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

[perryhawk]

Sperlock is IA's director of Player Development
Denning is the director of Basketball Operations

so neither is a coach in the sense of what a coach is.

Player development isn't one of the foundational responsibilities of coaching? Player development, in my opinion, is the core of what coaching is.

I think what may have been lost in the discussion above (not by you) is the note that Spurlock, through his connections in the DMV area, calls people-makes arrangements-sells coaches/connections, on Iowa basketball and opening the door to listen to what Iowa has to offer. That isn't directly recruiting the prospect (therefore not against the rules?) but clearly is a part of recruiting.

 

[dean_oliver222]

Player development isn't one of the foundational responsibilities of coaching? Player development, in my opinion, is the core of what coaching is.

I think what may have been lost in the discussion above (not by you) is the note that Spurlock, through his connections in the DMV area, calls people-makes arrangements-sells coaches/connections, on Iowa basketball and opening the door to listen to what Iowa has to offer. That isn't directly recruiting the prospect (therefore not against the rules?) but clearly is a part of recruiting.

Dude, Director of Player Development is just a ****ing title. Nothing more. They need to call his job something... that's what they selected.

No high school kid, especially a high-level player, is selecting a college bc of the fifth or sixth assistant on the staff. Coach Spurlock is still a glorified secretary, just like Denning. They put together travel itinerary and contact hotels and shit like that.

 

[karnack1955]

dean YOU ARE so wrong about what Spurlock does for IA BB does, he is not some glorified secretary. and you claim your father is a HC for some college,

both Spurlock and Denning have very specific duties at the IA University and they ARE NOT secretaries.

 

[dean_oliver222]

dean YOU ARE so wrong about what Spurlock does for IA BB does, he is not some glorified secretary. and you claim your father is a HC for some college,

both Spurlock and Denning have very specific duties at the IA University and they ARE NOT secretaries.

Please enlighten me then... what does denning do all day?

 

[karnack1955]

Please enlighten me then... what does denning do all day?

go to the site
University of Iowa Athletics go there click in the basketball then click on roster go to the bottom where it lists the staff. there you will find each one of the staff listed
click on Dennings name and it show exactly what his duties are same with Spurlock what his duties are in relationship to the BB programs are.

they are not glorified secretaries

 

[dean_oliver222]

go to the site
University of Iowa Athletics go there click in the basketball then click on roster go to the bottom where it lists the staff. there you will find each one of the staff listed
click on Dennings name and it show exactly what his duties are same with Spurlock what his duties are in relationship to the BB programs are.

they are not glorified secretaries

This is friendly fire, bc I'm still one of your few allies on here lol. But here you go man...

"Denning handles many of the business and operational functions for the UI basketball program, including staff and team travel, supervision of student managers and serving as a liaison with compliance and student-athlete academic services."

Sure sounds like a glorified secretary to me... And Spurlock's bio only talks about his playing career. Nothing about his coaching duties. Which means they're pretty nonexistent.

 

[HawkHoops80]

This is friendly fire, bc I'm still one of your few allies on here lol. But here you go man...

"Denning handles many of the business and operational functions for the UI basketball program, including staff and team travel, supervision of student managers and serving as a liaison with compliance and student-athlete academic services."

Sure sounds like a glorified secretary to me... And Spurlock's bio only talks about his playing career. Nothing about his coaching duties. Which means they're pretty nonexistent.

All I ever see on Spurlock's instagram is him in the gym and the weight room with guys. I get that he isn't going to post the administrative duties that I'm sure he also has to social media, but I know that several players have talked on different podcasts about how he's the coach who they do individual work with most days of the week. He basically was hired because he was the off-season coach for half of the team the 2 off-seasons prior to him being hired officially. He moved to the area because his wife goes to dental school at Iowa and he was picking up side work after his playing career ended at Court 45 in North Liberty and a lot of Iowa and UNI players gravitated towards him. He also just went through the coaching credential class, so I'm assuming that he will be one of the two new positions for on the court coaching duties that all NCAA teams got on 7/1.
You're right about KD though. His role is more of a support person.

 

[karnack1955]

This is friendly fire, bc I'm still one of your few allies on here lol. But here you go man...

