COMMIT: Iowa MBB Adds Four-Star Badara Diakite to 2025 Class

[Eliot Clough]

The Hawkeyes have their first commit in the class of 2025.

STORY:

COMMIT: Iowa MBB Adds Four-Star Badara Diakite to 2025 Class

The No. 127 player in the class of 2025, Badara Diakite has committed to Iowa.

iowa.rivals.com

 

[Eliot Clough]

Three thoughts on Diakite's decision:

Iowa's First Commit
A Project (Kind Of)
What's next in 2025

Three Thoughts on Badara Diakite's Commitment to Iowa

Three thoughts on Badara Diakite's commitment to Iowa.

iowa.rivals.com

 

[hawkjt]

3 guys from Mali with Ladji, Tadjo and now Badara...nice.
Keep that African pipeline flowing.
Having guys on the roster helps recruiting more guys.

 

[Franisdaman]

The West Africa pipeline continues.

Badara Diakite is from Bamako, Mali (located in West Africa).

* Freshman Nogbou Chris Tadjo was born in West Africa before moving to Montreal Canada; his parents/family are from Ivory Coast (southern West Africa).

* Seydou Traore is originally from Mali in West Africa. His parents are Abraham Traore & Mariam Sylla.

* Sophomore Ladji Dembele is also originally from Mali in West Africa.

Not sure if it's by plan or by coincidence, but if these 4 West African players find success at Iowa, that could be a very valuable recruiting pipeline for Iowa for years to come.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[JBo4Three]

But, but, but…… I thought Fran was near the end!

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

But, but, but…… I thought Fran was near the end!

He's right at the other end of the West Africa pipeline

 

[QChawks]

Raw but athletic

me likey 😁

 

[tumorboy]

Three thoughts on Diakite's decision:

Iowa's First Commit
A Project (Kind Of)
What's next in 2025

Three Thoughts on Badara Diakite's Commitment to Iowa

Three thoughts on Badara Diakite's commitment to Iowa.

iowa.rivals.com

Would be nice if Beckford lowered his asking price. But assume that’s gone. Or Eliot and I can get Fran on the horn to flip Dietrich Richardson to Iowa .

 

[GeorgePeeples]

We shorten his name to “Bad”??



Or, “Bad D”???

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Long and lean. Seems to have decent quickness for a big player. Is there more to his game than making layups and getting some put backs"

 

[hawkirugged17]

We shorten his name to “Bad”??



Or, “Bad D”???

 

[Buffalo43]

Can he play quarterback?

 

[Buffalo43]

Seriously folks how tall is he?

 

[Franisdaman]

Seriously folks how tall is he?

 

[Tunadog]

 

[TRHawkeye145]

But, but, but…… I thought Fran was near the end!

You can't be serious?

 

[Franisdaman]

But, but, but…… I thought Fran was near the end!

You can't be serious?

There's a thread on it.

It Feels Like We’re Nearing the End

The Fran era really feels like it is on its last few breaths. Fan support has CRATERED And our team doesn’t look strong on paper or via the eye test. We got outrebounded by Southern and we gave up 12 offensive boards to TAMC. We had more turnovers than Southern. And both opponents have...

iowa.forums.rivals.com

 

[tumorboy]

Long and lean. Seems to have decent quickness for a big player. Is there more to his game than making layups and getting some put backs"

He has a decent outside shot I believe. The knock on him I e heard is work ethic.

 

[tumorboy]

Seriously folks how tall is he?

Thinking a tall 6-9

 

[TRHawkeye145]

There's a thread on it.

It Feels Like We’re Nearing the End

The Fran era really feels like it is on its last few breaths. Fan support has CRATERED And our team doesn’t look strong on paper or via the eye test. We got outrebounded by Southern and we gave up 12 offensive boards to TAMC. We had more turnovers than Southern. And both opponents have...

iowa.forums.rivals.com

I know - it seemed like this poster was really trying to suggest that landing 1 bball commitment somehow vindicates 15 years of fran ball....where fan apathy is at its highest, empty Carver, no defense, no post season success, etc.

