How good was Libby Fandel?

[cmhawks99]

Doesn’t look like we were ever in play? Not an issue and I didn’t even know of her but it’s seems we are starting to produce quite a few nationally ranked WBBers and some are going elsewhere.

I almost feel bad for ISU, if these girls don’t come to Iow ma they seemingly leave the state entirely

 

[blackett73]

Doesn’t look like we were ever in play? Not an issue and I didn’t even know of her but it’s seems we are starting to produce quite a few nationally ranked WBBers and some are going elsewhere.

I almost feel bad for ISU, if these girls don’t come to Iow they seemingly leave the state entirely

I don't know about not being in play because her and her parents were at almost every game last year. They always sat in our area at different spots. We sit near where the recruits sit..

 

[cmhawks99]

I don't know about not being in play because her and her parents were at almost every game last year. They always sat in our area at different spots. We sit near where the recruits sit..

Did we offer?

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

She VERY much wanted to be a Hawk.

 

[cmhawks99]

She VERY much wanted to be a Hawk.

I wondered….we apparently thought we already had better guards in the fold?

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

I wondered….we apparently thought we already had better guards in the fold?

I concur 100%!

I just did a AVG ratings on Fandel yesterday after another highly rated recruit named Jaliya Davis committed to Kansas yesterday.

Jaliya Davis was a recruit on our 2025 target list also. She was our last possibility to upgrade our already highly class that I put ranked about #4-#5. Since Kyle Huesmann stated we closed the books on the 2025 class before Jaliya Davis committed, it seems we weren't in the running to get her.

These two players (Davis and Fandel) are the best rated players in that class for Kansas so far. I have notes that we had <1% to land Jaliya Davis and that was before Fandel committed to Kansas on 7/29/24 . These are the only notes I have on these two players because I don't put a lot research into players without an offer (Fandel) or have shown little interest (Davis).

Fandel was rated #97 by ASGR. ASGR is the ratings site that ranked Layla Hays #21 at one time and now is at #24. Maybe this is how Lisa and Jan rated both of them? I'm sure they have their own internal ratings score and don't base it on these wildly different rankings sites compared below.

It doesn't seem like these 2 (Davis and Fandel) completed for the same position(s) based on height alone. So that leaves me to believe Fandel was competing with the Deal and Houston types that are somewhat higher rated than Fandel. NOTES: Journey Houston was rated #19 when she committed to the Hawkeyes. Got injured and her ratings took a huge hit, more than normal in my book. That's why Journey's ratings below look similar to Fandels now, at least in average rank. But back then, Journey was clearly a higher rated player. I also believe Journey seems to have grown to a height taller than Addie Deal by recent photos (yes, they can be deceiving but I tried to find straight on photos to compare). Houston and Fandel are both 5'11" on some rating sites.

That being said, it seems Lisa and Jan felt they could snag higher rated players with their 2 NATTY runs. In my estimation, they did exactly that. Think they were only targeting <#50 or maybe even <#40 rated players depending on how they viewed/scored a player and how they would fit into their system. I think this left Fandel on the outside looking in and no where to fit. If Fandel was 6'2 or 6'3", she'd probably have offer because these are types we have missed on. Just guessing on that part because they have targeted a lot taller wing types in 2026.

Rk

'25-'26 Kansas

Year

ASGR

PN

JRAS

ESPN

TSB

247S

BSBB

ON3

MISC

LOW

Avg Rank

1​

Jaliya Davis (6'2" SF)

2025​

15​

25​

18​

17​

34​

24​

24​

22​

15​

22.38​

2​

Libby Fandel (5'11" CG)

2025​

97​

51​

44​

45​

32​

32​

53.80​

Here's the players committed and signed with us for the 2025 class and their ratings the last I looked.

Rk

'25-'26 Iowa

Year

ASGR

PN

JRAS

ESPN

TSB

247S

BSBB

ON3

MISC

LOW

Avg Rank

1​

Addie Deal (6'0" CG)

2025​

17​

8​

22​

18​

5​

9​

25​

14​

2​

2​

13.33​

2​

Layla Hays (6'5" P)

2025​

24​

51​

49​

70​

62​

21​

21​

46.17​

3​

Journey Houston (6'1")

2025​

40​

31​

61​

85​

24​

79​

43​

19​

19​

47.75​

AVG

14.00​

35.75​

 

[SunzOutGunzOut]

I concur 100%!

