2025 MBB Recruiting Thread
- Thread starter HawkHoops80
- Start date
-
- Tags
- recruit
Of the 28 offers so far for the 2025 class, I count 6 from the DMV (they are listed at the end of this post).
Tristan Spurlock, Director of Player Development at Iowa, has DMV connections and ties to the area.
Tristan Spurlock, Director of Player Development at Iowa, has DMV connections and ties to the area.
Iowa offered 7'0 C/F Eric Reibe on May 4, 2023.
Connections:
* Eric is AAU teammates with 2024 6'7 SG Caden Diggs (Iowa offered Caden the day before, on May 3, 2023). Their AAU team: New World; part of Adidas circuit.
* DMV: Both Eric & Caden attend Bullis High School in Potomac, MD.
* More DMV: Tristan Spurlock, Director of Player Development at Iowa, has DMV connections and ties to the area.
Connections:
* Eric is AAU teammates with 2024 6'7 SG Caden Diggs (Iowa offered Caden the day before, on May 3, 2023). Their AAU team: New World; part of Adidas circuit.
* DMV: Both Eric & Caden attend Bullis High School in Potomac, MD.
* More DMV: Tristan Spurlock, Director of Player Development at Iowa, has DMV connections and ties to the area.
Iowa offered 6'2 PG Nyk Lewis on June 15, 2023. He's from Washington, DC. Tristan Spurlock, Director of Player Development at Iowa, has DMV connections and ties to the area. On the AAU circuit, he runs with Team Takeover, the program that sent Iowa its all-time leading scorer, Luka Garza.
Linked at the end of this post is a good story.
Some excerpts:
Iowa has piqued his interest.
"I like the style of play at Iowa, and I like the conference it is a part of. I'm looking for a fast playing style where the guards have freedom," he said.
The Hawkeyes believe Lewis can thrive in Iowa City.
"The Iowa coach (Fran McCaffery) told me he loves how hard I play and can see me fitting into his Iowa team. He wants me because I'm a good defender and playmaker," Lewis said.
Lewis isn't sure when he will visit the Hawkeyes, but he's looking forward to it.
"I want to learn more about the community at Iowa and campus life," Lewis said.
The Full Story:
Linked at the end of this post is a good story.
Some excerpts:
Iowa has piqued his interest.
"I like the style of play at Iowa, and I like the conference it is a part of. I'm looking for a fast playing style where the guards have freedom," he said.
The Hawkeyes believe Lewis can thrive in Iowa City.
"The Iowa coach (Fran McCaffery) told me he loves how hard I play and can see me fitting into his Iowa team. He wants me because I'm a good defender and playmaker," Lewis said.
Lewis isn't sure when he will visit the Hawkeyes, but he's looking forward to it.
"I want to learn more about the community at Iowa and campus life," Lewis said.
The Full Story:
Clearly the DMV has become our new focus in BB recruiting. Me likey.
Not a bad idea. Lived out there for 33 years and coached against a bunch of high level guys. The Public schools have some talented kids but the private schools really can load up with D1 prospects. If Iowa can tap into that market it would be a huge win.
There’s a good article about Christian Gudak as it relates to IA in SI and written by an admin of TOS so I didn’t think it was cool to link.
Basically he’s originally from the DC area, has attended Garza camps, has worked out with him a few times. He genuinely appears to be a big fan of Luka and the IA program. He wants to get in for an OV in July or August.
Someone to keep an eye on for sure.
Basically he’s originally from the DC area, has attended Garza camps, has worked out with him a few times. He genuinely appears to be a big fan of Luka and the IA program. He wants to get in for an OV in July or August.
Someone to keep an eye on for sure.
Annandale in Virginia for 10 years. Had the summer teams and then scouted and did stats during the regular season. Had the JV baseball team also. Same time frame. Had some kids do D2 and D3 from both sports plus a couple on mid major D1 schools. Coached against kids who were D1 and also some eventual pros in baseball.
Yep. I posted this above but here's an update:
Of the 33 offers so far for the 2025 class, I count 7 from the DMV (they are listed at the end of this post).
Tristan Spurlock, Director of Player Development at Iowa, has DMV connections and ties to the area.
Dennis is an AAU coach and shares his Iowa thoughts here:
My dad coached at Towson U., Coppin, McDaniel and Howard Community College. Recruited DMV/NOVA heavily.
Here's a story from yesterday on Chance Mallory (from the Charlottesville, VA CBS TV affiliate).
Virginia and Maryland are on his growing offer list.
Virginia and Maryland are on his growing offer list.
Last edited:
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.
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.
Iowa is after Class of 2024, 6'7 shooting guard Caden Diggs. Caden is from Potomac, MD. Caden officially visited Iowa City on June 14, 2023.