"Denning handles many of the business and operational functions for the UI basketball program, including staff and team travel, supervision of student managers and serving as a liaison with compliance and student-athlete academic services."

Sure sounds like a glorified secretary to me... And Spurlock's bio only talks about his playing career. Nothing about his coaching duties. Which means they're pretty nonexistent.

if you say so.

 

[dean_oliver222]

All I ever see on Spurlock's instagram is him in the gym and the weight room with guys. I get that he isn't going to post the administrative duties that I'm sure he also has to social media, but I know that several players have talked on different podcasts about how he's the coach who they do individual work with most days of the week. He basically was hired because he was the off-season coach for half of the team the 2 off-seasons prior to him being hired officially. He moved to the area because his wife goes to dental school at Iowa and he was picking up side work after his playing career ended at Court 45 in North Liberty and a lot of Iowa and UNI players gravitated towards him. He also just went through the coaching credential class, so I'm assuming that he will be one of the two new positions for on the court coaching duties that all NCAA teams got on 7/1.
You're right about KD though. His role is more of a support person.

I don't want this to turn into some argument about Spurlock's merits. I've mentioned numerous times I like the dude's attitude on the bench. And the stuff you just added def makes makes me respect him even more.

The only reason he's being discussed here is bc there's delusional people on here who think Spurlock is some bigtime East Coast Recruiting Whisperer. I've received major pushback saying that he barely has any influence on recruiting. And the influence he does have is minimal enough that it won't factor in at all regarding a kid's final decision.

... and last just as a side note, I actually called my dad about this whole debate I'm having w people lol. He told me that Spurlock is low enough that there's no question whatsoever that if he is running workouts, he's being told how to run them by higher ups. Still good work by him, but again, very minimal influence.

 

[dean_oliver222]

if you say so.

Come on man... that was from the offical Iowa website. The same website you told me to look at. Which I did... then simply posted what I found.

 

[karnack1955]

Spurlock has been a Professional player for 10 years and does have influence on recruiting and as his title implies he is responsible for PLAYER DEVELOPEMENT. no secretary does that. this year was his 1st season with Fran.

somehow I just can't see a former Pro taking just a secretaries role with any team. player development is a very good way to get back into coaching or get started.

adding a former Professional player to the staff is a very good start. any connection he has with any area is a positive in recruiting.

 

[HawkHoops80]

... and last just as a side note, I actually called my dad about this whole debate I'm having w people lol. He told me that Spurlock is low enough that there's no question whatsoever that if he is running workouts, he's being told how to run them by higher ups. Still good work by him, but again, very minimal influence.

Yeah, he has a boss (Fran) who directs the work that he does. That's true for 95% of folks who work. I don't know about you, but when I logged into work this morning I completed tasks that my supervisor trained and directed me how to do. Guess what, the 3 main assistants also take direct orders from Fran too--who to recruit, how to run practices, how he likes the film being cut, how he likes the scouting report. That doesn't mean they are any lesser of coaches because they have a direct supervisor LOL

 

[dean_oliver222]

Yeah, he has a boss (Fran) who directs the work that he does. That's true for 95% of folks who work. I don't know about you, but when I logged into work this morning I completed tasks that my supervisor trained and directed me how to do. Guess what, the 3 main assistants also take direct orders from Fran too--who to recruit, how to run practices, how he likes the film being cut, how he likes the scouting report. That doesn't mean they are any lesser of coaches because they have a direct supervisor LOL

Did I say any of that isn't true??

My participation in this entire debate has centered around the belief that Tristan Spurlock isn't some East Coast Recruiting Whisperer who's magically going to turn f'ing Iowa into a pipeline to the DMV. His extremely low standing in the hierarchy is enough to make that an ironclad truth.

Not sure how your response addresses anything like that.

 

[HawkHoops80]

Did I say any of that isn't true??

My participation in this entire debate has centered around the belief that Tristan Spurlock isn't some East Coast Recruiting Whisperer who's magically going to turn f'ing Iowa into a pipeline to the DMV. His extremely low standing in the hierarchy is enough to make that an ironclad truth.

