Iowa WBB Class of 2026 Recruiting Thread
- Thread starter BraydonRoberts5
- Start date
Yeah, this. I've no idea what that other poster is saying. I chalk it up to being jumpy/reactionary, or something of that ilk. Perplexing to say the least.
I'd just like her to play here. That's all. I'm obviously overstepping somehow by hoping she does. Not sure how that implies I'm telling her what to do but whatever.
I have a very very good feeling about this one!!
LOL...The team that girl was on lost by 50 points.
I don't think they were concerned about guarding her too much.
Long way to go in the process but it does seem like Iowa left a very good impression. Making the first cut is nice since Iowa was late to get in on her compared to many of the others.
The game was never in doubt but exhibitions are scheduled to help you get ready for the season. We'll be seeing players that are just as quick, 6 inches taller plus stronger, in games that mean something. This seems like a significant teaching moment at minimum.
If she doesn't attend Iowa I wish her the best. I'm really glad she isn't going to LSU and South Carolina.
Agree.
The poster that quoted me was just responding to my comment about a certain point guards height.
Clemson is kind of odd to me. Don't understand that one.
I read on TOS that we are solid with Lewis but not strong on Greenway. She may favor others on her list more strongly
That would be great news, if true. I like keeping top Iowa players in-state. From her video, I think she is a better penetrator and distributor. Her outside shot is pretty darn good. Plays in Iowa's largest class and competitionis good. Has performed very well for AIA.
Yeah, she would be a huge pick up. Take her in a heartbeat.
Been watching her play for a couple years both during the season and some summer league stuff.
IMO, she's good in all phases of the game, but not outstanding in any one phase.
Part of that might be she is surrounded by lots of talent at Johnston.
If I had to make a judgment on her weaknesses, I'd say defense, but high school stars seldom have to be great defensively.
Physically...she's very mature and she doesn't get pushed around.
Would be a great addition.
Lewis was also once considered the #1 player in the 2026 recruiting class a couple years ago.. the constant unofficial visits to Iowa are a good sign one would think.
I know we weren’t recruiting her, but Minnesota convinced a big in state recruit to stay home. The one who is competing with Greenway for the career scoring title.
www.startribune.com
Breaking news: Four-star basketball recruit Tori Oehrlein commits to Gophers
Read about Oerhlein's decision, only in the Minnesota Star Tribune.
www.startribune.com
I know we weren’t recruiting her, but Minnesota convinced a big in state recruit to stay home. The one who is competing with Greenway for the career scoring title.
Breaking news: Four-star basketball recruit Tori Oehrlein commits to Gophers
Read about Oerhlein's decision, only in the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Hmmmm... I guess an offer is a form of recruiting. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean by we weren’t recruiting her? Maybe you mean we weren't going after her hard? This is why people were speculating that we might have lost out on Greenway when this offer went out to Tori.
EDIT:
I just recalled we didn't make her top 6 list a month after the offer and maybe why it's looks like we weren't going after her hard.
Aug 15th, 2024
"Tori Oehrlin will choose from a list of schools that includes: Utah, Michigan, Minnesota, Florida, Virginia Tech and Maryland."
2026 four-star Tori Oehrlein shares thoughts on top-6 schools as she inches towards her commitment
Tori Oehrlin will choose from a list of schools that includes: Utah, Michigan, Minnesota, Florida, Virginia Tech and Maryland.
247sports.com
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I don't think any specific friendship unless it has increased since the visit. I think Iowa did a very good job with their visit, and I think they feel very comfortable with Iowa. If Iowa can continue to show a winning program this year, I think it really sets us up for more top recruits in the future. McKenna is likely the highest recruit in 2026 looking at us seriously. Things could change on the Greenway front but I think we need to move on from that.
I saw an article elsewhere that expected her to announce November 20th. Of course you never know.
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Just gonna hope she is a hawk, until not a hawk, and then I'll hope she becomes a hawk someday. It'll all work out.
*If Olsen has a great year, Hawkeyes are going to have options at PG.
*If Olsen has a great year, Hawkeyes are going to have options at PG.
At this point I'd be shocked if Greenway doesn't choose Kentucky.
I'm thinking the same at this point.
It sounded at 1st to be Duke (other than Iowa). When Skinner committed to Duke, it had to take sail out of that boat. From the tea leaves, Kentucky does sound like the next one up for her. I suspect that's why she is committing now, so no other shows up again to take it from her. Just my guess at this point other than Iowa.
Dated: 11/08/2024 (4 days ago)
'I loved it before I went, I loved it even more after.' 2026 four-star PG Maddyn Greenway talks Kentucky visit
'I loved it before I went, I loved it even more after.' 2026 four-star PG Maddyn Greenway talks Kentucky visit
2026 four-star point guard Maddyn Greenway visited Kentucky a few weeks back, and she talked about her experience with KSR.
One can still hope it's Iowa. I'd rather think she's going elsewhere and still chooses Iowa in the end than think she for sure is selecting Iowa and then picks elsewhere. Soft landings are better than hard ones.
I know I'm in the minority here, and definitely not a wbb recruiting expert. But I would prefer the Hawks get a commitment from Lewis. I think she has more upside. But either her or Greenway would be a sweet developmentI'm thinking the same at this point.
It sounded at 1st to be Duke (other than Iowa). When Skinner committed to Duke, it had to take sail out of that boat. From the tea leaves, Kentucky does sound like the next one up for her. I suspect that's why she is committing now, so no other shows up again to take it from her. Just my guess at this point other than Iowa.
Dated: 11/08/2024 (4 days ago)
'I loved it before I went, I loved it even more after.' 2026 four-star PG Maddyn Greenway talks Kentucky visit
'I loved it before I went, I loved it even more after.' 2026 four-star PG Maddyn Greenway talks Kentucky visit
2026 four-star point guard Maddyn Greenway visited Kentucky a few weeks back, and she talked about her experience with KSR.www.on3.com
One can still hope it's Iowa. I'd rather think she's going elsewhere and still chooses Iowa in the end than think she for sure is selecting Iowa and then picks elsewhere. Soft landings are better than hard ones.
Could you elaborate?
Greenway is one of the most prolific scorers in USA high school WBB history so I assume you mean defense.
Also, MG has shown IMO a very impressive Clark-esque floor leadership quality from a very early age. She just has that competitive drive….and a motor to match.
i realize alot of this is subjective but curious to hear about Lewis’ upside.
Perhaps that came across wrong..I would love to land either ( or both, can dream). I admittedly have limited knowledge on MG. Just what I read. But I have seen Lewis play a handful of times and I really like her size, athleticism and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. She is not the scorer MG appears to be, but she really makes it look easy.
However, there in lies my biggest concern. You mentioned drive,leadership, etc. When I watch Lewis it seems like she could do so much more. I could be way off base, but at times she seems like she is willing to defer to others rather than take over despite being clearly the best player on floor. Like I said, I would take either joyously
However, we are talking about 16 year olds..alot could change over the next 2-3 years. Both physically and mentally
Think her versatility on both ends.
1) Offense - She's an ankle-breaker with athleticism who can score.
2) Defense - She's a Kylie Feuerbach disruptor. Steals and defections. To me this is the biggest part I'm into. Disrupting opponents momentum is where games turn. If a team gets momentum, that's how they run away from you. The key is to disrupt and hamper momentum from building up in the first place.
3) Height - From post on here of people standing next to her, Greenway is ~5'5", 5'6" max. (this includes arm length to disrupt)
4) She's a captain on her team(s).
Overtime Select Captain:
Class 5A All-Tournament Team:
Jenica Lewis (Captain)
"Defense was the name of the game tonight, as well as Jenica Lewis' ability to carry the offense after Ava Zediker and Dowling made its second-half run."
Recap: Johnston girls basketball wins 5A state tournament final vs. Dowling Catholic
Undefeated Johnston and Dowling Catholic headline the Class 5A Iowa high school girls basketball state tournament championship. See live updates here.
www.desmoinesregister.com
The upside I'm talking about is on both sides of ball at the college level. I don't think I'm giving up that much more on offense to gain a disruptor on defense. Games are based on momentum. This is why you see so many runs by teams. I see an upside in breaking that momentum before it starts to give a better chance to win. I can see this as the main catalyst to defense wins championships. You want to bust up that momentum build so they never get into the flow/grove to make runs on you.
If I would have seen this before I wrote the above, I would have just posted this (need to click Show more link):
In other words,
If you are a Fran type, you will take Greenway.
If you are a Kirk type, you will take Lewis.
Just my 2 cents on on this. However, getting one or both of them is better than not getting either of them.
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This is somewhat true but certain intangible traits are evident from an early age. In my prior post, I compared Greenway favorably to Clark in this regard.
In the past I’ve read a number of Minnesota posters negatively describe Greenway as cocky, over-aggressive, too expressive/whiney, etc. — all the things you would hear opponents say about CC while at Dowling. That drive and competitiveness plus talent is the unique.
Either would be a great get. I would definitely place Jensen (and Bluder before her) as a “Fran type”. Push the pace transition basketball as often as possible.
I would take Jenica Lewis over Greenway, personally.
Not to mention she’s a very good soccer player like Clark and has been recruited by Iowa soccer. Hard to understand how she could pass up Iowa when our women’s bb and soccer are both really good and she’d still be within driving distance to home. Maybe she decided she’s not playing soccer in college anyway tho. Guess we’ll see what she decides…
With all the talk about Greenway and Lewis I would just add don’t forget about Natalie Kussow.
She's from WI. Teagan and Taylor may have some influence on this target.
Another damn paywall. However, I was able to grab this text before it assaults me.
Iowa women's basketball recruits lead 2024 AP all-state team
Mallegni and Stremlow landed on the first team with Neenah senior Allie Ziebell, Hartland Arrowhead sophomore Natalie Kussow and Pewaukee junior Amy Terrian, after a vote by a statewide panel of sports reporters."
Iowa recruits named to AP All-State girls basketball team
Stars from Verona and McFarland who are future college teammates shared a high school team.
They have played against each other.
Arrowhead [Kussow's team] beats Verona [Stremlow's team] 49-41 in a rough-and-tumble girls basketball sectional semifinal
Arrowhead beats Verona 49-41 in a rough-and-tumble girls basketball sectional semifinal
In a rough-and-tumble girls sectional semifinal, Arrowhead overtook Verona in the second half and hit its free throws to win. Check out these photos.
www.jsonline.com
Ran across this today on gopherhole. It's really meaningless, but nice to hear her name attached to us.
"Kussow- Heard Iowa the favorite but would put at less than 20-25% chance they get her"
"Kusso should be a top priority. However, I’m hearing Michigan."
Anyone seen this article behind a paywall? Seems the most recent info regarding her and Iowa.
Natalie Kussow (On3 article '26 guard Natalie Kussow talks Iowa, recruiting timeline by Kyle Huesmann dated 8/30/24)
Only visit found for her is from ~10/1/22. That's over two years ago. Maybe she'll come and watch Teagan and Taylor play at CHA and get hooked?
Does anyone have any info on a more recent visit from Kussow to Iowa?
If anyone cares, when MG announced her top 6 on instagram several Iowa players commented, including Addie Deal, Levin, Stremlow, and Guyton. I don’t know any of the players from the other schools she’s considering but there weren’t any names with a lot of likes that stuck out to me other than Addison Bjorn. Iowa has certainly made her a priority in this respect. It’s encouraging to see our players reaching out like this if nothing else as it speaks to the family culture that Lisa and now Jan have created. We may miss on MG, but we will continue to land some impressive recruits with this kind of culture.
