**NEW** Iowa Women's Basketball Recruiting Thread
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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That was a very heart-felt thank you from that young lady. Glad she enjoyed her visit. It truly was a beautiful day on Saturday except the outcome of the football game.
I'm not going to scroll through 45 pages to see if something has already been said. How many spots does Iowa have for the 2025 class? Houston at #35 is a great start. Sounds like Bourrage is going out of state. Is Deal a real possibility? Haven't heard much about Speiser lately? are we still in it? And then there is McGaughy? Anyone want to venture a guess?
Looks like we have 4 open spots for '25. As far as I've heard, we're still hopeful re: Speiser; McGaughy seemed very happy with her offer. I think Deal has been considered a more of a long shot, but we're not out of it. I think Bluder will be hoping for another big to pair with Heiden; so since we lost Avery Gordon to Purdue, I imagine she'll be focusing on 6'5" post Layla Hays from AK. But those 4 open spots are also dependent on whether Goodman and Feuerbach take their injury year.
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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It seems Deal is choosing between Iowa and LSU. Someone on Reddit who is a fan of neither program also made this observation a few weeks ago, so it doesn't seem to be a homer POV. In our favor / observations:
- She basically follows every player on our team as well as 2024 recruits and interacts with them all the time. She liked a recent post by Jan about welcoming recruits to camps -- the lines of communication are certainly open. I was surprised to see her even like something Callie Levin (our most low-profile recruit) posted on Instagram a few weeks ago.
- She spoke with Kyle H about how her first visit was "exceptional" and is still in touch with him, telling him she was doing a second visit this month. She is certainly a fan of our brand of basketball and even said she "fan-girled out" when she met our star players.
- With UCLA/USC joining the B1G, she could travel back to SoCal frequently. If she had any dreams of playing in the PAC, the B1G is the next best thing now.
- Her brother is a freshman at Grinnell (and interestingly enough plays basketball with Bluder's son)
- Her whole extended family is apparently in Baton Rouge (her parents are from there originally, before moving to SoCal, I believe). That means they're probably long-time LSU fans. Not great.
- She also likes basically everything posted on social about LSU. I can't tell if she follows/engages with every single one of their coaches/recruits at the same level she does with Iowa though, as I don't follow them that closely.
- LSU is LSU. National champs + Kim Mulkey is a proven winner. Enough said and for many (most?) kids, that would be the deciding factor, trumping everything else listed above. LSU has a stellar recruiter alongside Mulkey as well. She didn't land Morrow and HVL by herself.
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Speiser doesn't post a lot on soc media, as far as I can tell. I think our best chance with her is that Bluder was on her earlier than most, so she has developed that r/ship. Also that she plays for the Attack. So she's in Iowa a lot, teammates with Houston, etc. Bluder has always done well recruiting players from that squad.
Kyle did an interview with her early on, I'm hoping he'll have a chance to get current with her.
Don't think there's a 2027 recruiting thread but here's an offer. PG Brookslee Colvin who I believe visited this past weekend.
NFL football tonight featured two teams with a total of 5 former Hawks. This has been a solid recruitment advantage for Iowa football. Do you think that landing players in the WNBA is a helpful recruiting tool for Iowa WBB? South Car program/fans seem to think so. And the W is growing. Certainly, Caitlin will be drafted. Maybe the only other player on the current roster with that potential is Stuelke; but looking ahead, possibly Ava Heiden? The W is expanding by two teams, with hopes for more. Then there's Europe. I think several current Hawks might be able to play in those leagues if they choose. How helpful would that be to the program?
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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I’d be shocked if it was not a net-negative in recruiting calculus we have only one alum in the WNBA and she is not exactly a star. Clark will continue to be an elite ambassador for Iowa in the W.
Agreed. If you are a top recruit and have aspirations to go pro, you are likely going to pick the school or coach who has a successful track record of developing players for WNBA/previous alums.
I feel like winning in the tournament (National Championships), alums going pro, fan support, and NIL are deciding factors for the top recruits (understandably so).
We have good momentum though. I think our success in the tournament will be a huge deciding factor for top ranked recruits wanting to commit to Iowa especially in the 25 and 26 classes. Players want to go to a Final Four. If we continue on that trajectory, we will likely have more alums in the W later down the line.