Not sure how your response addresses anything like that.

I just felt it was funny that you needed to call your dad to tell you that "person who has direct supervisor performs work tasks to the direct supervisors liking." Must have lived a pretty sheltered life if you needed a phone a friend lifeline for that insight.

 

[dean_oliver222]

I just felt it was funny that you needed to call your dad to tell you that "person who has direct supervisor performs work tasks to the direct supervisors liking." Must have lived a pretty sheltered life if you needed a phone a friend lifeline for that insight.

No, I phoned my ex-D1 coach father to learn about the updated recruiting rules. There've been some informative posts showing me that times may have changed since I was last aware. Under the old rules, Spurlock would have literally ZERO influence over recruiting or on-floor coaching. Now, it might be more like 5%. Good for him, I guess.

Still negligible enough to support my original claims.... dude ain't getting anyone here from the East Coast.

 

[HawkHoops80]

No, I phoned my ex-D1 coach father to learn about the updated recruiting rules. There've been some informative posts showing me that times may have changed since I was last aware. Under the old rules, Spurlock would have literally ZERO influence over recruiting or on-floor coaching. Now, it might be more like 5%. Good for him, I guess.

Still negligible enough to support my original claims.... dude ain't getting anyone here from the East Coast.

I guess we'll find out. Fran + staff has gotten an east coast based high school commit in 6 of the last 7 recruiting cycles and almost 1/3 of total commits since '17 have come from an east coast prep or high schools. Some of them have been busts, some of them weren't highly recruited. But it's still a weird hill to die on that Iowa won't land east coast kids and are wasting their time when there's clear evidence that Iowa likes to recruit on the east coast and averages about 1 per cycle--Diggs is certainly trending to have Iowa very high on his list (we were his first official visit).

 

[dean_oliver222]

I guess we'll find out. Fran + staff has gotten an east coast based high school commit in 6 of the last 7 recruiting cycles and almost 1/3 of total commits since '17 have come from an east coast prep or high schools. Some of them have been busts, some of them weren't highly recruited. But it's still a weird hill to die on that Iowa won't land east coast kids and are wasting their time when there's clear evidence that Iowa likes to recruit on the east coast and averages about 1 per cycle--Diggs is certainly trending to have Iowa very high on his list (we were his first official visit).

If they get a commitment from even one of these *high-level* East Coast kids, I'll eat the fattest crow out there. But I'm dying on this hill until something happens.

Guys like Garza, Besabe and JoeT were unique scenarios that don't count in my book. While some of these others (like the two current Boston kids) haven't done anything yet.

Opportunity cost is my main thing here: lot of energy/manpower being spent in a region w a very, very low success rate. Time/energy would be better placed elsewhere (Chicago, primarily).

 

[karnack1955]

If they get a commitment from even one of these *high-level* East Coast kids, I'll eat the fattest crow out there. But I'm dying on this hill until something happens.

Guys like Garza, Besabe and JoeT were unique scenarios that don't count in my book. While some of these others (like the two current Boston kids) haven't done anything yet.

Opportunity cost is my main thing here: lot of energy/manpower being spent in a region w a very, very low success rate. Time/energy would be better placed elsewhere (Chicago, primarily).

that they are here from the East Coast is the only thing that matter as you are that hill that IA CAN'T GET KIDS FROM THE EAST COAST.

yet Fran has signed these from the East Coast
Tousaint
Garza
Bowen
Dembele
Mulvey
Ogundele that makes 6. since 2017 W/O looking them up.


its time to stop dying on that hill, as that hill is being torn down to a flat ground.

 

[dean_oliver222]

that they are here from the East Coast is the only thing that matter as you are that hill that IA CAN'T GET KIDS FROM THE EAST COAST.

yet Fran has signed these from the East Coast
Tousaint
Garza
Bowen
Dembele
Mulvey
Ogundele that makes 6. since 2017 W/O looking them up.


its time to stop dying on that hill, as that hill is being torn down to a flat ground.

Let's amend that to DMV, which was the region being discussed when I initially jumped in.

Okay, I get it: Iowa gets players from NEW ENGLAND. I grew up out there, so "East Coast" to me is more ACC Country. Not New York/Boston, which is where everyone you listed comes from other than Garza.

