She does play the 3. I think "power forward" was describing her style of play, not her position.
WBB recruiting for the future
- Thread starter cyberhawk
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She does play the 3. I think "power forward" was describing her style of play, not her position.
From my admittedly limited perspective, I would compare Sydney to Ally Disterhoft and Lauren to Jaime Printy. Also, I agree she is a three but I would be surprised if she replaces Kate in the starting lineup next year. I think she could also play the 2 position.
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I’m hesitant to say this because I thought Jensen had a good shot of cracking the lineup this year and she’s hardly seeing the floor at this point, but I think Sydney probably plays a good amount next year. She impacts the game in a lot of different ways and doesn’t need to score to be effective (which I think is more the case with Lauren). She should complement Clark in that way. Plus she really competes and raises the energy and I think that will help a lot next year. I bet it’s going to be tough to replace Martin as a starter as she’s very clearly seen as the leader of the team but I agree that I think Sydney could play the 3 or the 2 for Iowa. Braydon made a good point about transitioning to college, not to mention learning the system, so who knows how it will ultimately go but I would bet people are going to love Sydney.
Lauren isn't getting the minutes because her defense is lacking. It will get better as she gets stronger.
Sydney Affolter just set the all-time career rebounding record for Marist...
Indiana ate us up driving into the paint and scoring yesterday. We don't seem to have anyone that can stop their player from doing that. We don't seem to have anyone who can get D rebounds consistently either. Second chance points have cost us time and time again.
One reason to send her to the other end on free throws is they want to set up their press. She is the rim protector on their press. Puts her back in position .
Being a great shooter just isn't enough on this team. Makenzie Meyer always had a reputation as a good shooter, but her best percentage came her senior season at 41.2%. Before that she was always in the mid 30s.
This year, Martin is the worst shooting starter from 3 and she's at 41.1%. Clark is at 41.6% despite the extreme difficulty of most of her threes. Marshall and Warnock are at 45.6 and 45.8% respectively.
I haven't dug into past stats, but there's a very good chance this is the best shooting team Iowa has ever had.
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Tomi was always more of a slasher. She didn't develop a strong perimeter game until this season. And Tomi was always an above average defender and is very strong this year. I would say 3rd best defender behind Gabbie and Megan in that order.
What Lauren needs to see the floor is strength and conditioning and to work on her footwork for defense. She seems to have some awareness but is a step slow adjusting. She also really needs to work on shooting in rhythm. She is good shooter when can stop and pop and is able to square and set her feet but she's not a catch and shoot rhythm shooter and the pace of this offense really requires both skils. I don't see her minutes increasing much next year as we only lose Sanders, Sevillian who really haven't logged much PT. Her best shot at playing time will be replacing Tomi's minutes in 2 years and maybe working her way into the starting lineup as a senior when Kate Martin graduates. I think Lauren compares better to Martin than Taiwo. Both are good ball handlers although Martin is better getting to the rim and Jensen is better as a jump shooter/perimeter threat. I think in two years they will be almost interchangeable as they both work on polishing their areas of weakness.
Does she have a midrange game or do all her points come from under the basket?
Also, I believe she has a teammate who is a college prospect (don't remember name). How did she look?
She does have a lot of work to do to get college ready, she knows that. I compare her game to former Maryland player & current WNBA player Brionna Jones. Very similar at the same stages of their playing careers & Brionna put in the work to get ready physically year after year. Brionna would just bury players under the basket, Gustafson even found herself there often when they played against her.
Molly Joyce is the PG for Garrigan I believe the other comment is asking about. She is a name to keep an eye on but right now probably not a high major player.
Her Johnston team plays Waukee tonight at 7 pm. I see it's on Iowa public tv.
Gabby can make steals, usually right after the other team inbounds, but she is often taken advantage of in man defense. I’ve never bought the 5’9” height that’s listed.
i would say both her and Meyer are listed generously. Gabbie gets tons of steals when she takes her chances. i've seen plenty from the top of the key and crossing half court. I've seen more issues with Gabbie in the zone if she's late to close out on a shooter after a kickout or issues with help. She sometimes has issues getting beat on drives, but that's more not knowing/being prepared to take a charge. The entire team is also undersized and physically outmatched and really need time in the weight room. i think Iowa should look to bringing in a new S&C staff. I look at pictures of MG and Doyle just 1 or 2 years removed from Iowa and they both look ripped, especially Doyle who looked she added 10 lbs of lean muscle.
