis this upcoming weekend.

* Last weekend, at an AAU event, he was 10-14 (71%) from three before sustaining a possible concussion on Saturday afternoon when his head hit the shoulder of an opposing player.

* Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Clemson, Wake Forest, Indiana State, and Belmont have been in touch and have asked for his April AAU schedule.

* Matt Gatens is his lead recruiter. Matt has been telling him that he is high on Iowa's board and that they are going to keep watching and evaluating him.

 

[Franisdaman]

Jesse McCulloch was offer #25 of the 28 total offers Fran has handed out of the Class of 2024. Iowa offered on Aug 6, 2022.

He committed to Michigan State yesterday. Virginia Tech, Xavier and Alabama were the other 3 finalists.

 

[Franisdaman]

Freeman is the recruit I lik d the best but also hoped JT Rock would have picked the Hawks

Tough competition for Donnie Freeman. Maybe Luka Garza's shared Washington, DC roots will help.

We were in his top 5 as of Dec 30 (along with Texas, Maryland, LSU and Rutgers) but he's listening to other offers, as you can see in the tweets below.

One thing we have going for us: Donnie took an OFFICIAL visit the weekend of Sat Sep 17, 2022 (Nevada football game).

This weekend:





On Dec 30:

 

[GunnerHawk]

I think the Freeman train has passed the station.