Recruiting Report: Bailey Basala (2017)
Iowa’s top-newcomer this season, Bailey Basala transferred into North Scott from Illinois and instantly became a top-5 prospect in the 2017 class. A 6-foot-6 shooting with the Iowa Barnstormers in the offseason, the versatile junior is more of a…
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Continue ReadingIowa’s top-newcomer this season, Bailey Basala transferred into North Scott from Illinois and instantly became a top-5 prospect in the 2017 class.
A 6-foot-6 shooting with the Iowa Barnstormers in the offseason, the versatile junior is more of a post threat with the Lancers, but extends his game to the perimeter with them also.
He’s being recruited as a wing right now by some Division I programs – including one in-state mid-major.
“UNI is looking at me, Western Illinois, University of Montana, Air Force – those are the ones that are looking at me the most,” said Basala.
The talented wing – Iowa’s 5th-ranked 2017 – had been hearing from Des Moines D1 Drake.
“I haven’t really talked with them at all recently,” said Basala.
He says Air Force recently came to watch him practice, and the others are texting and sending mail.
“I’ve gotten text messages from UNI, and letters from all of them, and then Air Force came to my practice last Monday – their coach just said he liked what he saw,” said Basala, who is eager to receive his first offer.
“This summer I’m hoping to get an offer, and I think they’ll come around. Once I get one I think they’ll really start coming.”
Still working to fully transition into a guard, Basala says his ball-handling has improved the most of late.
“Ever since I started ninth grade I’ve been converting to a guard, so I already know how to play in the post. I’m definitely not 100 percent ready to become a shooting guard, but I’m more comfortable than I ever have been right now. I still need to work on my ball-control and my ball-handling and everything right now,” he said.
“The most improvements I’ve seen since last spring is just my ball-handling, and just coming off ball-screens, and then just making decisions off ball screens.”
He missed the first part of the season for the Lancers, but has come on strong since, averaging 18.8 points, and 7.2 rebounds per game.
“My teammates look to me as a leader. When I first moved here they treated me like I’ve been here my whole life – they didn’t really treat me any different,” he said.
“I think I’ve done pretty well with playing within myself, and I’ve played well with my teammates.”