Iowa can land dudes from New England. Good for them... let's see if their suddenly aggressive strategy in the DMV pays off. I say it's the stupidest thing ever. We shall see.

 

[karnack1955]

Let's amend that to DMV, which was the region being discussed when I initially jumped in.

Okay, I get it: Iowa gets players from NEW ENGLAND. I grew up out there, so "East Coast" to me is more ACC Country. Not New York/Boston, which is where everyone you listed comes from other than Garza.

Iowa can land dudes from New England. Good for them... let's see if their suddenly aggressive strategy in the DMV pays off. I say it's the stupidest thing ever. We shall see.

good to see that you moved to another Hill. as I am good at carrying the flag of lost causes.

 

[dean_oliver222]

good to see that you moved to another Hill. as I am good at carrying the flag of lost causes.

If you listen closely, you can hear my Rebel Yell every night around 11pm in Iowa City lol.

Iowa won't get a single one of these DMV dudes everyone is suddenly having orgasms over. Not Boston or New York... DMV. That's the claim and I'm sticking to it. I guess I should've specified that from the start.

 

[karnack1955]

If you listen closely, you can hear my Rebel Yell every night around 11pm in Iowa City lol.

Iowa won't get a single one of these DMV dudes everyone is suddenly having orgasms over. Not Boston or New York... DMV. That's the claim and I'm sticking to it. I guess I should've specified that from the start.

yes you should as the East Coast is a very large area.

 

[Franisdaman]

Did I say any of that isn't true??

My participation in this entire debate has centered around the belief that Tristan Spurlock isn't some East Coast Recruiting Whisperer who's magically going to turn f'ing Iowa into a pipeline to the DMV. His extremely low standing in the hierarchy is enough to make that an ironclad truth.

Not sure how your response addresses anything like that.

Actually, your "participation" has been erratic and a bunch of nonsense, if anything.

For starters, you said that Fran getting Luka Garza did not count as a recruiting win in the DMV.

And now you are talking pipelines. I don't recall any poster ever saying we had a pipeline to any market. And clearly no one has said anything about a magical pipeline being created from Iowa to the DMV simply because of Spurlock.

What has been said? @hawkjt simply wrote that "clearly the DMV has become our new focus in BB recruiting. Me likey."

And I simply said that "Tristan Spurlock, Director of Player Development at Iowa, has DMV connections and ties to the area." And that's what recruiting is all about; relationship's and connections, where it gets your foot in the door. And those relationship and connections clearly are part of the reason as to why we saw 8 recent offers to prospects from the DMV.

So, no pipeline talk. Just observations and the truth to what's going on with Iowa's recruiting strategy. Why you cannot grasp any of this is interesting, to say the least.

What also has been discussed was this conversation. Dennis is an AAU coach and he shares his Iowa thoughts here:







And some more facts. These are the 8 recent offers to prospects from the DMV:

 

[Tylerl_28]

And now you are talking pipelines. I don't recall any poster ever saying we had a pipeline to any market.

You yourself we had a pipeline to the Brewster Academy.

2023 Recruiting. Orig Post Updated Jan 1. ZERO Scholarships Currently Available. 34 Offers So Far (incl. Pryce Sandfort, Owen Freeman, Brock Harding)

https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.fcgi?country=US&state=ME Somewhat unrelated, but I was interested since JP is popping up in some top 100 rankings. If JP were to play in the NBA, he'd only be the third player born in Maine (I'm assuming he was born there) to play in the...

iowa.forums.rivals.com

 

[Franisdaman]

I guess we'll find out. Fran + staff has gotten an east coast based high school commit in 6 of the last 7 recruiting cycles and almost 1/3 of total commits since '17 have come from an east coast prep or high schools. Some of them have been busts, some of them weren't highly recruited. But it's still a weird hill to die on that Iowa won't land east coast kids and are wasting their time when there's clear evidence that Iowa likes to recruit on the east coast and averages about 1 per cycle--Diggs is certainly trending to have Iowa very high on his list (we were his first official visit).

But none of these East coast kids like Luka Garza count according to Dean.

