Wagner

[Mohawkeye]

I wasn't sure about Wagner early in the season, thought he was too short to play inside. But his game is really intriguing. He's got the quickest first step that I can remember. The only player I can think to compare him to us Roy Marble. One step and he is to the basket, and he jumps like a kangaroo. Perhaps best of all, great IQ and great teammate. Reminds me of Jared Cole in that he is willing to do the dirty work and always knows where to be.

 

[StormHawk42]

He's in the Basabe mold, but seems to be a much better athlete and has better instincts.

 

[hawk-i bob]

I wasn't sure about Wagner early in the season, thought he was too short to play inside. But his game is really intriguing. He's got the quickest first step that I can remember. The only player I can think to compare him to us Roy Marble. One step and he is to the basket, and he jumps like a kangaroo. Perhaps best of all, great IQ and great teammate. Reminds me of Jared Cole in that he is willing to do the dirty work and always knows where to be.

we got a sneak preview...of things to come.

 

[like-woahh]

Gotta love those athletes that could have been D1 in multiple sports.

 

[pantherhawk1]

He's in the Basabe mold, but seems to be a much better athlete and has better instincts.

Hard to be a better athlete, Basabe could jump out of the gym.

 

[StormHawk42]

Hard to be a better athlete, Basabe could jump out of the gym.

I disagree. Wagner can get up with ease too and can fly down the court.

 

[KeenKeensCrew]

I disagree. Wagner can get up with ease too and can fly down the court.

Basabe was longer but Wagner seems more fluid with a quicker step. Hopefully Wagner can develop a little 15 footer to really use that quick first step

 

[the24fan]

Wagner is gonna be a beast.. Explosive first step and if he gains confidence in his mid range jumper he will be something special. He's the real deals folks

 

[gablefan73]

Wagner has more strength than we normally see out of a young forward. He is able to finish through contact. His strength is going to be Reggie Evansesque. Lots of double doubles in his future.

 

[HawkLogic]

He's in the Basabe mold, but seems to be a much better athlete and has better instincts.

Certainly Basabe-like in sense that he is interior guy and ability to finish around basket. Wagner looks a lot quicker though and those drives and finishes he had were big time. He's one of those undersized, athletic centers that in past have given Iowa fits, and now we got that guy on our team.

The Marble analogy around the basket might also fit....but doesn't look like Wagner has much range on his shot.

I love Wagner's quickness defending basket vs guards, and getting rebounds from the zone defense. Wagner is more alert as Freshman playing defense than Olesani was after 4 years.

 

[And1Hawk]

He and Williams are looking much more comfortable. We are going to need both of these guys down the stretch as the starters legs wear down.

 

[nu2u]

Wagner + Cook will be double trouble in the paint.

 

[DanL53]

Wagner has athleticism and that rare trait of understanding that possession of the ball is important and putting it in the basket on our side of the court is important as well.

It's not, "3 dribbles, spin, head fake...". It's "Ball, take, mine, MINE MINE MINE!!! Basket, put ball in!"

 

[revkev73]

When he gets a sniff of the basket...he goes at it like an attack wolf...with some finesse.

 

[e720718998]

I'm not sure he is a center but he looks like a great 4 very Cole like before the knee injury. going to be a good one

Wagner
Cook
Uhl
Jok
Williams

 

[srams21]

What I like i how strong he is down low. Very impressive court awareness as well. He will play a lot next year.

 

[northernboarderhawk]

I'm not sure he is a center but he looks like a great 4 very Cole like before the knee injury. going to be a good one

Wagner
Cook
Uhl
Jok
Williams

Don't forget to through in Jones.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

I couldn't be more excited to see him play with cook. Slightly undersized but as athletic strong and solid as we've had in the post in a long long time. I also get on the edge of my seat when he comes in the game. You just expect good things to happen

 

[And1Hawk]

He might be a Nigel Hayes type player going forward. Not exactly the same but similar. If he can develop a little pull up jumper he could be even more effective as he can finish.

Nice game tonight with several beautiful takes and finishes. You can see his confidence growing.

 

[Hawk68]

Wagner is an amazing athlete and gets to the rim with ease. I don't remember him ever taking even a mid-range jumper. Does anyone know how well he can shoot the ball?

