I like Iowa’s 25 class, Really wish we could have landed Skinner. I still think a point guard in the portal may be a priority after this season given the lack of experience and depth at that position.
Iowa WBB 2025 Recruiting Thread
- Thread starter BraydonRoberts5
- Start date
Agree. I know it's the Iowa way to build with 4 year players, but having the portal makes those recruiting misses a bit more tolerable.
I'd assume Guyton gets on court at some point, so things at PG can be assessed a little better, but yeah, keeping portal roster spots should always be a thing. Get proven players when needed.
I also think this is why recruiting top players can pay dividends down the road. Get a relationship, so those players know you.
Iowa may have a chance to pick up a good player in the portal, and or keep Kylie F on the team one more year. I have a feeling Jan is not done with building next year’s team.
Very talented trio. All three have dealt with injuries which slowed them over the past year. and dropped them in the rankings.
Deal - Ankle
Hays - Foot
Houston - Knee
I think these three young ladies are a very good addition to the 2024 class.
I'd totally disagree on your Hannah statement, at least as a 4. Honestly I think Mallengi is good enough to start and may even be a better option then Hannah with a more ranging skill set. Hannah is a low post player (based solely on her current skill set) who's too small against the elite teams with bigger players. Thats why we've recruited Heiden and Hays. But yes we need some high end 3/4's in this next cycle...
Last edited:
That will depend a lot on if Guyton plays this season, and if they think KJ will contribute. At this point I 'd guess thats the spot you be thinking about recruiting over. Stremlow shows some promise, although we haven't played any really athletic teams yet. Obviously the same for Levin...
Teagan is listed at 6'1. That's 1 inch taller than Kate Martin but I won't say size is to her advantage. Stuelke is 6'2. By the way JuJu Watkins is 6'2.
Experience is so valuable to toughness and confidence. I remember Hannah’s. stage fright at the free throw line. Kate was nowhere near the player she became. Even CC struggled at times. The speed of the game takes time. This freshman class looks great but unseasoned. Hopefully by conference season.
Hannah has the skill set to be a 4 at Iowa, she just is not confident in her shot outside 8 feet right now. I saw her play a decent amount of times in high school, and she used to let it fly from 3. Right now her best skill on the perimeter is as a driver, but teams are going to play off her to take that away. So, she needs to shoot at least 2-3 times a game from 3 so they have to come out on her which opens up her drives. She doesn't even need to make many, just shoot without hesitation.
Tennessee picked up Deniya Prawl's commit today. They most likely move onto the list now at #2 spot and we may slide down 1 spot.
No. 11 PG Mia Pauldo
No. 14 W Deniya Prawl
No. 56 PG Mya Pauldo
However, if hawkbuck gives a good report on Journey Houston rankings, we could possibility have a case for #2 yet. I'd say we're still looking good with the 2025 class ranked anywhere from #2 to #4.
No. 11 PG Mia Pauldo
No. 14 W Deniya Prawl
No. 56 PG Mya Pauldo
However, if hawkbuck gives a good report on Journey Houston rankings, we could possibility have a case for #2 yet. I'd say we're still looking good with the 2025 class ranked anywhere from #2 to #4.
You may have seen this today. However, don't be discouraged. Lurking under the hood of this list is another great recruiting class for us.
2025 NCAA women's basketball recruiting: Early top-10 classes
1. LSU Tigers
No. 6 F Grace Knox
No. 12 PG Divine Bourrage
No. 13 G ZaKiyah Johnson
No. 30 G Isabella Hines
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
No. 20 W Nyla Brooks
No. 23 W Taliyah Henderson
No. 76 G Taisa Queiroz
3. Stanford Cardinal
No. 9 PG Hailee Swain
No. 31 F Alexandra Eschmeyer
No. 84 F Nora Ezike
W Carly Amborn (unranked)
4. UConn Huskies
No. 27 PG Kelis Fisher
No. 73 P Gandy Malou-Mamel
W Blanca Quiñonez (Ecuador)
5. Miami Hurricanes
No. 36 G Camille Williams
No. 54 G Danielle Osho
No. 79 F Natalie Wetzel
No. 93 G Meredith Tippner
Four-star W Emmanuella "Somo" Okolo (unranked)
6. Kansas State Wildcats
No. 10 G Jordan Speiser
No. 46 G Aniya Foy
Unranked PG Gina Garcia Safont (Spain)
7. Illinois Fighting Illini
No. 25 PG Destiny Jackson
No. 40 F Cearah Parchment
No. 61 F Manuella Alves-Fernandez
Unranked G Erica Finney (Australia)
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs
No. 38 G Jaylah Lampley
No. 39 F Madison Francis
No. 95 F Nataliyah Gray
9. Washington Huskies
No. 21 F Brynn McGaughy
No. 68 G Brynleigh Martin
No. 71 W Nina Cain
10. Alabama Crimson Tide
No. 51 F Lourdes Da Silva Costa
No. 55 PG Ace Austin
No. 94 G Tianna Chambers
No. 97 F Joy Egbuna
"Also considered: Michigan Wolverines, Iowa Hawkeyes, Creighton Bluejays"
LSU, UNC, Stanford lead the early top-10 recruiting class rankings
The early signing period for the class of 2025 opens on Nov. 13, with Kim Mulkey's LSU leading the way.www.espn.com
We didn't make the list above, but I think we should have. Believe we should be listed anywhere from #3 to #6.