Tru dat. Still, Clark has yet to be a magnet for top talent (McDonald’s AA level/top 25). Not sure that changes. With the possible exception of Maddyn Greenway, I will be pleasantly surprised if Iowa lands a McDonald’s AA in the ‘25 and ‘26 classes. Bluder/Jensen have 20+ year histories at Iowa of not being elite recruiters. Doubt that fundamentally changes at this late career date. Lisa/Jan and company are who they are. I am a fan and supporter, and very thankful for their success. But the recruiting hill at Iowa is steep, and hard to overcome.
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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Rival fans are keenly aware of this dynamic — or at least they want this to be the dynamic.
This is why that video of Bluder saying “it’s not my job” went viral. Maryland and South Carolina fans (not coincidentally the two fan bases who feel especially threatened by our success) basically were chomping at the bit for it, and amplified it with comments like “We always knew this, recruits take note.”
I even saw one SC fan lump Gustafson in with Garza and Ashley Joens — basically just saying that talent from this state has long been overrated and will likely not be a factor in the pros (Clark being the exception, tho many SC fans like to harp on about her defensive deficiencies).
Since Clark joined the program Iowa has signed a long list of 4 star/top 100 recruits. The staff has done a great job all the way around.
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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I’m also happy with the future hawkeye lineup, but there’s undeniably a big difference between 4 stars and 5 stars in the women’s game.
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AMAYS- I don’t believe that is necessarily true at all. Other than yours, Kirk Ferentz’ and several other board members’ misplaced and counterproductive self-fulfilling prophecy that ”we are just poor little Iowa, we aren’t sexy, who would ever want to come here,” etc.,etc BS. You and Iowa need to stop exhibiting the constant “loser’s limp” behavior. For God’s sake man, Iowa‘s WBB just finished a season where they played in the NCAA Championship game!
Bluder has generally been a coach whose recruiting radius has been confined to the Midwest, and rarely landed a top 50 player, let alone a top ten. But times change; and with the success of the program with CC, she has been reaching out above and beyond. She has a number of top 20 offers out there including from Maryland, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, etc. And getting good feedback from those players. If Iowa has another 30-win season this year, and if she's able to land a few of those blue-chip hoopers, the transformation will look pretty solid. But knowing that's it's a small window is what's generating so much interest in these recruiting threads. "Hope is a thing with feathers".
You're both right. I think it is hard to overstate how consistently small the elite talent pool (top 25-40) is in WBB, and how so much of elite success is based on pulling talent from that small pool. 4-stars ranked from 50-100 are not in that pool. Some stats to consider:
Since 2010:
The 13 national champions rostered 71 McDonald's AAs, with 12 of the 13 winners having at least 3 McDonald's AAs, with the 13th having 2. So multiple McDonald's AAs almost seem like a prerequisite to being a National Champion.
The 52 Final Four teams rostered 226 McDonald's AAs.
64 of the 71* First-Team AP AAs were ranked in the top 40 in HS (though some weren't consensus top 40).
*1 year had 6 members because of a tie.
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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Tbh I do think all the hype about the 2024 class is a tad much. Our ‘24 and ‘25 recruits are 100% capable of being a top 25 team (if not a perennial one), with a Sweet 16 appearance / nice upsets over our rivals well within sight. We’re unlikely to fall behind Iowa State. That’s a lot to be excited about. I’m not one who thinks anything less than a Final Four is a worthless season.
That said, it’s not a Final Four caliber roster. That is, I think, fairly obvious. At the same time, I also think it’s Bluder’s best, most well-rounded incoming class top to bottom. It says a lot about the class — and something about her past classes.
But this is where I think fans have some opinions that are a bit misguided. The talk about not needing Greenway or other guards for’26 is very premature. Bluder should and absolutely will pursue her and other elite talent at all positions.
My takes on the current commits are as follows:
If Bluder can land 3-4 Top 20 players for ‘25 and ‘26 (and we have decent chances with at least that many), this could be a very deep, extremely talented roster. A tall, athletic, tough recruit at PG, W or PF would do wonders for this team’s outlook. If we can get all 3, it would be reason enough to expect a real shot at more B1G titles (with the PAC teams joining, those titles are going to be tough come by). Im very confident in Heiden but if Bluder can find an even better C, she will — and watch out if she does.