The staff offered Audi so I'd say they are interested, they aren't known to just throw offers out there in big numbers. With Iowa's current predicted post situation Audi wouldn't be expected to play big minutes early so she would have time to work on her conditioning.
I've always kind of thought based on her AAU affiliation she may be headed to Iowa State though, but a lot can change with AAU affiliation too.
I've always kind of thought based on her AAU affiliation she may be headed to Iowa State though, but a lot can change with AAU affiliation too.
It's been a year since watching Audi so I looked for recent footage and her conditioning is already improving. Any chance she grows a couple more inches? It's her family tall?
Here's the most updated on I have, in the next few months expect some more movement on the recruiting front.
2022 Prospects Committed or Offered:
Hannah Stuelke - Cedar Rapids, IA (6'0 W - Committed)
Jada Gyamfi - Urbandale, IA (6'1 F - Committed)
Taylor McCabe - Freemont, NE (5'9 G) (Committed)
Acacia Hayes - Murfreesboro, TN (5'7 PG) (Made Top 8 List)
Beatrice Culliton - Overland Park, KS (6'3 C)
Saniah Tyler - St; Louis, MO (5'6 PG)
Alyssa Crockett - Westfield, IN (6'1 F) (committed to Michigan 3/5)
Ruby Whitehorn - Detroit, MI (6'0 W)
Taylor Charles - Chicago, IL (6'2 F)
Mya Petticord - Ypsilanti, MI (5'9 PG)
Ayanna Patterson - Ft. Wayne, IN (6'2 F) (committed to UCONN)
2022 Prospects on the coaching staff's radar:
Emma Ingersoll-Weng - Iowa City, IA(5'6 PG) - If Hayes or Tyler go elsewhere, she is worth an offer.
Brooke Blumenfeld - Glenbrooke, IL (6'0 F)
Madisen Wardell - Detroit, MI (6'0 F)
Ysabella Fontleroy - Columbia, MO (6'1 F)
Payton Sterk - Colorado Springs, CO (5'9 PG - Dec 2019 campus visit)
2023 Prospects With Offers:
Jordan Wood - Mundelein, IL (6'2 F)
KK Arnold - Germantown, WI (5'6 PG)
Emily Fisher - Libertyville, IL (6'0 G)(Likely headed to ISU)
Ashlynn Shade - Noblesville, IN (5'10 G)
Amiyah Reynolds - South Bend, IN (6'0 PG)
Lisa Thompson - Joliet, ILL (5'8 G)
Katie Eidle - Arlington Heights, ILL (5'11 G)
Audi Crooks - Algona Garrigan (6'4 P)
Sahara Williams - Waterloo West (5'11)
2023 Prospects on the coaching staffs radar:
Jenna Hopp - Glenwood, IA (5'10 G)
Katelyn (KK) Jones - Lantana, TX (5'6 PG)
Kaliyah Sain - Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5'10 G)
Ke'Ayla Madison - DSM, Roosevelt (5'5 PG)
Joy Bergstrom - Chicago, IL (5'11 G)
Smya Nichols - Overland Park, KS (6'0 W)
Aaliyah Beier - Linn Mar HS, IA (5'6 G)
Jenna Twedt - Benton, IA (5'8 G)
Kora Kipley - Arlington Heights, IL (5'7 G)
Nevaeh Quinn - Menasha, WI (5'8 G)
Molly Joyce - Algona Garrigan (5'7 PG)
Whitney Lind - Union, KY (6'2 W)
Molly Noelck - Johnston, IA (5'9 PG)
Halli Poock - Waterloo, IA (5'5 PG)
Mari Bickley - Akron, OH (5'10 PG)
Avree Antony - Sun Prairie, WI (5'9 G)
Tessa Johnson - Albertville, MN (5'10 G)
2024 Prospects With Offers:
Olivia Olson - St. Louis Park, MN (6'0 PG)
Britt Prince - Elkhorn, NE (6'0 PG)
2024 Prospects:
Callie Levin - Solon, IA (5'9 W)
Elise Jaeger - West Des Moines (Valley), IA (5'10 G)
Ava Holman - Brooklyn Park, MN (5'5 PG)
Aliyah Al-Hameed - Ankeny, IA (5'8 PG)
Reagan Briggs - Verona, WI (5'9 G)
Chloe Spreen - Lawrence, IN (5'8 G)
Aili Tanke - Johnston, IA (5'8 G)
Aaliyah Riley - Johnston, IA (5'5 PG)
Kayl Petersen - Waupun, WI (6'0 Wing)
Brooke Carlson - Batavia, IL (5'7 G)