Check out his thoughts here:

I don't think anyone from east of Ohio would ever seriously consider Iowa. Touissant doesn't count either, bc Iowa was his only major offer... again, I grew up out there and know what it's like. Maybe less than 5% shot for each kid? Those are horrible odds.

And if time/resources were infinite, then I'd certainly say go for it. But the opportunity cost is way too high. Every minute/dollar spent toward the unrealistic pursuit of an East Coast kid is a minute/dollar more effectively spent on a regional kid. Bo Ryan made a ****in living off of it.

- What success has Fran had on the East Coast?? Garza doesn't count (that was about being the first to discover him); Basabe doesn't count (Fran had him at Siena); Touissant doesn't count (no other high major offers).

- A mere visit doesn't mean jack. I briefly met Carson McCorkle on his visit in like 2019 and the kid couldn't have been less enthused (real dbag, typical of East Coast teenagers).

- I would agree, even if he lands a cple good ones then it'd likely be worth all the misses. I just flat out don't think it happens. Which makes it a horrendous strategy. Sick of FranBall, sick of his fam, time for him to go back to Philly.

Edit: forgot Bowen was from Boston, although the jury is still out on him; and it looks like that other kid is just a freshman, we'll have to wait and see with him.

2025 MBB Recruiting Thread

iowa.forums.rivals.com

 

[Franisdaman]

I don't recall any poster ever saying we had a pipeline to any market.

You yourself we had a pipeline to the Brewster Academy.

2023 Recruiting. Orig Post Updated Jan 1. ZERO Scholarships Currently Available. 34 Offers So Far (incl. Pryce Sandfort, Owen Freeman, Brock Harding)

https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.fcgi?country=US&state=ME Somewhat unrelated, but I was interested since JP is popping up in some top 100 rankings. If JP were to play in the NBA, he'd only be the third player born in Maine (I'm assuming he was born there) to play in the...

iowa.forums.rivals.com

LOL. As everyone can see, I wrote "pipeline to any market." Brewster Academy is not a market; it's a school. I know you love trolling, but you aren't very good at it.

And when it comes to the school, Brewster Academy, this was the discussion: @HawkHoops80 wrote that the Iowa/ Brewster Academy connection must be strong right now. And I responded that Fran had created a pipeline to Brewster Academy (because we had not only landed Dasonte Bowen & Josh Ogundele but we had made JP Estrella's final cut).

 

[HawkHoops80]

If you listen closely, you can hear my Rebel Yell every night around 11pm in Iowa City lol.

Iowa won't get a single one of these DMV dudes everyone is suddenly having orgasms over. Not Boston or New York... DMV. That's the claim and I'm sticking to it. I guess I should've specified that from the start.

I can't wait to see where the goalposts move once Iowa lands Diggs, which by the way, Iowa had both Eldridge and Gatens watching him today. And from what I could see on my stream there were hardly any other coaches in attendance. Certainly sending a message that he is the priority right now.

 

[Tylerl_28]

LOL. As everyone can see, I wrote "pipeline to any market." Brewster Academy is not a market; it's a school. I know you love trolling, but you aren't very good at it.

Of course a school can be a market...any target is a "market".

 

[dean_oliver222]

I can't wait to see where the goalposts move once Iowa lands Diggs, which by the way, Iowa had both Eldridge and Gatens watching him today. And from what I could see on my stream there were hardly any other coaches in attendance. Certainly sending a message that he is the priority right now.

WOW, two coaches are "watching" a player! Stop the presses.

Dude has zero stars on Rivals and his ESPN Recruiting page literally doesn't exist. All his offers are middling, other than Iowa and Marquette. In other words, his high-major options are extremely low.

So uhhh, yea, it isn't surprising he's showing interest. I never said a DMV kid would never come to Iowa. I said a DMV kid with high-level interest from multiple East Coast schools would never come.

 

[dean_oliver222]

Actually, your "participation" has been erratic and a bunch of nonsense, if anything.

For starters, you said that Fran getting Luka Garza did not count as a recruiting win in the DMV.