I just did a AVG ratings on Fandel yesterday after another highly rated recruit named Jaliya Davis committed to Kansas yesterday.

Jaliya Davis was a recruit on our 2025 target list also. She was our last possibility to upgrade our already highly class that I put ranked about #4-#5. Since Kyle Huesmann stated we closed the books on the 2025 class before Jaliya Davis committed, it seems we weren't in the running to get her.

These two players (Davis and Fandel) are the best rated players in that class for Kansas so far. I have notes that we had <1% to land Jaliya Davis and that was before Fandel committed to Kansas on 7/29/24 . These are the only notes I have on these two players because I don't put a lot research into players without an offer (Fandel) or have shown little interest (Davis).

Fandel was rated #97 by ASGR. ASGR is the ratings site that ranked Layla Hays #21 at one time and now is at #24. Maybe this is how Lisa and Jan rated both of them? I'm sure they have their own internal ratings score and don't base it on these wildly different rankings sites compared below.

It doesn't seem like these 2 (Davis and Fandel) completed for the same position(s) based on height alone. So that leaves me to believe Fandel was competing with the Deal and Houston types that are somewhat higher rated than Fandel. NOTES: Journey Houston was rated #19 when she committed to the Hawkeyes. Got injured and her ratings took a huge hit, more than normal in my book. That's why Journey's ratings below look similar to Fandels now, at least in average rank. But back then, Journey was clearly a higher rated player. I also believe Journey seems to have grown to a height taller than Addie Deal by recent photos (yes, they can be deceiving but I tired to find straight on photos to compare). Houston and Fandel are both 5'11" on some rating sites.

That being said, it seems Lisa and Jan felt they could snag higher rated players with their 2 NATTY runs. In my estimation, they did exactly that. Think they were only targeting <#50 or maybe even <#40 rated players depending on how they viewed/scored a player and how they would fit into their system. I think this left Fandel on the outside looking in and no where to fit. If Fandel was 6'2 or 6'3", she'd probably have offer because these are types we have missed on. Just guessing on that part because they have targeted a lot taller wing types in 2026.

Rk

'25-'26 Kansas

Year

ASGR

PN

JRAS

ESPN

TSB

247S

BSBB

ON3

MISC

LOW

Avg Rank

1​

Jaliya Davis (6'2" SF)

2025​

15​

25​

18​

17​

34​

24​

24​

22​

15​

22.38​

2​

Libby Fandel (5'11" CG)

2025​

97​

51​

44​

45​

32​

32​

53.80​

Here's the players committed and signed with us for the 2025 class and their ratings the last I looked.

Rk

'25-'26 Iowa

Year

ASGR

PN

JRAS

ESPN

TSB

247S

BSBB

ON3

MISC

LOW

Avg Rank

1​

Addie Deal (6'0" CG)

2025​

17​

8​

22​

18​

5​

9​

25​

14​

2​

2​

13.33​

2​

Layla Hays (6'5" P)

2025​

24​

51​

49​

70​

62​

21​

21​

46.17​

3​

Journey Houston (6'1")

2025​

40​

31​

61​

85​

24​

79​

43​

19​

19​

47.75​

AVG

14.00​

35.75​

Davis is a interior 4. Libby and Levin are the same type of player IMO.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

I concur 100%!

I just did a AVG ratings on Fandel yesterday after another highly rated recruit named Jaliya Davis committed to Kansas yesterday.

Jaliya Davis was a recruit on our 2025 target list also. She was our last possibility to upgrade our already highly class that I put ranked about #4-#5. Since Kyle Huesmann stated we closed the books on the 2025 class before Jaliya Davis committed, it seems we weren't in the running to get her.

