COMMIT: Iowa Lands 2024 Prospect Chris Tadjo

[RossWB]

via @Eliot Clough

As he announced on Instagram Friday evening, 2024 power forward out of NBA Academy Latin America, Chris Tadjo has committed to Iowa.

He chose the Hawkeyes over an offer from Akron as well as interest from TCU and Xavier. Tadjo took his official visit to Iowa City last weekend.

MORE HERE: https://iowa.rivals.com/news/commit-international-prospect-2024-pf-chris-tadjo-picks-iowa

 

[QChawks]

Looks raw but hella athletic, something we badly need

If he play defense and good on the run then any shooting would be a bonus

 

[GunnerHawk]

Dembele last year at 6' 8" and Tadjo at 6' 8" 230. Two big bodies who are athletic and play good defense. Fran is a very good evaluator of talent. Will be interesting to see how both young men develop.

 

[icwesthawk]

His hands make that basketball look like a grapefruit.

 

[hawkjt]

After the Murray bros commitments, I hesitate to get too critical of Fran taking lightly recruited guys. Clearly a fallback recruit, but he has athleticism but no sign of a shot outside of 3 feet.

 

[HawkHoops80]

Coach Eldridge is happy.

 

[eyesofhawk]

Good luck Chris!

Very happy to have you as a Hawk

 

[Max_Rebo]

So, how do you pronounced “Tadjo”?

 

[nosok23]

 

[nosok23]

Why has it taken Fran so long to start getting these types of players. Be huge if Compton kid commits and they find a couple of athletic guards too.

 

[jerbob36]

Not flashy to beat out Akron, but if there is one strength of Fran, it is evaluating talent that can develop. Time and again Fran has been in on great players first, many who picked other places later. Welcome aboard, Tadjo.

 

[nosok23]

This kid is under the radar. On 3 has him 66 overall prospect in the class. Canadian players are starting to produce. I just like the athleticism that this team desperately needs.

 

[perryhawk]

Why has it taken Fran so long to start getting these types of players. Be huge if Compton kid commits and they find a couple of athletic guards too.

By “these types of players” what do you mean? Are you talking about athletic Power Forwards?

 

[CerroGordoHawk]

By “these types of players” what do you mean? Are you talking about athletic Power Forwards?

I think he's referring to body type. This dude and Dembele last cycle are "P5 ready" body-wise which is atypical for Fran.

 

[unclesammy]

So, how do you pronounced “Tadjo”?

Don't worry Dolph has it covered.

 

[cleotishaywood]

Oh yes! Seen some glimpses of Tyler Cook there! Likey likey!

 

[GunnerHawk]

Oh yes! Seen some glimpses of Tyler Cook there! Likey likey!

I was thinking Reggie

 

[cleotishaywood]

I was thinking Reggie

Hopefully clean the glass like Reggie & dunk like Tyler!

 

[Mohawkeye]

I was thinking Reggie

Exactly. Similar build and tenacity. Better ball handler and hands. But Reggie had a mean streak and toughness that will be hard to duplicate.

 

[seer_hawk]

Fran, unless it's my computer, your graphics keep crashing the 2024 recruiting thread,

 

[NevadaHawk]

Welcome Chris! Glad to have you with us.

 

[BustingNarratives]

Tyler Cook 2.0 … he looks legit.

 

[the notorious r.d.m.]

Very little media on this guy but I love what I've been seeing

 

[TopHawkeye]

Very little media on this guy but I love what I've been seeing

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Play with "blood & incest"? We talkin' BB here?

 

[Max_Rebo]

As a Canadian, Tadjo is not allowed to accept NIL money, isn’t that correct? If so, that could be of some benefit to Iowa, as there’s nobody there to outbid us.

 

[Fan In Black]

I'd rather have this type of recruit than what we are used to. Excited.

 

[Fan In Black]

By “these types of players” what do you mean? Are you talking about athletic Power Forwards?

that's what I mean if if I didn't say it. Raw athletic players. Teach them how to play basketball. IMO it's a better approach than trying to teach a shooting tweener how to be faster and stronger.

Iowa will never take the next step if he continues to fill the roster with players that are built for a different system.

Just my opinion.

 

[perryhawk]

that's what I mean if if I didn't say it. Raw athletic players. Teach them how to play basketball. IMO it's a better approach than trying to teach a shooting tweener how to be faster and stronger.

Iowa will never take the next step if he continues to fill the roster with players that are built for a different system.

Just my opinion.

I get what you are saying….thanks for the clarification. I find this approach to recruiting very intriguing. I often think that with a team of athletic players we might be even better in the open court, a better rebounding team…. And better defensively.

In looking at our current and future roster we have, and will have, some pretty athletic players but I’m not sure it’s enough to make this transition.

The other thing I would say is that Fran has recruited some of this type of player in the past and the results have been anywhere from poor to great…..Dom Uhl to Aaron White…..A Wagner to Tyler Cook…. And more.

 

[Fan In Black]

I get what you are saying….thanks for the clarification. I find this approach to recruiting very intriguing. I often think that with a team of athletic players we might be even better in the open court, a better rebounding team…. And better defensively.

In looking at our current and future roster we have, and will have, some pretty athletic players but I’m not sure it’s enough to make this transition.

The other thing I would say is that Fran has recruited some of this type of player in the past and the results have been anywhere from poor to great…..Dom Uhl to Aaron White…..A Wagner to Tyler Cook…. And more.

You are 100 right. I guess I'm hoping he is more patient or is going all in.

I just don't get his approach to roster building and style of play.

 

[Ronman]

Welcome to the Hawk family, Chris! Excited to see how you develop as a Hawkeye!

 

[HawkHoops80]

As a Canadian, Tadjo is not allowed to accept NIL money, isn’t that correct? If so, that could be of some benefit to Iowa, as there’s nobody there to outbid us.

There are workarounds. Krikke was on Payton and Patrick's podcast and talked about it. Krikke is getting NIL through the SWARM, he just had to do his work while out of the country.

 

[sm_hawkeye]

Nice land. Between his tape and Fran doing well with most under recruited forwards, I trust this kid will produce.

 

[chaneccooms]

 

[Franisdaman]

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Meanwhile, Rivals still has him at 0 stars....

They could at least give him a token 3 star rating....

 

[Hawkeye Marching Band]

Does this commitment mean Cooper Koch will play at the 3?

 

[icwesthawk]

Does this commitment mean Cooper Koch will play at the 3?

I think that was pretty much given when he committed

 

[HawkHoops80]

I think that was pretty much given when he committed

Assuming everyone is stays, next year is deep at the 3.
True 4s: Dembele, Tadjo
True 3s: Payton, Pryce, Koch

The true answer is that these guys can play flexible positions which is nice--Dembele and Tadjo would be good small-ball 5s IMO with Payton or Koch at the 4. Depending on defensive foot speed, I think Pryce would be a fine 2 guard on offense. There's a lot of mixing and matching that Fran can do with this group.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I cannot remember Iowa ever having two big muscular PFs like Dembele and Tadjo at the same time. Add Freeman at center, who is also pretty well built. Very Spartanesque. I wonder if it signals an intentional shift in Fran’s strategy.

 

[iabcuda]

There is a better chance that Fran changes his hairstyle than change his system, but yes, do like having two athletic/physical 4s.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

So 247 has him as the #47 ranked recruit and rivals hasn't evaluated him? Weird.