ADVERTISEMENT

Iowa WBB 2025 Recruiting Thread

I think 100% you don’t say no. Unless somethings going on behind closed doors like a silent commit from Greenway, but I doubt that’s happened.
 
I think Lisa would have a hard time saying no to a commitment from Skinner on the chance Greenway might sign the following year.
Again I don’t see Bluder saying no thanks to anyone under discussion, I’m just saying that if we do land Skinner (or another Top 25 PG like Destiny Jackson) then we shouldnt be shocked if all of a sudden Greenway isn’t so sure about Iowa. Same if Greenway commits sooner than later — that could result in Skinner looking elsewhere.

In any case, I’ll still be shocked if Skinner chooses Iowa. Has she had interest from UConn, LSU, SC, ND, Stanford? We might actually be her “best” offer, at least in terms of recent success.
 
Last edited:
The thing about Skinner is Iowa already has an heir apparent PG in Greenway for ‘26. I have a hard time seeing Greenway committing if we sign someone like Skinner (unless such a ‘25 kid ends up playing the 2).

Lot of assumption that Maddyn will select Iowa.

Lots of forgetting that Iowa started 2 true point guards this year.
 
Lot of assumption that Maddyn will select Iowa.

Lots of forgetting that Iowa started 2 true point guards this year.
I have never been under the assumption that Greenway will select Iowa. I’ve always played the devils advocate here, pointing out over and over again that kids change their mind all the time, nothings final til the inks signed. Yet multiple people on here who claim to know the family or to be well-connected in MN AAU say the deals done…so my point again is that if we are so lucky to get a Top 10 (!!!) PG on top of Guyton and Deal, we shouldn’t be shocked if things don’t work out with Greenway as so many predict. We shouldn’t be shocked regardless tbh…
 
Lot of assumption that Maddyn will select Iowa.

Lots of forgetting that Iowa started 2 true point guards this year.

Nice to see a local player doing well. I believe BYU & Creighton were her highest profile offers to date. She's visited multiple times but no Iowa offer yet that I'm aware of.
I watched some tape on Libby, and she looked pretty impressive. I'm sure Bluder has given her a close look, and I wondered if she might offer. If not, I was hoping see her go to Drake. But Va Tech and Creighton are nice offers.
 
I watched some tape on Libby, and she looked pretty impressive. I'm sure Bluder has given her a close look, and I wondered if she might offer. If not, I was hoping see her go to Drake. But Va Tech and Creighton are nice offers

Personally, I highly doubt she will get an offer. Libby is a 2025, if Iowa was really was interested they would have offered by now. The only way I see her getting an offer is if Iowa misses on the 25/26 recruits that the staff has spent a lot of time and energy recruiting. Which, I don’t think will be the case.
 
Personally, I highly doubt she will get an offer. Libby is a 2025, if Iowa was really was interested they would have offered by now. The only way I see her getting an offer is if Iowa misses on the 25/26 recruits that the staff has spent a lot of time and energy recruiting. Which, I don’t think will be the case.
Yeah VA Tech at this point is still basically Marquette. Big East schools outside UConn tend to recruit a level down from where Bluder is aiming. If a Fandel offer comes thru, I’d take that as a sign that the ‘25 tartgets are going cold.
 
Yeah VA Tech at this point is still basically Marquette. Big East schools outside UConn tend to recruit a level down from where Bluder is aiming. If a Fandel offer comes thru, I’d take that as a sign that the ‘25 tartgets are going cold.
VA Tech probably casting a wide net after Brooks departure and portal losses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: letsgosports
Deal didn't make any all tournament teams for Boo Williams. I believe this was her first game action since her injury...two of her teammates made 1st team. Agot Makeer is a 25 to keep an eye on. Was ranked near 100 prior to the latest update and is now top 10. Iowa State has been tracking her for a while.
 
Awfully quiet on Hays. Saw August/September time frame for a decisuon. Will probably be playing in a few summer tourneys and make some officials. Hope she remembers her Iowa visit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nile High and Torg
Indiana gets Shay Ciezki to replace Scalia and Karoline Striplin (TN) to replace Holmes. Not a bad haul. Nice pickups. Like us, still struggling to get over that hump to become a destination for elite recruits. That said, I’d rather have Olsen, Heiden and Deal on the way.
 
Indiana gets Shay Ciezki to replace Scalia and Karoline Striplin (TN) to replace Holmes. Not a bad haul. Nice pickups. Like us, still struggling to get over that hump to become a destination for elite recruits. That said, I’d rather have Olsen, Heiden and Deal on the way.
100%. Love this group.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Torg
True that, but with Olsen as a one year player it will never be those three together. Probably Guyton in '25-'26? With recruiting going well, it could end up being interesting to see how they get the best 5 on the court.

*I've been watching clips of the incoming class, and pretty excited to see which players among them (Heiden, Mallegni, Guyton, Stremlow, and Levin) shine when placed into the lineup with the team. I think they can all play. Add in Deal, Houston the potential of the others in '25 class, and things start looking pretty salty.
 
True that, but with Olsen as a one year player it will never be those three together. Probably Guyton in '25-'26? With recruiting going well, it could end up being interesting to see how they get the best 5 on the court.

*I've been watching clips of the incoming class, and pretty excited to see which players among them (Heiden, Mallegni, Guyton, Stremlow, and Levin) shine when placed into the lineup with the team. I think they can all play. Add in Deal, Houston the potential of the others in '25 class, and things start looking pretty salty.
I just mean I’d rather be in Iowa’s situation than Indiana’s, even if they are looking potentially more interesting next year than they were a week ago.
 