People forget that elite teams have depth — real depth. I.e., Top 50 players on the bench that can reliably play 10 productive minutes in big games. Iowa has never rly had that (neither have Indiana, Iowa State, and many peers around our level). This season looks to be a bit different, for sure, which is really exciting. But overall our reserves have long been benchwarmers —and they would be for any NCAAT team. After 6-7 players (at most) we have typically had a significant drop in talent. But if Bluder can get over the hump with her ‘25 and ‘26 targets…and most of our 2024 class end up being reserves….the sky is the limit.
But as someone else said above, the window is short. If Bluder strikes out with the remaining ‘25 targets, we should expect a regression in results. Which is understandable for any team that reached the heights Iowa did last year. If that happens, I will not be calling for Bluder’s head.
But Bluder is a special coach, and she’s not going anywhere. And that just may be the saving Grace that prevents Iowa from falling as far as Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Syracuse, Oregon State, and Mississippi State did after they reached the Final Four in recent years.
That said, it’s not a Final Four caliber roster. That is, I think, fairly obvious. At the same time, I also think it’s Bluder’s best, most well-rounded incoming class top to bottom. It says a lot about the class — and something about her past classes.
But this is where I think fans have some opinions that are a bit misguided. The talk about not needing Greenway or other guards for’26 is very premature. Bluder should and absolutely will pursue her and other elite talent at all positions.
My takes on the current commits are as follows:
- Houston, Mallegni and Heiden have the skills to start as underclasswomen. They could potentially be All B1G caliber players (even if just 3rd team).
- Stremlow and Levin likely aren’t going to be as prominent. I could see both — especially Levin — getting buried in the depth chart if we continue to sign kids at this general level. Both could leave Iowa and start at a number of P5 schools, and we should remember that.
- Guyton I think has the most questions — but they’re good ones. She will likely be a starter at some point, probably PG, maybe very early. She can likely be effective in different ways. But she may not be our leading scorer. And she may also become a reserve if Bluder lands a better PG. Or maybe she’ll win the starting SG spot. She has more upside than Stremlow and Levin IMO. I believe she will get minutes in any case.
If Bluder can land 3-4 Top 20 players for ‘25 and ‘26 (and we have decent chances with at least that many), this could be a very deep, extremely talented roster. A tall, athletic, tough recruit at PG, W or PF would do wonders for this team’s outlook. If we can get all 3, it would be reason enough to expect a real shot at more B1G titles (with the PAC teams joining, those titles are going to be tough come by). Im very confident in Heiden but if Bluder can find an even better C, she will — and watch out if she does.
People forget that elite teams have depth — real depth. I.e., Top 50 players on the bench that can reliably play 10 productive minutes in big games. Iowa has never rly had that (neither have Indiana, Iowa State, and many peers around our level). This season looks to be a bit different, for sure, which is really exciting. But overall our reserves have long been benchwarmers —and they would be for any NCAAT team. After 6-7 players (at most) we have typically had a significant drop in talent. But if Bluder can get over the hump with her ‘25 and ‘26 targets…and most of our 2024 class end up being reserves….the sky is the limit.
But as someone else said above, the window is short. If Bluder strikes out with the remaining ‘25 targets, we should expect a regression in results. Which is understandable for any team that reached the heights Iowa did last year. If that happens, I will not be calling for Bluder’s head.
But Bluder is a special coach, and she’s not going anywhere. And that just may be the saving Grace that prevents Iowa from falling as far as Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Syracuse, Oregon State, and Mississippi State did after they reached the Final Four in recent years.
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Yea, Dolph really looks lie the poster child for "which one doesn't belong in this picture"..Lol....
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Makes you wonder what the rules are for players to be utilized for recruiting. At this point, if it were allowed, Iowa could be paying big $$ to CC to draw players to the program.
The good news rrk77 is that the skeptics (including me) are not preventing Bluder and staff from going hard after a good number of potential McDonald’s AAs in the ‘25 and ‘26 classes. There will never be a better time for Iowa WBB to up its recruiting game than on the heels of the Caitlin Clark era (really the Gustafson-Doyle-Clark eras). And I will be thrilled if Bluder and staff can prove the skeptics wrong.
