Moss not in the PTL, will enroll this fall

[TomKakert]

Isaiah Moss will not participate in the PTL this summer. He still has some academics to finish up from high school. Everyone involved that I have spoken to indicated that he will be fine, so no real concerns there. Just one or two classes. Part of the reason several schools didn't go harder after him was due to academic concerns. He's done a great job the last 1 1/2 in the classroom.

I know some will hit the panic button, but everything I have heard it Moss will be fine.

 

[CanadaHawk]

Moss not being in the PTL is a bummer from a fan perspective- not being able to get a live look at him playing. He'll miss bonding with new teammates and I suppose some will judge his abilities as less just because they won't see him this summer but will see others in his class. However, I'm glad that he's taking his classes seriously. Look forward to seeing him in the fall.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Worrisome but not yet critical. Academic qualification is infinitely more important than PTL participation. The kid could be Wilt Chamberlain but it would do us no good if he can't get eligible.

 

[thawk1]

not sure how much bonding goes on during the PTL. what her will miss are the summer workout session the coaches are allowed to conduct, the summer leagues in Chicago will get him plenty of playing time to keep in shape.

 

[Ronman]

Didn't Ingram go through the same thing? And, maybe it's just me, but didn't he seem to start the season behind the curve? Not saying that Moss will suffer dramatically from not playing with (and against) his future teammates, but it certainly doesn't seem to have a lot of upside.

 

[DanL53]

Didn't Ingram go through the same thing? And, maybe it's just me, but didn't he seem to start the season behind the curve? Not saying that Moss will suffer dramatically from not playing with (and against) his future teammates, but it certainly doesn't seem to have a lot of upside.

IMO. There certainly is no upside. But if the choice is a summer of PTL and being ineligible, or summer courses and eligibility? I know we'd agree on which way to go. The next question is how much downside is there to this? It will put Moss behind the others for a while, nothing he shouldn't be able to overcome.

Thanks Tom for letting us know!

 

[icparkerhawk]

IMO. There certainly is no upside. But if the choice is a summer of PTL and being ineligible, or summer courses and eligibility? I know we'd agree on which way to go. The next question is how much downside is there to this? It will put Moss behind the others for a while, nothing he shouldn't be able to overcome.

Thanks Tom for letting us know!

I agree and definitely think missing the summer workouts puts him a little behind. I think he has the talent to be fine, but it makes me wonder if this could lead to him being a redshirt candidate. I think most here expect Williams to be the leading candidate due to his late offer and the prospect of him filling PG duties a bit next year, but if Moss comes in out of shape or has any issues due to missing the summer, I wonder if he would take a year to home his skills and even the classes out a bit?

 

[hawk-i bob]

Academics get you into college and academics keep you in college. Step 1 is getting in. Disappointed that has not happened for Moss yet (playing in PTL is not as important has being accepted come fall)...my understanding is he got behind early in high school and has made great strides catching up in the last 2 years...just not quite there.

Iowa has a very good student services program .. was hoping Moss would have been able to take advantage of that this summer and take a class or 2 ... with that Tom have a question for you .... do you know if Iowa's student services dept can have contact with Moss now? Or do they have to stand aside until he gets on campus?

Hope everything works out for him in Chicago...

 

[thawk1]

Ingram played in a couple All Star games, that is why he was not here, his problem is he came in overweight and out of shape. some of you are being selfish and think only of yourselves vs what a kid feels what's best for HIM.

 

[unIowa]

I agree and definitely think missing the summer workouts puts him a little behind. I think he has the talent to be fine, but it makes me wonder if this could lead to him being a redshirt candidate. I think most here expect Williams to be the leading candidate due to his late offer and the prospect of him filling PG duties a bit next year, but if Moss comes in out of shape or has any issues due to missing the summer, I wonder if he would take a year to home his skills and even the classes out a bit?

Since Williams is the likely PG candidate after next season I think that puts him as far away from a redshirt as possible. Fran is going to want to get him game action early so he can see what it takes to be successful so he doesn't have to go through that transition when Mike/Sap are gone.

Hutton seems like the most likely RS candidate to me.

 

[EarlHawk]

...do you know if Iowa's student services dept can have contact with Moss now? Or do they have to stand aside until he gets on campus?...

Student Services staff will not have a role in his academic support until he is on campus, as far as tutoring, time management, structured study goes. However, there is no doubt that the Compliance staff who monitors initial eligibility of prospects will have relayed exactly what he needs to do for eligibility and admission to the university.

 

[unIowa]

Ingram played in a couple All Star games, that is why he was not here, his problem is he came in overweight and out of shape. some of you are being selfish and think only of yourselves vs what a kid feels what's best for HIM.

Out of shape and he was always going to be fighting an uphill battle as he is undersized for a 3 (which is where his skill set out him).