These two players (Davis and Fandel) are the best rated players in that class for Kansas so far. I have notes that we had <1% to land Jaliya Davis and that was before Fandel committed to Kansas on 7/29/24 . These are the only notes I have on these two players because I don't put a lot research into players without an offer (Fandel) or have shown little interest (Davis).

Fandel was rated #97 by ASGR. ASGR is the ratings site that ranked Layla Hays #21 at one time and now is at #24. Maybe this is how Lisa and Jan rated both of them? I'm sure they have their own internal ratings score and don't base it on these wildly different rankings sites compared below.

It doesn't seem like these 2 (Davis and Fandel) completed for the same position(s) based on height alone. So that leaves me to believe Fandel was competing with the Deal and Houston types that are somewhat higher rated than Fandel. NOTES: Journey Houston was rated #19 when she committed to the Hawkeyes. Got injured and her ratings took a huge hit, more than normal in my book. That's why Journey's ratings below look similar to Fandels now, at least in average rank. But back then, Journey was clearly a higher rated player. I also believe Journey seems to have grown to a height taller than Addie Deal by recent photos (yes, they can be deceiving but I tired to find straight on photos to compare). Houston and Fandel are both 5'11" on some rating sites.

That being said, it seems Lisa and Jan felt they could snag higher rated players with their 2 NATTY runs. In my estimation, they did exactly that. Think they were only targeting <#50 or maybe even <#40 rated players depending on how they viewed/scored a player and how they would fit into their system. I think this left Fandel on the outside looking in and no where to fit. If Fandel was 6'2 or 6'3", she'd probably have offer because these are types we have missed on. Just guessing on that part because they have targeted a lot taller wing types in 2026.

Rk

'25-'26 Kansas

Year

ASGR

PN

JRAS

ESPN

TSB

247S

BSBB

ON3

MISC

LOW

Avg Rank

1​

Jaliya Davis (6'2" SF)

2025​

15​

25​

18​

17​

34​

24​

24​

22​

15​

22.38​

2​

Libby Fandel (5'11" CG)

2025​

97​

51​

44​

45​

32​

32​

53.80​

Here's the players committed and signed with us for the 2025 class and their ratings the last I looked.

Rk

'25-'26 Iowa

Year

ASGR

PN

JRAS

ESPN

TSB

247S

BSBB

ON3

MISC

LOW

Avg Rank

1​

Addie Deal (6'0" CG)

2025​

17​

8​

22​

18​

5​

9​

25​

14​

2​

2​

13.33​

2​

Layla Hays (6'5" P)

2025​

24​

51​

49​

70​

62​

21​

21​

46.17​

3​

Journey Houston (6'1")

2025​

40​

31​

61​

85​

24​

79​

43​

19​

19​

47.75​

AVG

14.00​

35.75​

As has been said before, and I’m one (not that I matter) who totally agrees that Deal is going to be special.

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

As has been said before, and I’m one (not that I matter) who totally agrees that Deal is going to be special.

On board with you there. Also hope she is going be to as special as this rating indicated 5 months ago after her injury.

Addie Deal at Mater Dei Recruit Rank History

247sports.com

 

[ft254]

Journey Houston had a 5 star ranking rate at one point. I don't know if injury changed her situation or what.

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

Journey Houston had a 5 star ranking rate at one point. I don't know if injury changed her situation or what.

Here's the reply from hawkbuck about a week ago when asked about Journey's fall in ranking.

Journey fell in the rankings because she simply did not play this past summer while rehabbing from her knee injury. Rankings are subjective, in nature, and if not seen, the fall was expected. Journey is a kid who gives max effort, relies on deceptive quickness and shear determination to impact the game. Her offensive skills, as it pertains to shooting, overall, were and will continue to be a work in progress. She certainly could have used another summer on the club circuit with her Attack team that would have further developed her skills, but it just didn't happen for circumstances out of her control. Journey, because of this setback, may not (with hesitation) be the impact player we hoped she would be as a freshman. But, this kid has the motor, the drive, determination to be great that every coach would want in a player. She will rebound and run the floor at a high level. She will guard and she knows her strengths. Getting her to be a double digit scorer at the next level, if that is what she needs to be, will the question yet to be answered.