 

[RocknRollface]

Hard to be a better athlete, Basabe could jump out of the gym.

Basabe had long arms and could dunk a little easier.

They probably have similar verticals but Wagner is quicker, significantly more coordinated and more explosive with his first step.

His body control is impressive.

I would not at all be surprised to see him get looks from the nfl after college.

 

[yiana]

Elite level athlete for his size and bulk. We haven't had many of those for awhile.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

I think Jones starts next year to help with spacing. Cook will start out on the bench and be the same high energy player Wagner is this year.

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

everyone please remember this thread next year when we start tearing him down after an off game.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Picture him another year more mature if he hits the weights hard in the off season. 10-15 pounds of muscle packed on.

 

[luvmyhawks]

I said it after the Purdue game. I am excited about this one. Love his presence on the court. Just seems comfortable. Liking Iowa future.

 

[jockos]

Some of takes tonight reminded me of James Winters back in the day.

 

[mazda1]

I like the future too, but next year will be tough. Jok will have a lot more defensive attention. Baer and Uhl will have to deliver every night. I could see Wagner, Jones, Uhl, Jok, and Williams starting. 5 interchangeable pieces and Cook, Baer, Moss, Kreiner,and Bohannan giving us flexibility & production from the bench. We will have a learning curve and may not be NCAA bound regardless of who starts.

Does anyone else think Fran may be beginning to use Williams in what used to be Ellingson minutes? If he can give us neutral minutes it's potentially a big plus next year for him to have playing time.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

I'd bet the house that Wags starts at "4" next season, game 1. Dom, Wags, PJ, Fleming and Christian Williams.

 

[RocknRollface]

I'd bet the house that Wags starts at "4" next season, game 1. Dom, Wags, PJ, Fleming and Christian Williams.

Flemmings going from zero minutes to starter?

I think its more likely that Baer or Jones fill out the last spot and PJ plays the 2.

 

[lovedwatchingLester]

Moss at the 2

 

[jaffarosenfels]

His body control is impressive.

I would not at all be surprised to see him get looks from the nfl after college.

I've always thought this

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Really surprised / impressed with his drive and finish and later his dunk in traffic. He is gaining confidence with each game and had a nice swat in the paint. His energy shows up whether he scores or not and he disrupts a lot with his quick hands and feet.

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

He is stacking up pretty well to Ed Morrow who chose Nebraska over Iowa. Similar production per minute and Wagner is producing more efficiently and on a better team.

I'm still not convinced Miles is a good coach. He managed to take a mediocre Nebraska team to the tournament a couple years ago, and since then his teams have been pretty disappointing despite solid recruiting.

 

[wneff]

I've always thought this

He might want to play one year for Kirk Ferentz first after his basketball eligibility is gone. Although, if he graduates in four and the rules don't change, he could go do it for Urban Meyer or Matt Campbell.

 

[Mohawkeye]

He might want to play one year for Kirk Ferentz first after his basketball eligibility is gone. Although, if he graduates in four and the rules don't change, he could go do it for Urban Meyer or Matt Campbell.

Except he would miss the chance to practice in the Spring. I think he'd be crazy not to give it a shot.

 

[amahawk]

Does he look a little shorter than Peter Jok?

 

[unIowa]

He might be a Nigel Hayes type player going forward. Not exactly the same but similar. If he can develop a little pull up jumper he could be even more effective as he can finish.

Nice game tonight with several beautiful takes and finishes. You can see his confidence growing.

I see more Brandon Dawson to his game than Hayes. Maybe that is because of physical build but Wagner is put together well and you can see him putting on more muscle pretty easily without slowing down or losing any hops (like Basabe did).

 

[unIowa]

Picture him another year more mature if he hits the weights hard in the off season. 10-15 pounds of muscle packed on.

Exactly...Brandon Dawson.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Exactly...Brandon Dawson.

Yes. I've mentioned him several times as a comparison.
That's a tall order to fill looking at what he meant for msu his last 2 years. But, I think Ahmad could be that guy with continued work on the weights in the off season and some improvements in his shooting from the field and line.