Name to keep an eye on

[hawkeye_fan321]

Per Twitter, Fran talked to this 2016 recruit today.
https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/maple/153701

Two options: Fran is just keeping an option open in case of a transfer, or he knows that there will be someonw transferring.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

It shows the kid signed to UNLV?

Looking at twitter apparently a lot of schools are after this kid. Louisville, Bama, and Iowa.

Says he's a combo guard?

 

[ThriceHawk]

It shows the kid signed to UNLV?

He decommitted.

 

[TritonHawkeye]

http://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/3/17/11254560/former-unlv-recruit-opens-up-recruitment

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Here is a video of him:

http://www.mwcconnection.com/2015/9/25/9396503/unlv-recruiting-christian-vital

 

[StormHawk42]

2016. Wonder if Fran knows something we don't about a guy or two not coming back.

 

[crHawkeye92]

A guard that can consistently shoot the three? YES PLEASE

 

[wbrhawkeye]

I feel we already have that in Jok. I'd rather see us pursue a quick penetrating guard that can dish and hit floaters

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I feel we already have that in Jok. I'd rather see us pursue a quick penetrating guard that can dish and hit floaters

Agreed 100% We need a PG that can break down the defense and open up the other shooters. How come Mikey & AC shoot the floater in the lane? They either pulled up at the elbow or drove to the basket? If you have that in the lane floater as a PG, defenses collapse on you.

 

[crHawkeye92]

I feel we already have that in Jok. I'd rather see us pursue a quick penetrating guard that can dish and hit floaters

True. It's always good to have more though and Jok can play the 3 just like he did this year.

 

[relishingwinning18]

He only averaged 9 points a game? And he's a high three star?

 

[spbc7]

Pitino contacted him today after their signed SG was released from his NLI

 

[Myvue]

Per Twitter, Fran talked to this 2016 recruit today.
https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/maple/153701

Two options: Fran is just keeping an option open in case of a transfer, or he knows that there will be someonw transferring.

Isn't it possible to red shirt a sophomore and not have to count them as a scholarship player?

 

[gohawks7470]

Pitino contacted him today after their signed SG was released from his NLI

For his sake hopefully he can still take an official visit to Louisville

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

Fran's gonna have to line up some hookers to compete.

 

[jasonrann]

Fran's gonna have to line up some hookers to compete.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

I don't understand Fran's strategy. We sit three 2 guards or combo guards all season despite dismal play from our back court. One can only conclude Fran does not think they can play. OK for 1 or 2, but all 3 are incapable of contributing? If that is the case, then he did not evaluate these guys properly and / or grossly over-estimated what he would get from guys who haven't shown it the prior 3 years.

My point here is why basically fill up those 3 spots with non-contributing players and have 0 spots for a graduate transfer, decommit, juco, etc. Now it's back to this wait and see game with no open scholarships. If someone is thinking about leaving, they aren't going to say anything (likely) until they find another school, which could be May / June. By then, the ship will have sailed for these other guys.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

I don't understand Fran's strategy. We sit three 2 guards or combo guards all season despite dismal play from our back court. One can only conclude Fran does not think they can play. OK for 1 or 2, but all 3 are incapable of contributing? If that is the case, then he did not evaluate these guys properly and / or grossly over-estimated what he would get from guys who haven't shown it the prior 3 years.

My point here is why basically fill up those 3 spots with non-contributing players and have 0 spots for a graduate transfer, decommit, juco, etc. Now it's back to this wait and see game with no open scholarships. If someone is thinking about leaving, they aren't going to say anything (likely) until they find another school, which could be May / June. By then, the ship will have sailed for these other guys.

It sucks because Iowa's classes didn't line up very well. If Fran had a bunch of scholly's in Jok's class we may have had Morgan or E.C. Matthews at the shooting guard position. Instead Fran got caught reaching for two guards in last year's Freshman class.

 

[RocknRollface]

I don't understand Fran's strategy. We sit three 2 guards or combo guards all season despite dismal play from our back court. One can only conclude Fran does not think they can play. OK for 1 or 2, but all 3 are incapable of contributing? If that is the case, then he did not evaluate these guys properly and / or grossly over-estimated what he would get from guys who haven't shown it the prior 3 years.