Iowa also has offered Class of 2025, 7 foot center Eric Reibe (Eric and Caden play at Bullis High School and they are AAU teammates).
An Iowa asst coach watched Bullis HS/Eric Reibe/Caden Diggs play on June 24, 2023 during a live period in the DMV area. The Iowa coach also got to see Chance Mallory in person (hence the offer).
And look at who 2 of the stand outs were:
Last edited:
Nice info. Thank you. Iowa offered Gurdak on June 15, 2023
And Luka Garza always has great things to say about Fran, the Iowa program, and Iowa City.
Do you think the kids from Boston or NYC feel the same way about Iowa? You go where the talent is and try like hell to get them. I don't know if it will work for Fran but I do give him props for going and trying to get really good guys to come to play for us
You act as if Fran has had zero success on the East coast.
He got Class of 2024 Caden Diggs (from the DMV) to officially visit on June 14.
And 2 pretty good players from the East coast (Ladji Dembele, Class of 2023 & Dasonte Bowen, Class of 2022) are currently on the roster.
I don't think the end result of landing at least 1 player from the East coast per recruiting cycle is "terrible recruiting strategy" and "unimaginably stupid."
Last edited:
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.
Last edited:
You act as if Fran has had zero success on the East coast.
He got Class of 2024 Caden Diggs (from the DMV) to officially visit on June 14.
And 2 pretty good players from the East coast (Ladji Dembele, Class of 2023 & Dasonte Bowen, Class of 2022) are currently on the roster.
I don't think the end result of landing at least 1 player from the East coast per recruiting cycle is "terrible recruiting strategy" and "unimaginably stupid."
- 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.
Last edited:
DMV is BIG country now
Every BIG game is on national TV.
In BB you only need 1-2 "outliers" to transform the program.
You recruit to your staff's strengths which now include Spurlock.
Gonzag goes coast to coast for players...it was not always that way. It built over time.
Fran landed some solid regional recruits for 23. Not like he is ignoring the Midwest but talent level might be down in the region in 24.
BB recruiting success means hitting on 5 % of your targets.
Cast a wide net.
Every BIG game is on national TV.
In BB you only need 1-2 "outliers" to transform the program.
You recruit to your staff's strengths which now include Spurlock.
Gonzag goes coast to coast for players...it was not always that way. It built over time.
Fran landed some solid regional recruits for 23. Not like he is ignoring the Midwest but talent level might be down in the region in 24.
BB recruiting success means hitting on 5 % of your targets.
Cast a wide net.
Dembele and Bowen both had other P6 offers and had east coast P6 opportunities to stay closer to home. Basketball often has classes of around 2-4 players--coaches are going to strike out on guys much much more than they are going to hit. So yeah, Iowa likely won't land 95% of the east coast guys they offer but that's recruiting.
Also, your argument that Fran discovered Garza first so that means he doesn't count would also apply to some of these 2025s you're whining about offering. Fran offers early on many recruits--that's something that Fran is good at is identifying talent early. To hold that against him stating those recruits don't count is just because you don't like Fran. You're creating arbitrary hurdles that don't need to exist.
I offer Garza as evidence bc he is often the be all/end all to anyone getting orgasmic over Iowa recruiting the East Coast. Dude was an outlier who had loyalty to the program. And I'll admit if I'm wrong, but I highly doubt there's any evidence out there w these current recruits saying Fran was their first. That narrative only grew/became well known w Garza's ugly ass bc he became so good.
Agree with many of your other points. And also admit my thinking about Fran may be biased by this point. He's just not hacking it, and w the baggage his wife brings I just simply don't get it. His era will be hardly remembered in 50 years. Never should've been hired here in the first place.
Garza doesn't count when it comes to Fran's East coast/DMV recruiting success??
Seriously???
According to who? You?
Melsahn was from Massachusetts. Fran still had to convince him to come to Iowa, which he did.
According to who? You?
According to who? You?
If you don't get a visit, you don't have a chance, and that's with EVERY PROSPECT.
So, now recruiting the East coast and the DMV is a good strategy???
Oh, crap, now recruiting the East coast and the DMV is a bad strategy???
I’m not sure why Rivals doesn’t have him ranked. 247 has him as a 4 star, 90 ranking, 85th player overall, and number 4 in the state of VA.Nice info. Thank you. Iowa offered Gurdak on June 15, 2023
And Luka Garza always has great things to say about Fran, the Iowa program, and Iowa City.
Per the article…. Penn State, Maryland, Iowa, Notre Dame and George Washington have reportedly offered Gurdak scholarships. He’s been on an OV to VA but evidently no offer yet.
Similar threads
