Did Fran ever go after Happ?
- Thread starter General Tso
- Start date
Coach Fran had him in for an unofficial visit, but never offered. Happ was only 6-7 at the time. He had a late growth spurt after committing to Wisconsin.
Wisconsin illegal recruiting contact with Happ family physician? It's like they had access to his growth plates or something.
I wondered when this question was coming. Happ redshirted at Wisky, as a few there have and improved a lot during that year.
If one investigates the recruiting of Happ, the first three offers came from Wisconsin schools. I believe he also attended at least one camp in Wisconsin.
Something tipped the cheeseheads off to Happ early. I think by the time Iowa got involved it was too late.
Wisconsin's offer reported on 6/16/2012
Green Bay and Milwaukee on 6/18/2012
Happ's class was 2014.
Something tipped the cheeseheads off to Happ early. I think by the time Iowa got involved it was too late.
Wisconsin's offer reported on 6/16/2012
Green Bay and Milwaukee on 6/18/2012
Happ's class was 2014.
Paging Jack Nunge...I know kids want to play but an additional year can make a difference.
I thought Happ committed to Wisconsin fairly early. I also remember Happ doing pretty well in the AAU circuit at that time too.
Happ's poor free throw shooting will come back to bite the Badgers. It certainly did in their loss to Iowa.
I know he is feared by many people but he seems very streaky. He is terrible from the FT line and commits tons of dumb fouls. If he wants to play NBA he'd better clean up a few of those matters.
He also cannot shoot at the moment outside of 5 feet. That's not gonna work in the NBA at his size.
Fran was interested but I thought I recall he had no interest in playing for Fran.
The dude wasn't really that big of a secret in high school. He was a standout on the AAU Barnstormers team where he really stood out in some big national tournaments and made a couple all-tournament teams. I believe he was a top 150 recruit by a few sources. The question was what position would he play in college. Don't fault Fran at all here the kid didnt really have a known college position at the time of recruitment and was always a better developmental project in a system like Wisconsins than he was for Iowa. Some development kids just work better in particular systems. Many coaches thought Happ was going to be a stretch 4 type.
As things stand now, I am half surprised Nova didn't employ a Hack-a-Happ strategy to put him on the line when they were up 7 late.
At the time Happ was being recruited, I don't think Fran had much of a chance beating out Wisconsin on recruiting trail. Nunge in our incoming class strikes me as the type of guy we really need..little bit of shot blocking, rebounding, shooting. Pemsl/Cook/Kreiner are already a good starting point.
- Sep 13, 2002
- 99,438
- 208,910
- 113
This is correct.
Kid is from our area and I heard from some folks who would know that Iowa's style wasn't deemed a great fit by the Happs. The family also wasn't that enamored with Fran for whatever reason.
I personally love Happs game, but think Nunge and Garza will be a better fit for Iowa's style of play.
