WBB recruiting for the future
- Thread starter cyberhawk
- Start date
2025 forward and sister of former Hawkeye (very briefly) Jinaya Houston
have to love the energy Bluder’s staff is putting into recruiting..... Meagan G and now Caitlyn Clark have put the spotlight on the hawks.... strike while the iron’s hot and go after those elite players
Has anyone seen Journey Houston play in person ? If you have what are her strengths. Thanks in advance.
I’ve seen Journey play 50+ times over the past few summers. Beats people up and down the floor and gets baskets in transition. Kind of an undersized post at this point. Not a great shooter but has time to work on it. Game is a little unorthodox. She is a fantastic kid from a great family. Will continue to work her tail off. My only question would be whether or not she gets any taller.
Jordan Speiser is a 2025 G from Missouri and is really good from the little I've seen of her. This is from back in June when she camped at Iowa.
This is the final big week for AAU this cycle, with the Nike Nationals and the Girls Under Armor Association (GUAA) Finals happening. There's a few other tourneys going on as well.
The Nike Nationals are being streamed on Twitch for free starting today and the championships with be airing on ESPNU on Sunday. There's a decent chance All Iowa Attack's 17U and 16U teams could be playing in those games on Sunday. The 17U team (with Hannah Stuelke, Jada Gyamfi, Taylor McCabe, and Sahara Williams) already beat Colorado Premier this morning (McCabe had 15 and was 5-8 from 3, Williams had 16). Lisa Bluder was on hand for their game this morning. The 16U team (with Callie Levin, Journey Houston, and Aili Tanke) plays at 11:30AM(CT) and 7PM(CT) today.
Bluder was also watching the Spiece Gym Rats 17U team, with 2023 G Ashlynn Shade, 2023 G Rashunda Jones and 2024 G Chloe Spreen (all have offers, Jones and Spreen this week). Shade just received a UConn offer this week so that may be a tough one to land.
This site (https://nikegirlseybl.com/live-stream) has team rosters and links to the livestreams. The stream quality is great, the roster info is really nice, and it's free. So if you have any interest in this at all, this is about as good of an experience as you could ask for.
I know Jan Jensen started the week in Minneapolis at the North Tartan Meltdown, presumably to watch Audi Crooks, Olivia Olson, and others. Raina Harmon is in Grand Rapids at the LBI Summer Sizzler, I believe. I'm not sure where Abby Stamp is headed yet.
The Nike Nationals are being streamed on Twitch for free starting today and the championships with be airing on ESPNU on Sunday. There's a decent chance All Iowa Attack's 17U and 16U teams could be playing in those games on Sunday. The 17U team (with Hannah Stuelke, Jada Gyamfi, Taylor McCabe, and Sahara Williams) already beat Colorado Premier this morning (McCabe had 15 and was 5-8 from 3, Williams had 16). Lisa Bluder was on hand for their game this morning. The 16U team (with Callie Levin, Journey Houston, and Aili Tanke) plays at 11:30AM(CT) and 7PM(CT) today.
Bluder was also watching the Spiece Gym Rats 17U team, with 2023 G Ashlynn Shade, 2023 G Rashunda Jones and 2024 G Chloe Spreen (all have offers, Jones and Spreen this week). Shade just received a UConn offer this week so that may be a tough one to land.
This site (https://nikegirlseybl.com/live-stream) has team rosters and links to the livestreams. The stream quality is great, the roster info is really nice, and it's free. So if you have any interest in this at all, this is about as good of an experience as you could ask for.
I know Jan Jensen started the week in Minneapolis at the North Tartan Meltdown, presumably to watch Audi Crooks, Olivia Olson, and others. Raina Harmon is in Grand Rapids at the LBI Summer Sizzler, I believe. I'm not sure where Abby Stamp is headed yet.
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Rashunda Jones is on the Gym Rats too right? I was looking at what our roster is going to look like for when Caitlin is a senior and we 100% need to grab a guard or two for the 2023 class. This is great information, thanks hawkshawn!
Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot that Iowa offered her this week too. I'll add that to my post. Thanks!
thanks for links and news about recruits.... really appreciate it!
Here's an archive of a couple of the games I mentioned earlier for those that are interested.
All Iowa Attack 17U vs. Colorado Premier 17U game (game starts around the 32:30 min mark)
All Iowa Attack 16U vs. Colorado Premier 16U game (game starts around the 5:09:30 min mark)
Spiece Gym Rats 17U vs. West Coast Premier 17U (game starts around the 3:27:00 min mark)
McCabe is going to be awesome
Why
Accurate and just as important at the next level.....a very quick release
Why
Accurate and just as important at the next level.....a very quick release
Any links on today’s games? Those were great yesterday- thank you hawkShawn!
