MBB Portal Targets (confirmed contacts)

[HawkHoops80]

Did you mean Cross? If so, I agree I do not think it is a done deal and Wisconsin will be hard to beat for Cross. In fact, I really expect him to commit to Wisconsin, but JMO.

I guess we will see how it plays out this weekend as I think this is a 2 horse race and it'll be over with quickly here after he takes his visits. Iowa has legitimately been recruiting him for 6 or 7 years at this point and he's from an AAU program that Courtney Eldridge has an amazing relationship with (he played there). All signs point towards Wisconsin needing to play catch-up in this recruitment, since as far as I can tell the first time the staff had even talked with him and his camp was when he went into the portal last week. Plus, he has a very clear starting role here at Iowa to offer, so the playing time thing should not be a factor. Iowa can sell him on plenty of minutes.

Obviously in 2024 it's tough to tell how much all of that matters and it's very easy to change a recruitment on a dime ($$), but Wisconsin has had their own struggles with NIL recently that I'd much rather be in a head to head with them over someone like USC.

Not a done deal, but I'd be pretty disappointed if Iowa didn't land him.

 

[HawkHoops80]

Except Fran says he’s looking for another forward, so I don’t see another guard in the equation. I wonder if the lack of NIL money is why he’s not filling the roster. Would make sense to pay fewer guys more money. You don’t really need 13 players.

I don’t get all the angst about guard, you only have so many minutes. We will have one true point and two combo guards who can both defend, plus Pryce Sandfort, who I think is a better fit at the 2 than the 3. Not that it matters much.

I’m pretty excited about Tadjo coming in and beefing up our interior defense and rebounding. Same with Cross. Freeman needs help inside and those guys fit the need.

They've also been reaching out towards late 2024 guards and some other shooting guards in the portal. I think the focus right now is filling out that starting 4 spot so that the lineup is set going into summer. And then I think the hope is to use the last scholarship on a bench guard.

 

[tumorboy]

They've also been reaching out towards late 2024 guards and some other shooting guards in the portal. I think the focus right now is filling out that starting 4 spot so that the lineup is set going into summer. And then I think the hope is to use the last scholarship on a bench guard.

The kid original from Cameroon would fit the bill. He was hurt most of last year correct?

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Fran was interviewed on the Hawkeye Fanatic Radio Show (on KCJJ) this morning.

I hope he lands a guard as well.

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“Comfortable with the roster they have now if they don’t find the right guy.”

In other words, if there isn’t a tall, lanky 6’9 unathletic “shooter” willing to commit, the roster is set. Awesome.

Once again, Iowa’s backcourt will be trash. No athleticism, no scorers, no defense, no toughness…just lanky shooters and Owen Frreeman. Awesome.

Iowa basketball set to be Pottery Barn soft yet again. For Fran, familiarity breeding comfort is so true. Saddle up, @curtisj157. I know you love your Swarm money going to all those Saltines. 😆

 

[HawkHoops80]

The kid original from Cameroon would fit the bill. He was hurt most of last year correct?

Yeah stress fracture on his foot. Doubt they will be able to land him though--he's in his final year of basketball and I'm guessing he won't want to commit to a role where he's coming off the bench.
It's going to be easier to convince a late 2024 guard than a portal guy is my guess.

 

[HawkHoops80]

“Comfortable with the roster they have now if they don’t find the right guy.”

Seriously go listen to the interview. It's very obvious it was a throw-away "coach speak" line.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Seriously go listen to the interview. It's very obvious it was a throw-away "coach speak" line.

Most coach quotes are toss-off lines that mean nothing. I agree.

I still believe Fran’s roster construction is a joke. Nothing changes. Nothing.

 

[jhawkinaz]

“Comfortable with the roster they have now if they don’t find the right guy.”

In other words, if there isn’t a tall, lanky 6’9 unathletic “shooter” willing to commit, the roster is set. Awesome.

Once again, Iowa’s backcourt will be trash. No athleticism, no scorers, no defense, no toughness…just lanky shooters and Owen Frreeman. Awesome.

Iowa basketball set to be Pottery Barn soft yet again. For Fran, familiarity breeding comfort is so true. Saddle up, @curtisj157. I know you love your Swarm money going to all those Saltines. 😆

Yep. There are certainly a number of things to be addressed, but it has to start with these two issues. Nothing else will matter if these don't change.

Unfortunately, there is nothing to suggest that Fran can/will do anything about it at this point. Another angry Winter coming up.