Amiah Hargrove - Christopher, IL (6'2 W)
Allie Ziebell - Neenah, WI (6'0 W)
2025 Prospects
Journey Houston - Davenport, IA
Divine Binion - Davenport, IA
Jada Podey - North Polk, IA
Nikki Kerstein - Deerfield, IL
2026 Prospects
Jenica Lewis - Johnston, IA (Mentioned as the #1 player in her class nationally)
2022 Prospects Committed or Offered:
Hannah Stuelke - Cedar Rapids, IA (6'0 W - Committed)
Jada Gyamfi - Urbandale, IA (6'1 F - Committed)
Taylor McCabe - Freemont, NE (5'9 G) (Committed)
Acacia Hayes - Murfreesboro, TN (5'7 PG) (Made Top 8 List)
Beatrice Culliton - Overland Park, KS (6'3 C)
Saniah Tyler - St; Louis, MO (5'6 PG)
Alyssa Crockett - Westfield, IN (6'1 F) (committed to Michigan 3/5)
Ruby Whitehorn - Detroit, MI (6'0 W)
Taylor Charles - Chicago, IL (6'2 F)
Mya Petticord - Ypsilanti, MI (5'9 PG)
Ayanna Patterson - Ft. Wayne, IN (6'2 F) (committed to UCONN)
2022 Prospects on the coaching staff's radar:
Emma Ingersoll-Weng - Iowa City, IA(5'6 PG) - If Hayes or Tyler go elsewhere, she is worth an offer.
Brooke Blumenfeld - Glenbrooke, IL (6'0 F)
Madisen Wardell - Detroit, MI (6'0 F)
Ysabella Fontleroy - Columbia, MO (6'1 F)
Payton Sterk - Colorado Springs, CO (5'9 PG - Dec 2019 campus visit)
2023 Prospects With Offers:
Jordan Wood - Mundelein, IL (6'2 F)
KK Arnold - Germantown, WI (5'6 PG)
Emily Fisher - Libertyville, IL (6'0 G)(Likely headed to ISU)
Ashlynn Shade - Noblesville, IN (5'10 G)
Amiyah Reynolds - South Bend, IN (6'0 PG)
Lisa Thompson - Joliet, ILL (5'8 G)
Katie Eidle - Arlington Heights, ILL (5'11 G)
Audi Crooks - Algona Garrigan (6'4 P)
Sahara Williams - Waterloo West (5'11)
2023 Prospects on the coaching staffs radar:
Jenna Hopp - Glenwood, IA (5'10 G)
Katelyn (KK) Jones - Lantana, TX (5'6 PG)
Kaliyah Sain - Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5'10 G)
Ke'Ayla Madison - DSM, Roosevelt (5'5 PG)
Joy Bergstrom - Chicago, IL (5'11 G)
Smya Nichols - Overland Park, KS (6'0 W)
Aaliyah Beier - Linn Mar HS, IA (5'6 G)
Jenna Twedt - Benton, IA (5'8 G)
Kora Kipley - Arlington Heights, IL (5'7 G)
Nevaeh Quinn - Menasha, WI (5'8 G)
Molly Joyce - Algona Garrigan (5'7 PG)
Whitney Lind - Union, KY (6'2 W)
Molly Noelck - Johnston, IA (5'9 PG)
Halli Poock - Waterloo, IA (5'5 PG)
Mari Bickley - Akron, OH (5'10 PG)
Avree Antony - Sun Prairie, WI (5'9 G)
Tessa Johnson - Albertville, MN (5'10 G)
2024 Prospects With Offers:
Olivia Olson - St. Louis Park, MN (6'0 PG)
Britt Prince - Elkhorn, NE (6'0 PG)
2024 Prospects:
Callie Levin - Solon, IA (5'9 W)
Elise Jaeger - West Des Moines (Valley), IA (5'10 G)
Ava Holman - Brooklyn Park, MN (5'5 PG)
Aliyah Al-Hameed - Ankeny, IA (5'8 PG)
Reagan Briggs - Verona, WI (5'9 G)
Chloe Spreen - Lawrence, IN (5'8 G)
Aili Tanke - Johnston, IA (5'8 G)
Aaliyah Riley - Johnston, IA (5'5 PG)
Kayl Petersen - Waupun, WI (6'0 Wing)
Brooke Carlson - Batavia, IL (5'7 G)
Amiah Hargrove - Christopher, IL (6'2 W)
Allie Ziebell - Neenah, WI (6'0 W)
2025 Prospects
Journey Houston - Davenport, IA
Divine Binion - Davenport, IA
Jada Podey - North Polk, IA
Nikki Kerstein - Deerfield, IL
2026 Prospects
Jenica Lewis - Johnston, IA (Mentioned as the #1 player in her class nationally)
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Curious for the fans who follow recruiting for the women’s team more than I.... Obviously Clark is a Spencer Lee-type talent (once in a generation)... Do you think Iowa is bringing in enough talent to surround Clark that the Iowa women can some day do what the men’s team is doing this season (i.e. Top 10 and become a threat to some of the top dogs in women’s basketball)?