 

[BurgHawk87]

Thinking a tall 6-9

Greg Brunner-esque

 

[LukaDuka]

Foreign players save money on NIL as they're not eligible to receive these funds. Not sure how this plays out when schools can pay them directly. Do they need a "work" visa? I don't think they can receive funds on a student visa.

 

[JBo4Three]

I know - it seemed like this poster was really trying to suggest that landing 1 bball commitment somehow vindicates 15 years of fran ball....where fan apathy is at its highest, empty Carver, no defense, no post season success, etc.

That’s not what I was suggesting. I just get a chuckle out of certain people on this board who think they’re breaking news and think they know everything. It’s just so comical.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

He has a decent outside shot I believe. The knock on him I e heard is work ethic.

Lovely. Would rather have a little less talent and more work ethic.

 

[Franisdaman]

8 minutes of highlights

 

[twindman]

Seems to me he needs to pack on a LOT of lbs. Even 20 lbs isn't enough for a center in the B1G. He is just plain skinny! LOL

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Foreign players save money on NIL as they're not eligible to receive these funds. Not sure how this plays out when schools can pay them directly. Do they need a "work" visa? I don't think they can receive funds on a student visa.

Fran probably should have gone this route a long time ago. He wasted too much time and too many resources chasing 5-star and high-end 4-stars who were never going to commit and at best would take a courtesy visit. Thus, Fran had to bring in too many fallback recruits who were either MVC talent or just flat out sucked.

Even before NIL, Fran needed to think outside the box and bring in foreign players with a much higher upside than guys like Maishe Dailey or Riley Mulvey.

 

[LukaDuka]

Fran probably should have gone this route a long time ago. He wasted too much time and too many resources chasing 5-star and high-end 4-stars who were never going to commit and at best would take a courtesy visit. Thus, Fran had to bring in too many fallback recruits who were either MVC talent or just flat out sucked.

Even before NIL, Fran needed to think outside the box and bring in foreign players with a much higher upside than guys like Maishe Dailey or Riley Mulvey.

Agreed, and honestly many of the 4 & 5 stars were just that, courtesy visits due to their relationships with Fran's boys playing together on the AAU circuit. That was one benefit of Pmac & Conner helped build relationships with these players. But Fran just couldn't close the deal unfortunately.

 

[tumorboy]

Lovely. Would rather have a little less talent and more work ethic.

We already have Harding for that role.

 

[hawkjt]

He seems to have the traits for a big man that could work in Iowa's system:
Athletic
Runs well
Sky's for alley-oops and easy flushes inside
Decent hands
Can put it on floor and finish
Decent stroke from arc

He is thin but has decent set of shoulders so do think he could carry at least 20-30 lbs of additional muscle.
Good get, Fran!

 

[icwesthawk]

But, but, but…… I thought Fran was near the end!

What about his commitment make you think Fran is not near the end?

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

But, but, but…… I thought Fran was near the end!

How does this commitment in any way suggest that Fran is not near the end of his tenure at Iowa? Would you honestly expect him to sign no one? lol

 

[Ronman]

Welcome to the program, Badara. Hope you thoroughly enjoy your time as part of the Hawkeye family!

 

[Fran-Con-2]

But, but, but…… I thought Fran was near the end!

Nothing would make me happier than Fran having a strong season this year and building continued success over the next few years.

But signing one, sub-100 recruit in mid-November, doesn’t convince me that Fran will be sticking around for a while.

But I also don’t want to crap on the signing! He seems like a solid get and will bring some much needed athleticism to our 5-spot

 

[NevadaHawk]

Welcome to the Hawkeye family Badara!

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

He’s no midwestern white dude, but I guess he’ll do.

 

[QChawks]

he needs to eat a lot of sandwiches