And now you are talking pipelines. I don't recall any poster ever saying we had a pipeline to any market. And clearly no one has said anything about a magical pipeline being created from Iowa to the DMV simply because of Spurlock.

What has been said? @hawkjt simply wrote that "clearly the DMV has become our new focus in BB recruiting. Me likey."

And I simply said that "Tristan Spurlock, Director of Player Development at Iowa, has DMV connections and ties to the area." And that's what recruiting is all about; relationship's and connections, where it gets your foot in the door. And those relationship and connections clearly are part of the reason as to why we saw 8 recent offers to prospects from the DMV.

So, no pipeline talk. Just observations and the truth to what's going on with Iowa's recruiting strategy. Why you cannot grasp any of this is interesting, to say the least.

What also has been discussed was this conversation. Dennis is an AAU coach and he shares his Iowa thoughts here:

View embedded media

And some more facts. These are the 8 recent offers to prospects from the DMV:

Dennis Marshall is a scumbag race card playing sociopath. Maybe research his background before annointing him as some sort of authority figure on anything.

As I've said time and again: recruiting comes with major opportunity costs; spend too much time in one area at the expense of another. Being too aggressive with longshot DMV kids inevitably takes away from recruiting energy more realistically spent elsewhere. Like Chicago.

I grew up in the DMV. Everyone there thinks Iowa is nothing but 18th century farm towns. PERIOD. No legitimate recruit from there will ever seriously consider UI (unless it's an outlier case like garza). That approach only results in a massive loss when resources would be better spent elsewhere.

 

[Franisdaman]

Of course a school can be a market...any target is a "market".

Wrong again, Tyler. Brewster Academy is just one school, part of a very LARGE market. And I clearly have never stated that Iowa had a pipeline to this very large market. What I did say, however, is we have connections to this one (and only one) school.

I know you're a desperate troll so I am sure you will reply with more nonsense.

 

[Franisdaman]

I can't wait to see where the goalposts move once Iowa lands Diggs, which by the way, Iowa had both Eldridge and Gatens watching him today. And from what I could see on my stream there were hardly any other coaches in attendance. Certainly sending a message that he is the priority right now.

Well, as seen below, it looks like the goal post for now is focused ONLY on the the DMV.

However, he still thinks Garza doesn't count as a DMV recruiting win. And he still thinks we won't land anyone from the DMV in the Class of 2024 and in the Class of 2025 and that recruiting the DMV is the stupidest thing ever.

Let's amend that to DMV, which was the region being discussed when I initially jumped in.

Okay, I get it: Iowa gets players from NEW ENGLAND. I grew up out there, so "East Coast" to me is more ACC Country. Not New York/Boston, which is where everyone you listed comes from other than Garza.

Iowa can land dudes from New England. Good for them... let's see if their suddenly aggressive strategy in the DMV pays off. I say it's the stupidest thing ever. We shall see.

 

[dean_oliver222]

Well, as seen below, it looks like the goal post for now is focused ONLY on the the DMV.

However, he still thinks Garza doesn't count as a DMV recruiting win. And he still thinks we won't land anyone from the DMV in the Class of 2024 and in the Class of 2025 and that recruiting the DMV is the stupidest thing ever.

Garza is a unique case because he remained loyal to Iowa after they were the first ones to discover him as a fat, unwanted underclassman. If he had been a trim, athletic underclassman with offers from Indiana and Louisville, I have no doubt the anti-Iowa perception common in the DMV would have kicked in.

Feel free to share your own experiences living out there. And what the average DMV teenager thinks about our state....

 

[HawkHoops80]

WOW, two coaches are "watching" a player! Stop the presses.

Dude has zero stars on Rivals and his ESPN Recruiting page literally doesn't exist. All his offers are middling, other than Iowa and Marquette. In other words, his high-major options are extremely low.

So uhhh, yea, it isn't surprising he's showing interest. I never said a DMV kid would never come to Iowa. I said a DMV kid with high-level interest from multiple East Coast schools would never come.

"dude ain't getting anyone here from the East Coast."
"Iowa won't get a single one of these DMV dudes everyone is suddenly having orgasms over. Not Boston or New York... DMV."