You are certainly generous in naming some of these kids who have no hope of receiving an offer from Iowa.
True, but we've seen kids go other places & fall back offers come through. Let's hope recruiting is to the level now that won't be the case.
An interesting note on Acacia Hayes is that her sister Anastasia is 2nd in the country in scoring behind Clark for Middle Tennessee State (after transferring from Tennessee a couple years ago). She has 3 sisters playing college basketball right now, 2 for MTSU and 1 for Notre Dame. I’m not sure if Iowa is the favorite but I think she does like Iowa a lot.
I think it's more than 6'5' players are pretty rare. I checked ESPN's list of Top 100 recruits for 2021, and there are only four 6'5' or taller players on the list. The Top 60 list for 2022 only has three.
The short answer is no. The lady Hawks have two recruits in 2021, one is top 50 (#39) and one is top 100 (#92). On paper that's not going to move them up to a top 10 team. Iowa has three commits in 2022 and none are in the top 60.
From the first tweet, I coached Lucy Wolf in junior high and she is a stud. She is going to be very good at West.
Oh- she is also smart and a good kid.
I tend to disagree with this, there are 3 recruits in '21 & 3 in '22 with a top PG having Iowa on their finalists list so far in '22. With the '20, '21', '22 classes coming together being lead by Caitlin Clark a top 10 team is very possible & likely in my opinion (eventually).
Iowa hasn't strung together classes like this since Vivian's days & look at the successes they have had, the Elite 8 team is a great example. It also depends on what recruiting service you use for player rankings as there are several & all vary greatly for different reasons. In '21 I've seen all 3 ranked in the Top 50 (or just outside) & the same for 2 out of the 3 in the '22 class. In looking at what each of these recruits brings, they all fill a need in that class.
I agree that our current recruiting could be enough to be a Top 10 team. The recent run actually is somewhat comparable to 2015 and 2016. In 2015, Davis, Gustafson, and Stewart were all Top 100 according to ESPN. Davis was 36, and the other two in the 80s. In 2016, also according to ESPN, Meyer was 79, Ollinger was 87, and Doyle was 97 (though I think she was higher on other services). I think those 6 were the only Top 100 players on the Elite 8 team. They certainly were the big contributors.
Next year's team will have Clark and Warnock as former Top 100 recruits. Czinano has been All-Big Ten for two consecutive seasons despite not being a Top 100 recruit. The 2021 class each has been ranked in the Top 100 by at least 1 service that I've seen. By Clark's junior and senior seasons, we should have the same or more top 100 recruits on roster as compared to the Elite 8 team.
Another point: Clark committed really late in the process. A lot of recruits commit before their senior year of high school. The coaches didn't have much of a chance to use Clark's commitment to try to convince players in the 2020 class, and I'm not sure how much it would've impacted the 2021 and 2022 classes either. I think we had one commit each for 2021 and 2022 before Clark committed.