Sure!
Wednesday Game:
All Iowa Attack 16U vs. Missouri Phenom 16U (game starts around the 04:09:20 min mark)
Thursday Games:
All Iowa Attack 17U vs. Missouri Phenom 17U game (game starts around the 00:11:20 min mark)
Spiece Gym Rats 17U vs. Fairfax Stars 17U (game starts around the 01:40:40 min mark)
All Iowa Attack 16U vs. Cal Sparks 16U (game starts around the 03:19:50 min mark)
All Iowa Attack 17U vs. Cal Sparks 17U (game starts around the 00:13:50 min mark)
Spiece Gym Rats 17U vs. Carolina Flames 17U (game starts around the 03:09:40 min mark)
The GUAA Finals (Under Armor) started this morning in Pennsylvania. Lisa Bluder is there now, and was front and center for the Minnesota Fury 2024 and Olivia Olson.
The Nike Nationals are still going in Augusta, Georgia as well. Raina Harmon is there and will presumably be watching the All Iowa Attack teams and the Spiece Gym Rats.
The Summer Finale event is starting in Des Moines this weekend, and I’m guessing one of Abby Stamp or Jan Jensen will be there as well.
The Nike Nationals are still going in Augusta, Georgia as well. Raina Harmon is there and will presumably be watching the All Iowa Attack teams and the Spiece Gym Rats.
The Summer Finale event is starting in Des Moines this weekend, and I’m guessing one of Abby Stamp or Jan Jensen will be there as well.
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It is on its way before the camera man can get there.
Saturday AAU update on who coaches were watching. I'll add to this as I'm able.
Lisa Bluder - GUAA Finals - Pennsylvania
Minnesota Fury 2024 vs Example Sports - Olivia Olson
Minnesota Fury 2024 vs FBC Reign - Olivia Olson
Raina Harmon - GUAA Finals - Pennsylvania
Minnesota Fury 2024 vs FBC Reign - Olivia Olson
Example Sports 2023 vs. Northwest Blazers - Kennise Etienne
Wisconsin Flight 2024 vs. FBC United - Kayl Petersen, Kristina Ouimette
Jan Jensen - Nike Nationals - Georgia
Tennessee Flight Silver 17U vs. All Iowa Attack 17U - Hannah Stuelke, Jada Gyamfi, Taylor McCabe, Sahara Williams
Al Southern Starz vs. All Iowa Attack 16U - Callie Levin, Aili Tanke, Journey Houston
Abby Stamp - Summer Finale - Iowa
Elite 2024 vs. Box State Outlaws - Britt Prince
Elite 2024 vs. All Iowa Attack 9th Elite - Britt Prince
Lisa Bluder - GUAA Finals - Pennsylvania
Minnesota Fury 2024 vs Example Sports - Olivia Olson
Minnesota Fury 2024 vs FBC Reign - Olivia Olson
Raina Harmon - GUAA Finals - Pennsylvania
Minnesota Fury 2024 vs FBC Reign - Olivia Olson
Example Sports 2023 vs. Northwest Blazers - Kennise Etienne
Wisconsin Flight 2024 vs. FBC United - Kayl Petersen, Kristina Ouimette
Jan Jensen - Nike Nationals - Georgia
Tennessee Flight Silver 17U vs. All Iowa Attack 17U - Hannah Stuelke, Jada Gyamfi, Taylor McCabe, Sahara Williams
Al Southern Starz vs. All Iowa Attack 16U - Callie Levin, Aili Tanke, Journey Houston
Abby Stamp - Summer Finale - Iowa
Elite 2024 vs. Box State Outlaws - Britt Prince
Elite 2024 vs. All Iowa Attack 9th Elite - Britt Prince
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The 16U All Iowa Attack team on ESPNU this AM.
All Iowa won!! Don’t know the rules but click allowed to run off 5-6 seconds after Essence last basket before time out called. Different than college I guess. Three point win.
I think it's like high school basketball in Iowa: at the end of the game, the clock doesn't stop for a made basket. You can only stop it with a timeout. If you don't have a timeout in a situation like that, you're in trouble.
thanks. Been a long time since I watched HS game. Not aware of all rules.
Some quick Callie Levin thoughts: she's a very good ball-handler. She did well leading the offense for most of the game, and got to the rim several times against more athletic defenders because of her dribbling. She's also a good passer, and I thought she gave good effort on both ends.