BTW this whole entire argument in this thread started over a discussion about Diggs and how there was speculation that Spurlock helped land the visit. So not sure how you are spinning it to where this wasn't about Diggs the entire time.
He also has gotten offers from OK State, Seton Hall, Xavier, Marquette, and Va Tech and is top 120 in both 247 and ON3 national rankings.

 

[dean_oliver222]

"dude ain't getting anyone here from the East Coast."
"Iowa won't get a single one of these DMV dudes everyone is suddenly having orgasms over. Not Boston or New York... DMV."

BTW this whole entire argument in this thread started over a discussion about Diggs and how there was speculation that Spurlock helped land the visit. So not sure how you are spinning it to where this wasn't about Diggs the entire time.
He also has gotten offers from OK State, Seton Hall, Xavier, Marquette, and Va Tech and is top 120 in both 247 and ON3 national rankings.

According to Rivals, his only major offers are from Iowa and Marquette. Since this is a Rivals message board, that's the primary one I check... I've also used ESPN Recruiting in the past, and this kid doesn't even have a page on there.

I'm not sure what went on earlier in this discussion. I only entered when a handful of dudes were having orgasms about Fran's numerous DMV offers. All I said was that I grew up out there, I know what kids are like out there, and ain't a single high-profile recruit from there gonna come to Iowa.

I'll retract that statement if: a) this Diggs character ultimately does come here; b) if this Diggs character gets a Rivals page that reflects more offers and a higher ranking... right now, he's just a DMV kid who will overlook the Iowa factor in favor of actually having a major offer.

 

[HawkHoops80]

As I've said time and again: recruiting comes with major opportunity costs; spend too much time in one area at the expense of another. Being too aggressive with longshot DMV kids inevitably takes away from recruiting energy more realistically spent elsewhere. Like Chicago.

Outside of the June live periods, most of basketball recruiting is on the AAU level these days where players are playing on national circuits. Iowa is able to watch a DMV based team play in the same events as Cooper Koch and Caden Wilkins. So no, there really isn't that much opportunity costs spent in recruiting non-local kids these days. The coaching staff gets out to see different players in their high school games during the season, but it's not nearly as much as the football coaches do. Iowa recruits plenty of regional kids, it's just that it's 2023 and between analytic tools like Synergy, having access to 100% of the AAU and high school film of any player they want, and having national AAU circuits, there is no reason not to also recruit the players that best fit the role and style of play that the coach wants.

Also, I'm not going to reply to the above post also, but the best place to actually see who has offered a player is the kid's Twitter account. All of the national recruiting sites are awful at putting in player's actual offers unless it's a 5-star. But every one of these kids Tweets out all of their offers so it's a 1 stop shop.

 

[Franisdaman]

WOW, two coaches are "watching" a player! Stop the presses.

Dude has zero stars on Rivals and his ESPN Recruiting page literally doesn't exist. All his offers are middling, other than Iowa and Marquette. In other words, his high-major options are extremely low.

So uhhh, yea, it isn't surprising he's showing interest. I never said a DMV kid would never come to Iowa. I said a DMV kid with high-level interest from multiple East Coast schools would never come.

Wow, talking about moving the goal post. You never said a DMV kid would never come to Iowa? That's not true. On June 30 you wrote what follows regarding the 8 DMV prospects listed at the end of this post. You never mentioned anything about them having to have "high level interest from multiple East Coast schools." You simply stated that all 8 would never commit to Iowa. And note that Caden Diggs, Christian Gurdak and Eric Reibe are all currently rated as ZERO STARS, and you clearly said not a single one of them will commit.

So, all 8 of these count, just like Garza counts.

Not a single one of these kids will commit. I'll be the first to admit if I'm wrong. But I grew up in Maryland and everyone out there thinks Iowa is Hick Central. It's just a fact, I saw it every day.

Terrible recruiting strategy. Unimaginably stupid. Fran and his staff are completely wasting their time out there. HUGE opportunity cost being lost... which is yet another reason the dude needs to go.

Note: and I don't wanna hear a damn thing about Garza coming out here. He was an outlier who stuck w Iowa because they were the first to discover him. Totally irrelevant.