#?. Iowa Hawkeyes (Using the Composite Score Rankings)
#13 Addie Deal
#46 Layla Hays
#48 Journey Houston (I'm awaiting a reply from @hawkbuck70 on what he thinks of Journey's major rankings drop)
Journey Houston was #19 when she committed to Iowa. Got injured and then went into a rankings tailspin for some unknown reason. If hawkbuck finds no reason for her to drop this much, then I think our ranking could even higher. Meaning we might have a case for #2 on this list above. Everyone of our 3 players would rank above the corresponding position of UNC recruits. No matter how you look at it, we have another top rated class.
I have documented Journey's ratings history here:
Iowa WBB 2025 Recruiting Thread
I already think Addie Deal will be one of our absolute favorite Hawks to wear an IA uniform. Talent, a team first attitude, and servant leadership will take her, everyone for that matter, very far in life,iowa.forums.rivals.com
Posted the composite scores on our three 2025 recruits here:
Recruiting Players: 8 Years of Rankings (2 Years Prior to Clark, The 4 Clark Years & 2 Years After Clark)
The purpose of this exercise is 3 fold: 1) Had a problem properly evaluating player rankings from one site to another. It was frustrating trying to get a good handle on some players. Ex: Teagan Mallegni was rated 29 on one site and not rated on another site of 150 players. Makes you scratch your...
This is 2 major recruiting classes in a row for the Hawks.
2024 - Iowa #13 Final Recruiting Class
Look at Kentucky. How did they get ahead of us? Georgia Tech is suspect as well. I'd say #11 is a better final rating for the class of 2024.
2024 women's college basketball recruiting rankings: Final top 25 classes
We break down the final top 25 recruiting classes in women's basketball this season.
The future is still looking up for us!
EDIT:
I thought I'd give you a taste of the best case scenario for the class of 2025 just to see the possibility of it and the links to their highest rankings.
#2. Iowa Hawkeyes (Using Highest Rankings by all 2025 Ranking Sites)
#2 Addie Deal https://247sports.com/playersport/addie-deal-at-mater-dei-325956/recruitrankhistory/?history=top247
#19 Journey Houston https://iowa.rivals.com/news/iowa-wbb-class-of-2025-top-targets
#21 Layla Hays https://iowa.forums.rivals.com/threads/iowa-womens-basketball-star-ranking.440731/post-12030353
That post was by Shikreto where he said he'd be shocked if Hays isn’t closer to #20 than #100.
Again, it isn't that far-fetched to give us a #2 rated 2025 class or close to it.
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.
Thanks for your reply and all your invaluable info you bring to this board.
I was hoping that there was only a 5 month recovery period that we'd have a better indication of how she is playing now. Seems like no summer ball happened for her for us to know yet. I did see one ranking site moved her from 90 back up to 79 recently. I was hoping it was an indication she was playing again somewhere. I've never seen someone take such a nose-dive in rankings after her commit to Iowa. Going from #19 when she committed up to #85 to #90 seems highly egregious for only a 5 month recovery process. I was thinking something else was going on here that we don't know about.
Any new updates on Maddyn Greenway in her commitment lean coming soon?
Yes to both! Just discovered this. End of September back at it 100%.
Why are you posting this in the '25 thread? She's in the '26 class.
Perhaps he's not telling us because he doesn't want to give us the news we already know. I guess I'm coming to this realization now unfortunately. Oh well, onto the next one.
It's most likely a case of greener pastures. It's just that our definition of greener pastures is not her definition of it, RIGHT NOW.
It's like @citizenHawk says, she's a Hawk, until she isn't. I'm pretty sure we won't burn that bridge because if Jan can keep our choo-choo train chuggin along full steam ahead, she might just come back to our definition of greener pastures.
Didn't know where to post this.
Jaliya Davis was an Iowa recruit as well. Pretty sure she is a no go as Iowa seemed to close the book on 2025 already.
There's a B1G projection to MICH ST in the list of big names left.
Also wanted to see how well the recruit ranking site JR All Star did at projecting where commits land.
We'll see how well they do on these 4 projections as a test.