 

[hooper56]

I heard in April that it was extremely doubtful that Moss could graduate from high school on time, but Iowa was sticking with him. This is likely why he didn't have more "big" offers that some of you guys want. Apparently he has made great strides and should be able to get his work done this summer and still enter Iowa in the fall. If this happens than Mr. Moss deserves a lot of credit. I would not be surprised if he redshirted though just to make sure he gets on solid ground academically. Then again he is really talented so he may still play this next season.

 

[clickhere 01]

I heard in April that it was extremely doubtful that Moss could graduate from high school on time, but Iowa was sticking with him. This is likely why he didn't have more "big" offers that some of you guys want. Apparently he has made great strides and should be able to get his work done this summer and still enter Iowa in the fall. If this happens than Mr. Moss deserves a lot of credit. I would not be surprised if he redshirted though just to make sure he gets on solid ground academically. Then again he is really talented so he may still play this next season.

Since when do questionable grades keep "big" schools from pursuing talented recruits?

 

[DanL53]

Since when do questionable grades keep "big" schools from pursuing talented recruits?

All the time. But not every time. Depends on the recruit and the severity of the concern. Why don't you ask Tom Kakert to explain if you're having trouble understanding? "Part of the reason several schools didn't go harder after him was due to academic concerns."

 

[hooper56]

Since when do questionable grades keep "big" schools from pursuing talented recruits?

And it is a little more than that. Moss didn't graduate on time....that puts him ion a higher risk category. But clearly Iowa staff felt it was a risk worth taking.

 

[thawk1]

can he go to post graduate school like a couple FB players did? like Green who got out of HS in 2004 and then joined the team in 2005.

 

[CuttyDoesIt]

not sure how much bonding goes on during the PTL. what her will miss are the summer workout session the coaches are allowed to conduct, the summer leagues in Chicago will get him plenty of playing time to keep in shape.

If you dont think alot of bonding happens over the summer, i suggest you hang around downtown iowa city at night. the bonding might not happen in the PTL, but there is certainly a ton of bonding that happens over the summer.

 

[iowalaw]

I think the bigger concern with the kid would be that if he struggles mightily with high school, how is he going to survive the rigors of college and stay eligible?

 

[iowalawhawk]

Keep in mind that Fran has kept everyone academically eligible during his 5 years here. Either that's a tremendous run of luck, or he's recruiting guys who are smart enough and hard working enough with a good system in place to keep them in line.

Also keep in mind that we've had people who didn't qualify out of HS eventually show up and stay eligible, ie Doug Thomas. It can be done.

 

[hawk-i bob]

...he didn't struggle "mightily"....from what I understand he got behind early on in high school ... has made up a lot of ground..came up a little short. Student services will help him immensely as long as he makes the effort..which I see nothing that says he will not.

..my disappointment is he is not able to take advantage of the help he will get until August...

 

[TDJ7]

How do you not graduate from high school? 90% of it is just showing up.

 

[SSG T]

How do you not graduate from high school? 90% of it is just showing up.

Well, considering there are required credits that one has to take and if you don't meet all of the requirements, you don't graduate. You could have a 4.0 gpa but be a semester short on math requirements, you don't graduate. I have no idea what Moss' gpa or ACT/SAT scores are, but if he was short a credit, he'd have to take a class to graduate.

 

[icparkerhawk]

Well, considering there are required credits that one has to take and if you don't meet all of the requirements, you don't graduate. You could have a 4.0 gpa but be a semester short on math requirements, you don't graduate. I have no idea what Moss' gpa or ACT/SAT scores are, but if he was short a credit, he'd have to take a class to graduate.

This. And I believe he transferred at one point and it sounds like he got his academics in order roughly around the time he got to Simeon. Tons of possible reasons, but it's easy to picture the kid focusing on bball as a freshman and sophomore and getting behind. Then transferring and going from a focus of bball and friends to bball and school. Kids mature a lot in a couple years, especially if they get the right people around them and start focusing on their priorities (like playing D1 bball).

 

[thawk1]

kids concentrate on their sport thinking they will go pro out of HS so they let their academics suffer, in this case he might have figured a little late that academics were important and he got a late start.

better late than never.

 

[hooper56]

How do you not graduate from high school? 90% of it is just showing up.

I don't know Moss's individual situation but you have to pass core courses, etc to receive a scholarship and be eligible according to the ncaa. It is not just grades, they have to pass the right classes, etc.

 

[FBletterman]

Isaiah Moss will not participate in the PTL this summer. He still has some academics to finish up from high school. Everyone involved that I have spoken to indicated that he will be fine, so no real concerns there. Just one or two classes. Part of the reason several schools didn't go harder after him was due to academic concerns. He's done a great job the last 1 1/2 in the classroom.

I know some will hit the panic button, but everything I have heard it Moss will be fine.

o
I'm sure Tom will have an interview and article up in a few months with Moss. I'll reserve judgment until I here it from Moss himself .