2025 MBB Recruiting Thread

iowa.forums.rivals.com

 

[Franisdaman]

Dennis Marshall is a scumbag race card playing sociopath. Maybe research his background before annointing him as some sort of authority figure on anything.

As I've said time and again: recruiting comes with major opportunity costs; spend too much time in one area at the expense of another. Being too aggressive with longshot DMV kids inevitably takes away from recruiting energy more realistically spent elsewhere. Like Chicago.

I grew up in the DMV. Everyone there thinks Iowa is nothing but 18th century farm towns. PERIOD.

No legitimate recruit from there will ever seriously consider UI (unless it's an outlier case like garza). That approach only results in a massive loss when resources would be better spent elsewhere.

Cayden Diggs is not a legitimate high major recruit? According to who? And just because Rivals doesn't have him rated doesn't mean anything; the Murray twins never got their 3 star until after they committed to Iowa, IIRC.

And he took an official visit, which means he's seriously considering Iowa.

 

[dean_oliver222]

Outside of the June live periods, most of basketball recruiting is on the AAU level these days where players are playing on national circuits. Iowa is able to watch a DMV based team play in the same events as Cooper Koch and Caden Wilkins. So no, there really isn't that much opportunity costs spent in recruiting non-local kids these days. The coaching staff gets out to see different players in their high school games during the season, but it's not nearly as much as the football coaches do. Iowa recruits plenty of regional kids, it's just that it's 2023 and between analytic tools like Synergy, having access to 100% of the AAU and high school film of any player they want, and having national AAU circuits, there is no reason not to also recruit the players that best fit the role and style of play that the coach wants.

Also, I'm not going to reply to the above post also, but the best place to actually see who has offered a player is the kid's Twitter account. All of the national recruiting sites are awful at putting in player's actual offers unless it's a 5-star. But every one of these kids Tweets out all of their offers so it's a 1 stop shop.

You think the time spent recruiting a kid is mostly about going to watch him play??

If that were the case, then your arguement would have some merit. You might be able to watch two kids play at one time, but not call two kids at one time. Time spent talking to a kid (or his coach) from the DMV is time not spent talking to a more realistic option from Chicago or somewhere else nearby. Hence, opportunity cost.

 

[HawkHoops80]

You think the time spent recruiting a kid is mostly about going to watch him play??

If that were the case, then your arguement would have some merit. You might be able to watch two kids play at one time, but not call two kids at one time. Time spent talking to a kid (or his coach) from the DMV is time not spent talking to a more realistic option from Chicago or somewhere else nearby. Hence, opportunity cost.

No I understand that part of the equation is about calling and talking with them too--but you act as if this takes up hours and hours of the day. What I was saying is that it's easier to scout who you want to recruit now more than ever and I really don't think calls and texts and Zooms take up that much opportunity cost. I've been around kids who have been P6 level basketball recruits--they get calls and texts from coaches around the country about every day. Most calls last 5-10 minutes once the process gets serious. Once you get farther along in the process there might be a few here and there that are longer calls or Zooms. That still doesn't mean they can't be in contact with plenty of regional kids.

Speaking of Chicago, and this is slightly off topic, but one of the hardest parts with recruiting "Chicago" is that hardly any high major prospect actually stays there to play high school anymore. Like I've said, I follow Big Ten recruiting pretty in-depths. I don't have the exact figures, but it feels like almost 80-90% of the top Chicago-Land prospects end up going to national prep schools that Iowa may or may not have ins with. They play at Sunshine Academy or La Lumier or AZ Prep or Montverde or in California. So it's hard to actually recruit the most local major hub. My hypothesis is that's why we tend to recruit a lot more Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana kids. I think Iowa is trying to build up a better relationship with the Chicago area MacIrvin AAU/Kenwood Academy (they're ran by the same guy), but historically those coaches have been difficult to work with for a lot of regional Big Ten teams. So Iowa has avoided them up until recently. Which brings us all the way back to the original point--recruiting is a lot about social politics in basketball. And there's going to be programs that Iowa just will not recruit from for a variety of reasons and sometimes doors open up when you hire particular staff members even if they aren't involved in the day to day recruiting.