Jaliya Davis was an Iowa recruit as well. Pretty sure she is a no go as Iowa seemed to close the book on 2025 already.
There's a B1G projection to MICH ST in the list of big names left.
Also wanted to see how well the recruit ranking site JR All Star did at projecting where commits land.
We'll see how well they do on these 4 projections as a test.
He’s told us like five times. We don’t need HawkBuck to show up once a week to remind us that she isn’t coming here.
It has been posted that Feuerbach will not return. Looks like Jan and her coaches will be targeting three for the 2026 class unless someone leaves. Definitely need a PG and PF. Doubt they'll take another post player. Probably another wing or PF.
Will be interesting to see.
I know. I was probably too vague but that was kind of the point of my post.
That's funny, but since everyone is on edge, as it pertains to Greenway, here is the latest. I am hearing, not directly, but still hearing, that the Iowa coaches don't expect her to choose Iowa. Also hearing that they look to be turning their efforts, full throttle, to getting a commitment from Lewis (Johnston/Attack). Intel indicates that they have made her priority #1. Could Greenway still opt for Iowa? Sure, anything is possible and she does have a deep connection to the school. But, from what I deduct from what I have gathered, Iowa doesn't appear to be in the top half of her top 6. Sorry, but the needle doesn't appear to have moved any closer to her choosing Iowa. Personally, I think they are both great prospects, no disrespect to either one. But, give me Lewis. Having seen both play, Greenway is more ball dominant and Lewis fits the scheme better IMO. Lewis to me is a better "combo guard" and can really shoot it and has great instincts on both ends. She doesn't have to score a lot to affect the game, but the ability is certainly there. I believe she is the better "all-around" player taking into quite a few variables. (Size included) That all being said, I don't feel (or actually have heard) that Lewis is ready to decide soon. It's quite possible that Greenway is further down the road towards a decision.
Hawkbuck, Thank you for your insight. I really appreciate your contributions to the recruiting threads.
Addie is in the books now!
One down two to go:
One down two to go:
3 for 3 in the books now!
Jensen Adds 3 on National Signing Day – University of Iowa Athletics
hawkeyesports.com
Jensen Adds 3 on National Signing Day – University of Iowa Athletics
Jensen Adds 3 on National Signing Day
hawkeyesports.com
Chad's latest interview with Addie Deal is finally out now (11/13/24).
Leistikow: Meet Addie Deal, prized Iowa women's basketball recruit who 'just wants to win'
Hot takes:
"In addition to signing four-star prospects Journey Houston of Davenport and Layla Hays of Alaska on Wednesday, Iowa is aiming high with the Class of 2026. For example, No. 6 overall recruit McKenna Woliczko, a 6-foot-2 wing from San Jose, Calif., hit it off with Deal when they visited Iowa in October. Woliczko has listed the Hawkeyes in her top 10. Deal is also tight with Kate Harpring of Atlanta, a point guard and the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2026 class. Iowa remains in the mix with 15th-ranked Johnston prospect Jenica Lewis."
“Oh my gosh, yeah. I tell all my high-level friends, ‘Hey, come to Iowa. Iowa’s definitely the move,’” Deal said. “I think a lot of people are getting interested. They’ve seen how good Iowa’s done on the high stage, with arguably a couple (highly-rated recruits). There’s definitely potential for us to have even more.”
Leistikow: Meet Addie Deal, prized Iowa women's basketball recruit who 'just wants to win'
Hot takes:
"In addition to signing four-star prospects Journey Houston of Davenport and Layla Hays of Alaska on Wednesday, Iowa is aiming high with the Class of 2026. For example, No. 6 overall recruit McKenna Woliczko, a 6-foot-2 wing from San Jose, Calif., hit it off with Deal when they visited Iowa in October. Woliczko has listed the Hawkeyes in her top 10. Deal is also tight with Kate Harpring of Atlanta, a point guard and the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2026 class. Iowa remains in the mix with 15th-ranked Johnston prospect Jenica Lewis."
“Oh my gosh, yeah. I tell all my high-level friends, ‘Hey, come to Iowa. Iowa’s definitely the move,’” Deal said. “I think a lot of people are getting interested. They’ve seen how good Iowa’s done on the high stage, with arguably a couple (highly-rated recruits). There’s definitely potential for us to have even more.”
Leistikow: Meet Addie Deal, prized Iowa women's basketball recruit who 'just wants to win'
Iowa women's basketball's first major national recruit since Caitlin Clark has immense talent on the court, but her relentless motor sets her apart.
www.hawkcentral.com
Thanks man. I'm of the realization now that it's unlikely. I was really excited about getting her to play here. For the life of me, I thought she was a guarantee commit all this time. Well, hope she decides to come back later on in her career.