  • Like
Reactions: citizenHawk
True that, but with Olsen as a one year player it will never be those three together. Probably Guyton in '25-'26? With recruiting going well, it could end up being interesting to see how they get the best 5 on the court.

*I've been watching clips of the incoming class, and pretty excited to see which players among them (Heiden, Mallegni, Guyton, Stremlow, and Levin) shine when placed into the lineup with the team. I think they can all play. Add in Deal, Houston the potential of the others in '25 class, and things start looking pretty salty.
The way coach Bluder likes to fast break, I'm sure she would love to have two post players, two PF's, and then five or six guard types to substutute liberally. Keeping everyone stays fresh. Look at what SC had. They were deep and kept coming in waves. Hope some of the young guns can see plenty of playing time for one and all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: citizenHawk
I just mean I’d rather be in Iowa’s situation than Indiana’s, even if they are looking potentially more interesting next year than they were a week ago.
Yeah, I think so.
This whole next season is going to be a big transition in how the BT competition shakes out. Lots of roster changes everywhere. Even the travel schedule changes create new questions.

*Would be spectacular for Iowa if the incoming players prove up to the task quickly.

*I keep forgetting that Stuelke still has two years. 👍
 
Before Lucy committed, pre-season rankings did not include the Hawks in the top 25, which was a fair assessment. I've see a couple of people suggest that Iowa could wind up in the top ten, which I find fanciful. I do believe this team has a chance to gel toward the end of the year, finish 4th in the B1G, and make the NCAA tourney. Win one maybe two games there, and reach a ranking somewhere between 14 to 18. I think a lot of you tend know the program a bit more deeply than some of the pundits, so I'm curious. What are your low vs high predictions for this squad?
 
Before Lucy committed, pre-season rankings did not include the Hawks in the top 25, which was a fair assessment. I've see a couple of people suggest that Iowa could wind up in the top ten, which I find fanciful. I do believe this team has a chance to gel toward the end of the year, finish 4th in the B1G, and make the NCAA tourney. Win one maybe two games there, and reach a ranking somewhere between 14 to 18. I think a lot of you tend know the program a bit more deeply than some of the pundits, so I'm curious. What are your low vs high predictions for this squad?
I think #20-25 nationally is very doable with Lucy coming on board. If we get meaningful production from the 5 position and McCabe/Mallegni contribute, I'd say we have a shot to host the 1st weekend.
 
I've see a couple of people suggest that Iowa could wind up in the top ten, which I find fanciful.

I don’t

Hey maybe things do not work out….but to say it is fanciful for a team that has their talent and coaching to be in the mix is crazy talk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kurt Johnson
I don’t

Hey maybe things do not work out….but to say it is fanciful for a team that has their talent and coaching to be in the mix is crazy talk
I suppose that depends on what you mean by "in the mix". To me, a finish ranking in the teens is admirable, considering we lost CC, Kate, Gabby, and Molly. Even Bluder has opined that this would be a "rebuilding year". But a top ten finish, while possible, is to me an unreasonable expectation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: citizenHawk
I suppose that depends on what you mean by "in the mix". To me, a finish ranking in the teens is admirable, considering we lost CC, Kate, Gabby, and Molly. Even Bluder has opined that this would be a "rebuilding year". But a top ten finish, while possible, is to me an unreasonable expectation.
I agree that it’s unfair to go into the season with expectations like that. Let the team grow and improve organically. Olsen and Stuelke are already under a lot of pressure. No need to assume or demand much more than that they give their all and create a new culture.

Tbh the pre season vibes remind me of the ‘19-‘20 team, post-Gustafson and pre-Clark. Started out rough (lost to UNI I believe)! But went on to become a likely low 2 / high 3 seed in the year of no tourney. Undefeated at home but bounced in the B1G tourney to a team we previously beat.
 
. . . But went on to become a likely low 2 / high 3 seed in the year of no tourney. . . .
FWIW, In the last 2020 NCAA reveal issued on March 2, 2020, after Iowa closed the regular season with an OT loss to Rutgers, Iowa was a 4 seed. Iowa then got hammered in its only Big Ten tourney game, likely sending Iowa to a 5 seed (ranked #21/23 in final polls), with perhaps an outside chance at a 4 seed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: undersized_post
FWIW, In the last 2020 NCAA reveal issued on March 2, 2020, after Iowa closed the regular season with an OT loss to Rutgers, Iowa was a 4 seed. Iowa then got hammered in its only Big Ten tourney game, likely sending Iowa to a 5 seed (ranked #21/23 in final polls), with perhaps an outside chance at a 4 seed.
Oh interesting, thanks! I couldn’t recall where they stood so a few weeks ago I was googling around and I found a bracketology article from the time (cbs sports? Or maybe something even less impressive like the athletic — was def not NCAA or ESPN) that had us as a low 2 / high 3. It did seem high, 4/5 seems much more accurate (probably written before the BTT). However, I do think a 4 seed is a very realistic goal for next years team so it works for me / aligns with my theory!
 
Last edited:
I honestly don’t know how high the ceiling is for this coming year, Obviously I want them to be very good but I am really looking forward to see how the rookie class develops, I am not positive if it was Lisa but I remember someone on the staff saying don’t sleep on this freshmen class. With the addition of Lucy I think the ceiling goes up several notches but I still kinda look at this coming season as a season of growth for numerous players.
 
I look at it this way- get that freshman class really ready to help next year when we get five star Deal, four star Houston, and maybe another five star in brynn, skinner, or another
Who do we actually sit good with right now as the next commit?
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT