Good for him. As you will see/read, he's very mature & has thought it through. I hope he kicks ass wherever he ends up.
The story from the Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Jeff Johnson
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Feb. 26, 2024 7:27 pm, Updated: Feb. 26, 2024 7:48 pm
West’s Jack McCaffery (22) shoots during a substate semifinal game between Iowa City West and Davenport North at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
IOWA CITY — Jack McCaffery was asked Friday night after his Iowa City West team had won its Class 4A substate semifinal game if he still wasn’t planning on playing college basketball for the University of Iowa.
“Oh, no, no, no,” he said.
The 6-foot-8 forward is widely considered the top player in the state in the junior class, a top 100 recruit nationally. He’s the youngest son of Hawkeyes men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery.
But he created a bit of a stir around these parts last summer when he told a recruiting reporter he didn’t want to stay in Iowa City for college and play for his dad. He didn’t want to follow his brothers Connor and Patrick to Iowa.
He was asked Friday night why he felt that way.
“It was really hard for my brothers, and it was really hard for my mom (Margaret),” Jack said. “The fans, they were especially tough on Connor, because a lot of people don’t understand how he affects a basketball game. So that was part of it. He’s a coach on the floor, the all-time wins leader. I don’t know ...
“I saw that, and I didn’t like that. I just wanted to try something different.”
So instead of dealing with negative keyboard warriors and such, he will — as Fleetwood Mac sang — go his own way.
“Blaze my own path, do something different than my brothers did,” Jack said. “I just wanted to see what it’s like. I really like the (recruiting) process that’s happening right now, the coaches that are recruiting me. I think it’s the right decision for me. I think doing something different will really help me.”
McCaffery goes into West’s substate final game Tuesday night against Bettendorf at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse averaging 15.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game. All those numbers lead the Trojans.
He has a long body that has added weight and strength the past year, has a nice fadeaway jump shot. He feels he’s definitely a better player who still has room to grow physically and in his game.
“I’m up to 218 (pounds), so the weight is a big difference,” McCaffery said. “Last season, teams were just way too physical (for me), and I couldn’t do anything. So I feel definitely like that’s the biggest thing. I feel like I’m jumping better, a lot better. I’ve really worked on my athleticism. I got a summer of lifting (weights) three times a week, and during the season I’ve been lifting two times a week.
“I feel that’s been a big help for my game. Then it’s really working on my ball-handling. I feel like I can create my shot a lot better than a year ago. So I just feel like all those things put together are going to help me be a lot better player.”
So what schools have piqued McCaffery’s interests the most to this point? He mentioned Butler, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech.
A decision will not be coming soon. He’ll let things play out this spring and summer, likely take some official visits in the fall.
“I really love Butler. I’ve visited it twice,” he said. “I was there last Saturday, and Hinkel (Fieldhouse) was rocking. I love Coach (Thad) Matta, he’s one of my favorite people. (Assistant) Coach (Alex) Barlow and Coach (Maurice) Joseph have really been recruiting me well. Coach (Jon) Diebler. So I feel like that’s a good place right now.
“Ohio State was on me hard until that whole thing (Coach Chris Holtmann was fired) just happened. I really like Wake Forest. Coach (Steve) Forbes was here, then his assistant came, so that was good. Those are probably the main three.”
Seventh-ranked West (18-3) shoots for its first state tournament trip since 2020 on Tuesday night when it plays Bettendorf (16-6). Bettendorf’s Caden Wilkins is one of the top seniors in the state.
Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
www.thegazette.com
The story from the Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Jack McCaffery’s future does not include Iowa
Iowa City West forward is considered the top junior in the state, but he does not want to play college ball for his dad at the University of Iowa
Jeff Johnson
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Feb. 26, 2024 7:27 pm, Updated: Feb. 26, 2024 7:48 pm
West’s Jack McCaffery (22) shoots during a substate semifinal game between Iowa City West and Davenport North at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
IOWA CITY — Jack McCaffery was asked Friday night after his Iowa City West team had won its Class 4A substate semifinal game if he still wasn’t planning on playing college basketball for the University of Iowa.
“Oh, no, no, no,” he said.
The 6-foot-8 forward is widely considered the top player in the state in the junior class, a top 100 recruit nationally. He’s the youngest son of Hawkeyes men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery.
But he created a bit of a stir around these parts last summer when he told a recruiting reporter he didn’t want to stay in Iowa City for college and play for his dad. He didn’t want to follow his brothers Connor and Patrick to Iowa.
He was asked Friday night why he felt that way.
“It was really hard for my brothers, and it was really hard for my mom (Margaret),” Jack said. “The fans, they were especially tough on Connor, because a lot of people don’t understand how he affects a basketball game. So that was part of it. He’s a coach on the floor, the all-time wins leader. I don’t know ...
“I saw that, and I didn’t like that. I just wanted to try something different.”
So instead of dealing with negative keyboard warriors and such, he will — as Fleetwood Mac sang — go his own way.
“Blaze my own path, do something different than my brothers did,” Jack said. “I just wanted to see what it’s like. I really like the (recruiting) process that’s happening right now, the coaches that are recruiting me. I think it’s the right decision for me. I think doing something different will really help me.”
McCaffery goes into West’s substate final game Tuesday night against Bettendorf at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse averaging 15.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game. All those numbers lead the Trojans.
He has a long body that has added weight and strength the past year, has a nice fadeaway jump shot. He feels he’s definitely a better player who still has room to grow physically and in his game.
“I’m up to 218 (pounds), so the weight is a big difference,” McCaffery said. “Last season, teams were just way too physical (for me), and I couldn’t do anything. So I feel definitely like that’s the biggest thing. I feel like I’m jumping better, a lot better. I’ve really worked on my athleticism. I got a summer of lifting (weights) three times a week, and during the season I’ve been lifting two times a week.
“I feel that’s been a big help for my game. Then it’s really working on my ball-handling. I feel like I can create my shot a lot better than a year ago. So I just feel like all those things put together are going to help me be a lot better player.”
So what schools have piqued McCaffery’s interests the most to this point? He mentioned Butler, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech.
A decision will not be coming soon. He’ll let things play out this spring and summer, likely take some official visits in the fall.
“I really love Butler. I’ve visited it twice,” he said. “I was there last Saturday, and Hinkel (Fieldhouse) was rocking. I love Coach (Thad) Matta, he’s one of my favorite people. (Assistant) Coach (Alex) Barlow and Coach (Maurice) Joseph have really been recruiting me well. Coach (Jon) Diebler. So I feel like that’s a good place right now.
“Ohio State was on me hard until that whole thing (Coach Chris Holtmann was fired) just happened. I really like Wake Forest. Coach (Steve) Forbes was here, then his assistant came, so that was good. Those are probably the main three.”
Seventh-ranked West (18-3) shoots for its first state tournament trip since 2020 on Tuesday night when it plays Bettendorf (16-6). Bettendorf’s Caden Wilkins is one of the top seniors in the state.
Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
Jack McCaffery’s future does not include Iowa
Iowa City West forward Jack McCaffery is arguably the top junior basketball player in the state. But the youngest son of University of Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery has his sights set on playing college ball elsewhere.
www.thegazette.com