 

[LukaDuka]

Fran should know if he doesn't make the NCAA tourney this year, 2nd in a row, he'd be on the hot seat the following year. You cannot miss the tourney 3 years in a row and not be. He better be desperately seeking help with this roster.

His only out will be "Iowa doesn't have enough NIL to get players".

 

[LukaDuka]

Lamont Butler from San Diego St is in the portal. PG who is a defensive stopper. Hit the game winner to send SDSU to natty champ game in 2023. All time leading scorer in Riverside, CA HS over Reggie Miller. Doesn't score much, but no one in Brian Dutcher's offense does. The guy is a stud. But he's probably going to get a good pay day.

 

[tumorboy]

Fran should know if he doesn't make the NCAA tourney this year, 2nd in a row, he'd be on the hot seat the following year. You cannot miss the tourney 3 years in a row and not be. He better be desperately seeking help with this roster.

His only out will be "Iowa doesn't have enough NIL to get players".

He didn’t get an extension. Fran knows where he stands.

 

[eyesofhawk]

Lamont Butler from San Diego St is in the portal. PG who is a defensive stopper. Hit the game winner to send SDSU to natty champ game in 2023. All time leading scorer in Riverside, CA HS over Reggie Miller. Doesn't score much, but no one in Brian Dutcher's offense does. The guy is a stud. But he's probably going to get a good pay day.

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I got 5 on it

 

[eyesofhawk]

I guess we will see how it plays out this weekend as I think this is a 2 horse race and it'll be over with quickly here after he takes his visits. Iowa has legitimately been recruiting him for 6 or 7 years at this point and he's from an AAU program that Courtney Eldridge has an amazing relationship with (he played there). All signs point towards Wisconsin needing to play catch-up in this recruitment, since as far as I can tell the first time the staff had even talked with him and his camp was when he went into the portal last week. Plus, he has a very clear starting role here at Iowa to offer, so the playing time thing should not be a factor. Iowa can sell him on plenty of minutes.

Obviously in 2024 it's tough to tell how much all of that matters and it's very easy to change a recruitment on a dime ($$), but Wisconsin has had their own struggles with NIL recently that I'd much rather be in a head to head with them over someone like USC.

Not a done deal, but I'd be pretty disappointed if Iowa didn't land him.

Thanks for the great info.

Think Fran can also sell a larger offensive role to Cross

 

[HawksRule73]

“Comfortable with the roster they have now if they don’t find the right guy.”

In other words, if there isn’t a tall, lanky 6’9 unathletic “shooter” willing to commit, the roster is set. Awesome.

Once again, Iowa’s backcourt will be trash. No athleticism, no scorers, no defense, no toughness…just lanky shooters and Owen Frreeman. Awesome.

Iowa basketball set to be Pottery Barn soft yet again. For Fran, familiarity breeding comfort is so true. Saddle up, @curtisj157. I know you love your Swarm money going to all those Saltines. 😆

Fran is literally the only coach in America that manages to recruit nearly all white guys that also happen to be soft. I have no idea how he accomplishes that. If you're going to recruit an all-pasty lineup, at least make sure they're junk-yard dogs. I mean, Fvck Wisconsin, but at least their pasties will fight you.

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

I don’t get all the angst about guard, you only have so many minutes. We will have one true point and two combo guards who can both defend, plus Pryce Sandfort, who I think is a better fit at the 2 than the 3. Not that it matters much.

Scenario: One of the three 'ball-handling' G's goes down with season-ending injury early in the season, leaving only two? That would not be a good situation heading into conference play.

I still feel that Fran needs to use all 13 open slots, and one of the remaining two needs to be adding another G - - combo preferred, but a 'ball handler' at minimum.

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

Fran knows where he stands.

Where he should stand is that if Iowa misses THE tournament again next year, he gone.

 

[ObeseMuffins]

Fran is literally the only coach in America that manages to recruit nearly all white guys that also happen to be soft. I have no idea how he accomplishes that. If you're going to recruit an all-pasty lineup, at least make sure they're junk-yard dogs. I mean, Fvck Wisconsin, but at least their pasties will fight you.

I disagree. Dix, Connor, Rebraca, Garza, White. Heck, Payton averaged 6.6 rebs last year.

 

[Mohawkeye]

Scenario: One of the three 'ball-handling' G's goes down with season-ending injury early in the season, leaving only two? That would not be a good situation heading into conference play.

I still feel that Fran needs to use all 13 open slots, and one of the remaining two needs to be adding another G - - combo preferred, but a 'ball handler' at minimum.