Defensively, she got beat off the dribble a few times. I'm not sure if she's athletic enough to matchup well with very athletic guards at the next level. She also had a couple bad fouls that gave Essence some momentum during their comeback. I also want to see how her shot progresses. She shot 31% from three last year in high school. I'd like to see that number a lot closer to 40% by the time she gets to college.
Overall I question how high her ceiling is at PG. Iowa's offense works best with a dynamic scorer/creator at PG, and I'm not sure Levin will ever be that kind of player. If her shot develops, though, she could be a contributor at the 2 who can also play backup minutes at PG.
If Iowa wants to continue at a high level after Clark graduates, I think a top level PG in the 2023 or 2024 class is a must. Olson and Prince in the 2024 class would be my top 2 targets. Frankly, I'd probably focus most on Olson given that she has some connections to Iowa. I'd love to see the coaches give her the same effort that they gave in recruiting Clark.
Defensively, she got beat off the dribble a few times. I'm not sure if she's athletic enough to matchup well with very athletic guards at the next level. She also had a couple bad fouls that gave Essence some momentum during their comeback. I also want to see how her shot progresses. She shot 31% from three last year in high school. I'd like to see that number a lot closer to 40% by the time she gets to college.
Overall I question how high her ceiling is at PG. Iowa's offense works best with a dynamic scorer/creator at PG, and I'm not sure Levin will ever be that kind of player. If her shot develops, though, she could be a contributor at the 2 who can also play backup minutes at PG.
If Iowa wants to continue at a high level after Clark graduates, I think a top level PG in the 2023 or 2024 class is a must. Olson and Prince in the 2024 class would be my top 2 targets. Frankly, I'd probably focus most on Olson given that she has some connections to Iowa. I'd love to see the coaches give her the same effort that they gave in recruiting Clark.
I believe you’re thinking of Ashlynn Shade, the 2023 guard Iowa is recruiting that received a UConn offer last week. That said, I believe Chris Dailey, UConn’s top assistant, was at both of Olson’s games yesterday (along with Bluder). So unless she were there to see someone else, they appear to be evaluating her.
I know ESPN lists her as a PG, but I think there’s a decent chance Olson ends up as a 2 or 3. She’s listed at 6’1” already and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her get taller than that. Also, and this is sometimes a product of the team makeup, she isn’t playing PG for the Fury currently.
I haven’t seen Prince as much, but she’s pretty tall and lanky as well, so I wonder how tall she’ll end up being too. That said, she does play PG for her AAU club.
It’ll be interesting to see how these recruitments play out down the line. Olson and Prince won’t lack for opportunities and Levin already has a good amount of offers as well. I fully expect games at Carver to be a big plus in recruiting the next few years relative to most other places in the region (Iowa State notwithstanding) so hopefully these national-level recruits will be able to visit.
I think Olson could play the 2 or 3 well. She looks like a really good shooter already. But she also looks good enough on the ball that she could play the 1 if she wanted (or needed) to, and I think we'd want her on the ball unless we got another great PG along with her. That actually could be a choice she's faced with someday: play the 1 at a school like Iowa or play the 2 or 3 at a school like UConn.
I also don't think we should be overly worried if UConn gets involved yet. UConn is a great program, but it's not like they land every player they offer. I'd only be really concerned where a player has stated that a certain school is their dream school and that school then offers them. That could well be what happens with Jenica Lewis someday. She says UConn is her dream school, so if they offer her it's probably game over.
Here's a comment I found recently on a UConn WBB forum:
"I might have to move on from O. Olson though. Iowa is all over her and as a Midwest kid it looks like she's a big fan."
And here's a pretty positive evaluation of her from less than a week ago:
https://www.prepgirlshoops.com/2021/07/north-tartan-meltdown-standouts-day-1/
"I might have to move on from O. Olson though. Iowa is all over her and as a Midwest kid it looks like she's a big fan."
And here's a pretty positive evaluation of her from less than a week ago:
https://www.prepgirlshoops.com/2021/07/north-tartan-meltdown-standouts-day-1/
2023 guard from Kathleen Doyle’s high school. Her recruitment has really taken off the last month or so with offers from Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan, and Tennessee among others. This might be one to keep an eye on.
Iowa also offered Destiny Jackson from the 2025 class.
Also 2024 prospect Taylor Stremlow from Wisconsin.
Iowa also offered Destiny Jackson from the 2025 class.
Also 2024 prospect Taylor Stremlow from Wisconsin.
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Is it just me , but I think watching the women in Carved is gonna be a hoot for years to come
Perfect time to offer her AAU teammate Halle Vice who had a great game in the Nike championship game. Vice is still growing and would be a great addition to the team.
That is my cousin Jarods daughter. Sucks that she has loved Iowa state so much. Her dad went there and so did her uncle.