My point here is why basically fill up those 3 spots with non-contributing players and have 0 spots for a graduate transfer, decommit, juco, etc. Now it's back to this wait and see game with no open scholarships. If someone is thinking about leaving, they aren't going to say anything (likely) until they find another school, which could be May / June. By then, the ship will have sailed for these other guys.

Most of them will contribute , the ones who don't will transfer.

The fact that freshman weren't ready to take minutes away from seniors isn't strange, it's normal.

I just don't think you get how allot of this works.

Remember Jok as a freshman? Marble as a freshman? Uthoff as a soph?

 

[luvmyhawks]

Most of them will contribute , the ones who don't will transfer.

The fact that freshman weren't ready to take minutes away from seniors isn't strange, it's normal.

I just don't think you get how allot of this works.

Remember Jok as a freshman? Marble as a freshman? Uthoff as a soph?

This. Holy crap can we give some of these guys a chance please?

 

[DavenportHawk8]

This. Holy crap can we give some of these guys a chance please?

I remember saying when marble was a freshman, "we are screwed with this guy, he will be the worst player in an Iowa uniform." Boy was I wrong, they developed him nicely and he was a good player. Whitey, Olaseni, and even May all improved under McCaffery.

I think give some of the guys a chance, I think most Iowa fans are going to be most impressed with Moss/Hutton next year. Two athletic wings who apparently have been lifting and shooting constantly. So I think they will add another dimension to this team that will help moving forward.

I seriously think Fran red-shirted them because there wasn't enough minutes to go around and why waste a year if your not going to play.

 

[luvmyhawks]

I remember saying when marble was a freshman, "we are screwed with this guy, he will be the worst player in an Iowa uniform." Boy was I wrong, they developed him nicely and he was a good player. Whitey, Olaseni, and even May all improved under McCaffery.

I think give some of the guys a chance, I think most Iowa fans are going to be most impressed with Moss/Hutton next year. Two athletic wings who apparently have been lifting and shooting constantly. So I think they will add another dimension to this team that will help moving forward.

I seriously think Fran red-shirted them because there wasn't enough minutes to go around and why waste a year if your not going to play.

On top of that, Williams showed great potential. Wagner is going to be a beast. Uhl hopefully will come out of his sophomore slump, which I think he will. Fran has his most highly sought after recruit about to walk onto campus. Why aer we not giving this group a chance? It seems ridiculous to me.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

On top of that, Williams showed great potential. Wagner is going to be a beast. Uhl hopefully will come out of his sophomore slump, which I think he will. Fran has his most highly sought after recruit about to walk onto campus. Why aer we not giving this group a chance? It seems ridiculous to me.

I agree I think this group will be good. I am not writing them into the Sweet 16 next year, but they will be competitive and fun to watch. I think they will bring back an exciting brand of basketball and they will get up and down the floor. I agree on Cook, he is a top 50 recruit by ESPN and he comes from STL. I am sorry but I think if Fran can continue to get recruits of Chi-town, STL and other metro areas will help Iowa moving forward.

I mean cook's numbers aren't great, but you have remember he was on a team with a top 10 recruit who is going to Duke. That guy took on average 20+ shots a game. Cook was highly effective with his touches when he got them. I think once he is on a "team" and runs a team offense he will be very good.

 

[Mohawkeye]

Fran does a very good job of managing his roster, like the Wharton MBA he is. He always has a plan and a back up. I suspect this guy is a backup plan depending on who and how many leave.

 

[2bagger22]

Fran does a very good job of managing his roster, like the Wharton MBA he is. He always has a plan and a back up. I suspect this guy is a backup plan depending on who and how many leave.

He's a Wharton graduate but did not receive an MBA from Penn. He earned his master's degree from Lehigh in education.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

2016. Wonder if Fran knows something we don't about a guy or two not coming back.

Where on earth would he get that information if not from HR??

 

[HaWk3Y3s]

Meh. I'd rather have a true point guard.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Most of them will contribute , the ones who don't will transfer.

The fact that freshman weren't ready to take minutes away from seniors isn't strange, it's normal.

I just don't think you get how allot of this works.

Remember Jok as a freshman? Marble as a freshman? Uthoff as a soph?