If Brock goes down then you still have Dix and the new guy to be primary ball handlers. Maybe not ideal, but I don't see it as a big problem either. Both the Sandforts are also good ball handlers. I see Pryce as a Bobby Hansen type guard, not the quickest guy but plays safe with the ball and doesn't make a lot of mental mistakes.

I'm not opposed to adding another guard, would be nice to find an under the radar later bloomer to take a gamble on and provide depth. I like the idea of a preferred walk on guard with the promise of a scholarship if he pans out after a year. That way you're not "committed" to a 4 year scholarship. Didn't we do that this year? What's the status on that kid?

 

[LukaDuka]

If Brock goes down then you still have Dix and the new guy to be primary ball handlers. Maybe not ideal, but I don't see it as a big problem either. Both the Sandforts are also good ball handlers. I see Pryce as a Bobby Hansen type guard, not the quickest guy but plays safe with the ball and doesn't make a lot of mental mistakes.

I'm not opposed to adding another guard, would be nice to find an under the radar later bloomer to take a gamble on and provide depth. I like the idea of a preferred walk on guard with the promise of a scholarship if he pans out after a year. That way you're not "committed" to a 4 year scholarship. Didn't we do that this year? What's the status on that kid?

Isn't the PWO kid the son of the Indiana Pacers GM? Seems like a throwaway favor for a favor (Conner's new job). Not sure if he actually has any talent. Maybe Nimmers is an option, IDK.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I disagree. Dix, Connor, Rebraca, Garza, White. Heck, Payton averaged 6.6 rebs last year.

I don't think that's generally true, but I do think we lacked some mental toughness last year. No Jordan Bohannon, Connor, Garza, White or Baer to consistently lead. It's always good to have a junkyard dog on the team that gives you a kick in the butt.

 

[Mohawkeye]

Isn't the PWO kid the son of the Indiana Pacers GM? Seems like a throwaway favor for a favor (Conner's new job). Not sure if he actually has any talent. Maybe Nimmers is an option, IDK.

I think Nimmers would have stuck around last year if he was that guy. IDK about last year's PWO, I wouldn't be shocked if it was a trade for Connor getting a job.

 

[HawkHoops80]

Isn't the PWO kid the son of the Indiana Pacers GM? Seems like a throwaway favor for a favor (Conner's new job). Not sure if he actually has any talent. Maybe Nimmers is an option, IDK.

Buchanon is good enough to be a PWO on a Big Ten team. Pretty sure he was all-state in Indiana. Believe he had some opportunities to play at the low major level but is buddies with Koch.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Don’t forget about Tadjo. With the athleticism and motor he seems to have, I think he’ll be a great guy to provide energy off the bench.

I don't disagree with that. Koch is maybe even more highly regarded. For me, Tadjo is the most difficult player to know where he fits into the rotation. He is probably primarily a 4, but I don't know how rough he skills are. The tapes clearly show really good athleticism for a guy as big as he is, and he seems to be very aggressive, which Iowa has lacked inside. Cross provides a very nice option , who is also athletic, has a good motor, and maybe has more refined skills from having 4 years of experience. I like that Cross has only one year, because I see both Dembele and Tadjo has very high upside.

 

[HawkHoops80]

I don't disagree with that. Koch is maybe even more highly regarded. For me, Tadjo is the most difficult player to know where he fits into the rotation. He is probably primarily a 4, but I don't know how rough he skills are. The tapes clearly show really good athleticism for a guy as big as he is, and he seems to be very aggressive, which Iowa has lacked inside. Cross provides a very nice option , who is also athletic, has a good motor, and maybe has more refined skills from having 4 years of experience. I like that Cross has only one year, because I see both Dembele and Tadjo has very high upside.

Exactly. If Cross commits, the discussion becomes "how does both Koch and Tadjo get enough minutes to be happy" which is the best kind of "problem" to have with incoming freshmen. I'd much rather have that than going into the season hoping that 1 or both of them are ready to play 20+ minutes in the Big Ten a night.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

“Comfortable with the roster they have now if they don’t find the right guy.”

In other words, if there isn’t a tall, lanky 6’9 unathletic “shooter” willing to commit, the roster is set. Awesome.

Once again, Iowa’s backcourt will be trash. No athleticism, no scorers, no defense, no toughness…just lanky shooters and Owen Frreeman. Awesome.

