Recruiting planner: Iowa gets to think big, pick spots in live period
Iowa has a natural theme and inspiration for men’s basketball recruiting this month.
Think big.
The Hawkeyes have one scholarship open for each of the next two classes, and based on the early offers, coach Fran McCaffery’s staff is coveting an outstanding post player.
As the NCAA’s live evaluation period begins Wednesday, Iowa is focused on finding the right big man or future star for its steady system.
“Everybody gets enamored with rankings and stars,” Iowa assistant coach Andrew Francis said. “Recruiting stars don’t win games. You’ve got to make sure you get the right guy that fits the way you want to play and can help you win.”
Let’s peek into what the Hawkeyes are planning to start the first of three recruiting evaluation periods this month.
The travel
Iowa is aiming high with most of its roster already tied up by young players — 10 sophomores or freshmen for 2016-17 — and that means hitting the top tournaments.
Nike’s Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C., is a perennial hotspot for coaches across the country, and McCaffery plans to make it one of his three stops. Highly-touted incoming freshman Tyler Cook made it to the event’s televised finals last year, a profile boost for him and his eventual program.
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Adidas is hosting its Uprising Gauntlet Finale a couple hours north in Spartanburg, S.C. It was in Atlanta last year going head-to-head with the Peach Jam, and now provides another in-state option for Iowa assistants Sherman Dillard, Kirk Speraw and Francis.
“We’re going to make sure we get out there and see the guys that we’re on, while keeping an eye out for anyone that might catch our attention,” Francis said.
“There are very few under-the-radar guys anymore. There is just too much exposure and there are too many opportunities for guys to be seen.”
Milwaukee, Chicago and Kansas City offer prospects regional choices as well, for programs a step removed from the shoe company-pushed AAU squads.
The plan
The remarkable stability of McCaffery’s staff makes every summer easier; it has been unchanged for six full years. And now they can be pickier than ever.
Fran’s son Connor has already claimed one of the two 2017 spots and projects as a 6-foot-5 point guard. In the 2018 class, Muscatine wing Joe Wieskamp is sticking with the Hawkeyes as his recruiting stock rises nationally. There’s currently only one additional slot that year, too.
If Iowa gets a 2017 commitment out of July’s live periods, it’s sure to be an all-in decision.
“I can see something that I really like in a guy that maybe Sherm or Kirk doesn’t see, but they can also appreciate it.,” Francis said. “The continuity and understanding we have really helps.
“We do a good job of communicating with each other, playing off each other, respecting each other’s opinions, and not necessarily pushing our own individual guys. I don’t want to say it’s unique across the country, but it’s good for us.”
The staff places a premium value on potential fit and development and, given the number of post players they’ve evaluated, will want to see physical maturation this week.
“The most entertaining or fun part of recruiting is the evaluation and then to see where a young guy is from a starting point to when you see them next,” Francis said. “It’s not an exact science and a lot of times you’re wrong. A lot of people on the outside say, ‘Oh, they don’t know how to recruit,’ but you have to look at it both ways.”
The targets
Don’t get too distracted by the stars.
Iowa offered top 50 big men Malik Williams and Derek Culver early in the process, but the big fish have grabbed their attention lately. Blue-bloods Indiana, Louisville and Arizona, along with Florida, are involved.
There are still four-star options: Luka Garza is climbing the 2017 ranks and the 6-foot-11, 235-pound post visited Iowa City back in May. Theo John is a springy 6-foot-9 athlete from Champlin, Minn., and playing AAU with Howard Pulley. Both are slated to be at Peach Jam.
Names with more recent drive include Jack Nunge from Indiana and Tomas Murphy from Massachusetts. The three-star forwards have the Hawkeyes among other mid-major offers and likely fit a more skilled Aaron White mold than the sturdy post presence of an Adam Woodbury.
The 2018 view is still long, with offers out to regional stars and interest in Wieskamp’s Iowa Barnstormers AAU teammates Joey Hauser and A.J. Green.
Expect more names to pop into Iowa’s list before a commitment comes.
“There are no guarantees in this thing,” Francis said.
“So we still want to make sure we evaluate as many guys as possible and we want to make sure we’re prepared so that if Options A, B and C don’t work out, Option D is still a legitimate option.”
NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on unsigned recruiting prospects. July’s first live evaluation period begins at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.