Derek Pardon, OG Anunoboy, Glynn Watson Jr, Khalil Iverson, Thomas Bryant, Ethan Happ, and about a dozen other guys contributed as freshman. Tell me what I don't understand. Is it that other teams get players and we get projects? You like calling people out, but don't step up with any content. Let's hear your compelling reasons why freshman can contribute at other places, but not at Iowa? Has nothing to do with talent, right?

 

[Clifford C. Clavin]

Isn't it possible to red shirt a sophomore and not have to count them as a scholarship player?

A redshirting player still is on scholarship and counts. Someone would have to leave for there to be a scholarship for someone or for Baer to get one.

 

[DewHawk]

also the young man from Waukee at Nebraska played well and started all year

 

[luvmyhawks]

Derek Pardon, OG Anunoboy, Glynn Watson Jr, Khalil Iverson, Thomas Bryant, Ethan Happ, and about a dozen other guys contributed as freshman. Tell me what I don't understand. Is it that other teams get players and we get projects? You like calling people out, but don't step up with any content. Let's hear your compelling reasons why freshman can contribute at other places, but not at Iowa? Has nothing to do with talent, right?

Ahmad Wagner, a freshman did contribute here. Williams, another freshman, did contribute here. What is your point?

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Yup I agree, these other teams needed their freshman to step in and play a significant role this year. Iowa returned 7 players off of their team from last year, All of who had experience. So why would Fran put these Freshman ahead of the returning players. I am sure they will get their turns and provide significant contributions to the team. But Fran did not need them this year to be MAJOR factors, because we returned so many players this year.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Ahmad Wagner, a freshman did contribute here. Williams, another freshman, did contribute here. What is your point?

What is my point? Clearly you were not good at connecting the dots as a child. Guards are supposed to score, especially the 2 guard, thus term "shooting guard". We started two guards with very limited offensive abilities. Fran has seen these guys for 3 years, so no surprises. Most on this board have noted that we have needed an upgrade at one or both of the guard spots for 2 years. Fran has a big class and we get 3 guards, but none can contribute i.e. help at our greatest position of need. Williams played too little too late. Wagner contributed minutes, but his offensive game is a work in progress.

So to connect the dots, when you play 2 on 5 offensively with your starting 5 and you have no other guard combination than Gesell and Clemmons, you are going to make it easy for teams to smother Jok and Uthoff. These two could have rotated at the 1, but playing both was a big liability all season. Fran needed to get something from one of the 3 guards he recruited. So we get no help this season and none of these guys got enough PT to not basically be freshman again next season. Meanwhile, other teams who played guys early, got better results later in the season that will benefit them next season. I know Jones got hurt and no doubt he would have helped, but he isn't a guard and that is where we needed the most help.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

On top of that, Williams showed great potential. Wagner is going to be a beast. Uhl hopefully will come out of his sophomore slump, which I think he will. Fran has his most highly sought after recruit about to walk onto campus. Why aer we not giving this group a chance? It seems ridiculous to me.

You are not grasping my point. Where I have said these guys shouldn't get a chance? I have said we needed to get something from 1 of the 3 guards Fran recruited and did not red shirt. If they can't play, then red shirt them if you think they can add value to the program. If not and you don't play them at a spot we have a glaring need for help at, then sorry, I question his strategy. You put one Bryce Cartwright or even Brody Boyd caliber guard on this team and we become much more dynamic i.e. driving, scoring, etc.

 

[Ronman]

Derek Pardon, OG Anunoboy, Glynn Watson Jr, Khalil Iverson, Thomas Bryant, Ethan Happ, and about a dozen other guys contributed as freshman. Tell me what I don't understand. Is it that other teams get players and we get projects? You like calling people out, but don't step up with any content. Let's hear your compelling reasons why freshman can contribute at other places, but not at Iowa? Has nothing to do with talent, right?

Who says they don't? Marble and White both played a lot of minutes and contributed significantly as freshmen. Do you also discount the contributions all of our graduating seniors made as freshmen? Short memory.

 

[RocknRollface]

Derek Pardon, OG Anunoboy, Glynn Watson Jr, Khalil Iverson, Thomas Bryant, Ethan Happ, and about a dozen other guys contributed as freshman. Tell me what I don't understand. Is it that other teams get players and we get projects? You like calling people out, but don't step up with any content. Let's hear your compelling reasons why freshman can contribute at other places, but not at Iowa? Has nothing to do with talent, right?