Iowa basketball set to be Pottery Barn soft yet again. For Fran, familiarity breeding comfort is so true. Saddle up, @curtisj157. I know you love your Swarm money going to all those Saltines. 😆

I hope you are just being provocative. I sure don't see Dix, Harding and Thelwell as a trash backcourt. We are just a guard short IMO. Dembele, Cross, and Tadjo are certainly not unathletic, lanky shooters. With Patrick and Krikke gone, I actually have hope that Iowa will finally have some interior toughness and athleticism.

 

[jhawkinaz]

I disagree. Dix, Connor, Rebraca, Garza, White. Heck, Payton averaged 6.6 rebs last year.

White was not tough. I love the kid, and he was a great Hawkeye.......but throwing down hammer-time dunks and yelling and screaming when you get an and-1 is not toughness.

Toughness is not turning the ball over is crucial situations, toughness is being locked in on D so that you do not miss a critical rotation or help play, or that you WILL NOT give up baseline. Toughness is boxing out so fricking hard when you are up 1 point with 15 seconds to go that there is nooooooooo way you opponent is getting their hands on the ball without fouling.

White was fun to watch........but he, like many players in this system the last 10 years, was soft. Yeah I said it.

Now could he have been made tough if he was Coached for it. For sure.

 

[RocknRollface]

Exactly. If Cross commits, the discussion becomes "how does both Koch and Tadjo get enough minutes to be happy" which is the best kind of "problem" to have with incoming freshmen. I'd much rather have that than going into the season hoping that 1 or both of them are ready to play 20+ minutes in the Big Ten a night.

That seems like how you get players to transfer now.

Honestly, you could split most of the 4 minutes between Sandfort and Dembele and be fine.

And you'd still have 2 backups for foul trouble.

 

[chaneccooms]

White was not tough. I love the kid, and he was a great Hawkeye.......but throwing down hammer-time dunks and yelling and screaming when you get an and-1 is not toughness.

Toughness is not turning the ball over is crucial situations, toughness is being locked in on D so that you do not miss a critical rotation or help play, or that you WILL NOT give up baseline. Toughness is boxing out so fricking hard when you are up 1 point with 15 seconds to go that there is nooooooooo way you opponent is getting their hands on the ball without fouling.

White was fun to watch........but he, like many players in this system the last 10 years, was soft. Yeah I said it.

Now could he have been made tough if he was Coached for it. For sure.

So Aaron White wasn’t tough because he wasn’t coached in the way you wanted him to be coached? Really dumb premise.

 

[jhawkinaz]

So Aaron White wasn’t tough because he wasn’t coached in the way you wanted him to be coached? Really dumb premise.

Try to take this with as much softness as I can present it with, because I really dont like to fight on here: That was a very remedial take-away from what I was saying.

Aaron White wasn’t tough just because he wasn’t tough. The point about the coaching was that I believe a coach who thought toughness was important could’ve got that out of him.

 

[DewHawk]

I guess we will see how it plays out this weekend as I think this is a 2 horse race and it'll be over with quickly here after he takes his visits. Iowa has legitimately been recruiting him for 6 or 7 years at this point and he's from an AAU program that Courtney Eldridge has an amazing relationship with (he played there). All signs point towards Wisconsin needing to play catch-up in this recruitment, since as far as I can tell the first time the staff had even talked with him and his camp was when he went into the portal last week. Plus, he has a very clear starting role here at Iowa to offer, so the playing time thing should not be a factor. Iowa can sell him on plenty of minutes.

Obviously in 2024 it's tough to tell how much all of that matters and it's very easy to change a recruitment on a dime ($$), but Wisconsin has had their own struggles with NIL recently that I'd much rather be in a head to head with them over someone like USC.

Not a done deal, but I'd be pretty disappointed if Iowa didn't land him.

I hope I am absolutely wrong, but history does not bode well for head-to-head recruiting in the portal for Iowa. JMO

 

[chaneccooms]

Try to take this with as much softness as I can present it with, because I really dont like to fight on here: That was a very remedial take-away from what I was saying.

Aaron White wasn’t tough just because he wasn’t tough. The point about the coaching was that I believe a coach who thought toughness was important could’ve got that out of him.

White measured 6-9 and 220 at the combine. That’s absurdly thin for a Big Ten power forward. That’s just his body type.

Despite regularly going head-to-head with players outweighing him by 20-30 pounds, White averaged 9.3 rebounds per 40 minutes as a senior playing alongside guys who were 7-1 and 6-9. You don’t pull that off at 220 lbs without being tough,

Moreover, he was the leader on a team that went 12-6 in Big Ten play. There’s a reason he was First Team All Big Ten.

If you don’t like fights, my advice is to not make idiotic statements on a public forum.