Agree with pretty much your whole post. One of the frustrating things for us watching the recruiting process is that we get such little HS film on these players. We didn't really even get to see that much of CC in HS, compared to the coverage Paige got. There have been some players that Iowa was interested in early, but fell off for reasons we may not be privy to, and committed elsewhere. (Jordan Ode, Amiah Hargrove, etc)
So perhaps Bluder is learning some patience around how things develop, and knows she may have offered players like Levin and KJE too early?
I may be a little higher on Stremlow than you are; I like her leadership, aggressiveness, physical presence, etc. Kind of a Syd A at PG perhaps? From what I've seen, I'm all in on Heiden, and I agree that she has the chance to be a big-time player. but as you and I have both previously suggested, Bluder has yet to land that elusive, athletic 5-star PF/4 player at 6'2, 6'3"; in the mold of Cotie, Angel, Diamond Miller, etc. We have Hannah in that role, but is Mallegni the one to fill it? I'm sure that's a target for Bluder in the 2025/26 classes.
In re: to PG, I'm getting the sense that Bluder isn't yet confident she's landed her girl. Also agree that the program is not in danger of falling off the map as some others have; and will continue, over the next 2-3 years, to be a successful, top 20 team that garners great fan support and media coverage.
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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Couple misc. commitments:
Really hoping UCLA don’t leave the rest of us in the dust as soon as they join the B1G. They have all the pieces for a NC this year if their coach can put them together right.
Really hoping UCLA don’t leave the rest of us in the dust as soon as they join the B1G. They have all the pieces for a NC this year if their coach can put them together right.
Passing on/slow playing (?) Jenkins and Zediker is potentially the cost of pursuing bigger fish in the ‘25 class. I think Bluder and company are doing the right thing, but there is risk.
Edit: Prospects Nation ranks Zediker # 40. Jr. All Star ranks Jenkins # 65.
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She's a 2026 recruit who will have her pick of schools. Hopefully her & Greenway are already planning on rooming together👐
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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Bluder is really working on Bjorn, as well as Jordan Speiser, another elite MO recruit. Both seem interested in Iowa as well.
If we could land both (a very tall order, don’t get it twisted)…it would be pretty impressive and a sign of changing winds. MO kids are in an SEC (and formerly Big 12) state, with lots of great coaches vying for them — including Iowa State, K State, Mizzou, Missouri State, Arkansas, Baylor, Texas, not to mention LSU. They’ve all achieved relative success to one degree or another over the past 5 years. Even KU is trending upwards.
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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I follow this gentleman on Twitter. He is an evaluator for Prep Girls Hoops. He has no agenda and seems to just generally be a fan of WBB in general rather than a homer for any school or conference. He also seems to know quite a few elite recruits personally. When the latest anti-Bluder vid went viral, he was quick to disavow it as BS. Anyway he posted this today.
Edit: He actually just posted a couple notes about Iowa this season…he seems familiar with our personnel (as he should be).
Edit: He actually just posted a couple notes about Iowa this season…he seems familiar with our personnel (as he should be).
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He must mean Iowa State for Prince. Otherwise makes no sense based on everything we think we know.
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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I guess a universe where this is possible isn't too far-fetched (two of the following things would need to happen: Clark graduates, Jones medically retires, someone else transfers…) But those things must happen before a roster spot opens...and none will happen for months...
It seems Prince will commit any day now so I guess we wait and see if this was just a bizarre throwaway or an even more bizarrely prescient prediction based on some very exclusive info….
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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If only one of these can portend an imminent announcement, I hope it’s Jan’s.
Coach J loves to give us these inspiring, yet frustratingly nebulous posts. Of course, she's not allowed to divulge players' names previous to commitment. What I appreciate about these threads is that there are enough of us paying sufficient attention to figure out to whom she might be referring. In this case, I'm not sure if she's talking about a visiting recruit; or whether she might have made a road trip in the off week.
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anon_salmfilsntd0b
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I think we're fairly certain she is talking about Addi Deal's visit. She was in Iowa over the weekend.
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