There is much you don't or choose not to understand.

What did most of those players have in common? Allot of playing time available.

How much playing time did Ethan Happ get the year before, you know, when he redshirted because Wisky was loaded with upperclassmen?

How many players would you have liked to see Iowa play this year? They played 9, 3 of whom were freshman.

I gave you blatantly obvious content. Examples of Iowa players in recent years who were not ready as freshman yet turned out to be all conference players.

The fact that your argument revolves around an untruth, that freshman didn't contribute at Iowa, when they obviously did, again proves you don't understand how things work.

You don't even understand what your saying.

 

[RocknRollface]

What is my point? Clearly you were not good at connecting the dots as a child. Guards are supposed to score, especially the 2 guard, thus term "shooting guard". We started two guards with very limited offensive abilities. Fran has seen these guys for 3 years, so no surprises. Most on this board have noted that we have needed an upgrade at one or both of the guard spots for 2 years. Fran has a big class and we get 3 guards, but none can contribute i.e. help at our greatest position of need. Williams played too little too late. Wagner contributed minutes, but his offensive game is a work in progress.

So to connect the dots, when you play 2 on 5 offensively with your starting 5 and you have no other guard combination than Gesell and Clemmons, you are going to make it easy for teams to smother Jok and Uthoff. These two could have rotated at the 1, but playing both was a big liability all season. Fran needed to get something from one of the 3 guards he recruited. So we get no help this season and none of these guys got enough PT to not basically be freshman again next season. Meanwhile, other teams who played guys early, got better results later in the season that will benefit them next season. I know Jones got hurt and no doubt he would have helped, but he isn't a guard and that is where we needed the most help.

Case in point.

None of the freshman you brought up were playing over returning upperclassmen.

The fact that you think four year starters are going to lose PT to any freshman again shows a lack of awareness of the subject. That's just not how it works .

Iowa rode these guys to a #3 ranking with one month left in the season.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Case in point.

None of the freshman you brought up were playing over returning upperclassmen.

The fact that you think four year starters are going to lose PT to any freshman again shows a lack of awareness of the subject. That's just not how it works .

Iowa rode these guys to a #3 ranking with one month left in the season.

And how did the season end? Does anyone care about a ranking a month ago? I would rather have a chance to still be playing past round 1 of the tournament. We can't past 7 minutes in the first half of a second round game. Totally makes sense to not recruit anyone to help out at the 1 or 2 spots this season and to sit 3 guards and waste a year of eligibility. I get it. This is the recipe for mediocrity that you seem to embrace. Meanwhile, Penn State and Northwestern have top 25 recruiting classes, but I know, Fran has a 10 year plan that involves freshman in high school....so be patient.

 

[luvmyhawks]

You are not grasping my point. Where I have said these guys shouldn't get a chance? I have said we needed to get something from 1 of the 3 guards Fran recruited and did not red shirt. If they can't play, then red shirt them if you think they can add value to the program. If not and you don't play them at a spot we have a glaring need for help at, then sorry, I question his strategy. You put one Bryce Cartwright or even Brody Boyd caliber guard on this team and we become much more dynamic i.e. driving, scoring, etc.

I get what you are saying, and it isn't much. You said Iowa doesn't have any freshman contributing and were proven wrong rather easily that Fran has done so over the years and currently is. Also, if no need to, why?

You grasping for something that isn't there.

 

[HawkLogic]

I think the point is a lot of us think Fran blew the season with his big minutes to his 3 non-scoring seniors. There very well was talent that could have played and ended up improved by end of season. CW, Wagner stick out as two guys that could have played more. Who knows about Moss---probably would have played at most schools. The two guys that Fran picked to be our guard backups, Ellingson and Flemming contributed zero.

This botched season is large on Fran for not recruiting/developing any guard talent. Uthoff and Jok stepped up big time and their outstanding seasons were dragged down by lack of legitimate 3rd scorer/no ability for dribble drive/3pt/FT shooting and from guard positions and fielding a defense that got torched man to man in dribble drive.

Fran has a lot of qualities. His deficiencies have shown through in 2014 and 2016 with inability to field a team that doesn't collapse when the big games of season are played. I think Fran needs to look in mirror.