 

[fivecardstud14]

Try to take this with as much softness as I can present it with, because I really dont like to fight on here: That was a very remedial take-away from what I was saying.

Aaron White wasn’t tough just because he wasn’t tough. The point about the coaching was that I believe a coach who thought toughness was important could’ve got that out of him.

You’re confusing physically weak with toughness. He was not strong, but also not scared. Unfortunately my last impression of White is seeing Kyle Wiltjer running circles around him.

 

[the notorious r.d.m.]

You’re confusing physically weak with toughness. He was not strong, but also not scared. Unfortunately my last impression of White is seeing Kyle Wiltjer running circles around him.

Forgot about Kyle Wiltjer. He ran circles around a lot of people though

 

[Mohawkeye]

Try to take this with as much softness as I can present it with, because I really dont like to fight on here: That was a very remedial take-away from what I was saying.

Aaron White wasn’t tough just because he wasn’t tough. The point about the coaching was that I believe a coach who thought toughness was important could’ve got that out of him.

White got an abnormally high number of offensive rebounds/put backs. To me, that takes a lot of physical toughness, concentration and intent. Now, if we’re talking toughness as in being a defensive enforcer, that’s an entirely different argument.

 

[curtisj157]

“Comfortable with the roster they have now if they don’t find the right guy.”

In other words, if there isn’t a tall, lanky 6’9 unathletic “shooter” willing to commit, the roster is set. Awesome.

Once again, Iowa’s backcourt will be trash. No athleticism, no scorers, no defense, no toughness…just lanky shooters and Owen Frreeman. Awesome.

Iowa basketball set to be Pottery Barn soft yet again. For Fran, familiarity breeding comfort is so true. Saddle up, @curtisj157. I know you love your Swarm money going to all those Saltines. 😆

Here’s our preferred portal:

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

I hope you are just being provocative. I sure don't see Dix, Harding and Thelwell as a trash backcourt. We are just a guard short IMO. Dembele, Cross, and Tadjo are certainly not unathletic, lanky shooters. With Patrick and Krikke gone, I actually have hope that Iowa will finally have some interior toughness and athleticism.

I mean no disrespect to anyone, but Josh Dix is currently the only proven P5 backcourt player on the roster. Harding has shown flashes and can make things happen, but he’s not a proven commodity by any stretch of the imagination. Who knows what this transfer will bring to the table.

Sorry, not sorry, but the current backcourt is pretty weak. If Tony Perkins had stayed on, I might have a more positive appraisal.

As things currently stand, though, it’s not looking good.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I mean no disrespect to anyone, but Josh Dix is currently the only proven P5 backcourt player on the roster. Harding has shown flashes and can make things happen, but he’s not a proven commodity by any stretch of the imagination. Who knows what this transfer will bring to the table.

Sorry, not sorry, but the current backcourt is pretty weak. If Tony Perkins had stayed on, I might have a more positive appraisal.

As things currently stand, though, it’s not looking good.

I think Harding has shown a lot more than flashes. His stats were impressive for a freshman and he played substantial minutes. The big question to me remains whether he can continue to hit the 3 point shot consistently, and therefore what’s his ceiling, but I don’t think there’s any doubt that he’s a Big Ten player.

 

[the notorious r.d.m.]

I mean no disrespect to anyone, but Josh Dix is currently the only proven P5 backcourt player on the roster. Harding has shown flashes and can make things happen, but he’s not a proven commodity by any stretch of the imagination. Who knows what this transfer will bring to the table.

Sorry, not sorry, but the current backcourt is pretty weak. If Tony Perkins had stayed on, I might have a more positive appraisal.

As things currently stand, though, it’s not looking good.

Brock will definitely get there. You say Dix is the only proven backcourt player, but he proved it this year in his sophomore season. Brock proved he was a better freshman than Josh Dix was last season. He may not improve this season but I doubt it. He's going to flourish with more minutes.

 

[Franisdaman]

Mulvey? Braun?

Mulvey was a miss but I blame my wife Margaret on that one; she liked his personality.

 

[Franisdaman]

Isn't the PWO kid the son of the Indiana Pacers GM? Seems like a throwaway favor for a favor (Conner's new job).

IDK about last year's PWO, I wouldn't be shocked if it was a trade for Connor getting a job.

Trey Buchanan—6’1, 175, combo guard, Westfield, IN (Westfield HS). On March 18, 2024, Trey announced that he was joining the Iowa program as a preferred walk-on. Trey is the son of Indiana Pacers GM Chad Buchanan.