Iowa’s July Happenings
The busiest recruiting month of the year, July is a time for players, college coaches, media, tournament directors, refs, parents and really anyone involved in the grassroots basketball community to get out and grind. The college coaches had three straight live periods to get out and evaluate talent, and there was certainly plenty of it in Iowa — especially the rising-seniors (class of 2019). Below we’ll take a look at who was offered what last month. And we even had a few big commitments come rolling in too.
DJ Carton (Bettendorf) — On July 8th the Bettendorf point guard broke Hawkeyes’ fans hears by narrowing his list to three, and not including Iowa. It was three other Big Ten teams, Ohio State, Michigan and Indiana that made the cut. It didn’t take too long for him to cut that list to one, and days after an official visit to Columbus, OH, on July 11th, the 6-foot-2 five-star prospect announced he’d be attending Ohio State.
https://twitter.com/DJCarton/status/1018211848330588160
Cole Henry (Oskaloosa) — He’s this year’s version of Brady Ernst or Ryan Kreiner; two other guys that had really big Julys in year’s past and picked up a slew of offers. We’re going to just go ahead and make a timeline of all the offers Henry got this summer while playing with Martin Brothers 17U. And it all culminated with an offer from Northern Iowa; something that Henry has mentioned to us in the past would be a “dream offer.”
July 12 — Minnesota State
July 13 — St. Cloud State
July 16 — American
July 18 — Florida Atlantic, Illinois-Chicago
July 18 — Central Michigan
July 20 — Indiana State
July 22 — South Dakota
July 24 — Montana State
July 30 — Northern Iowa
Trey Hutcheson (Linn-Mar) — St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Furman
Karson Sharar (Iowa Falls-Alden) – The 6′ guard became the first 2021 guy in Iowa to pick up an offer. Drake pulled the trigger after a strong showing by Sharar in Milwaukee.
Zach Martinek (West Fork) – Morningside
Noah Carter (Dubuque, Senior) He picked up offers Northern Iowa, Drake and Wofford last month making it seven total Divison I offers to his name. Carter decided to make an early commitment when on July 25th he announced he’d be a Panther. UNI is getting one of the best shooting big-men in the Midwest. He’s got some serious bounce too.
First off I want to thank god for blessing me to be in the position I’m in right now. Second off I would like to say I will be committing to the University of Northern Iowa!!! I want to say thanks to the coaching staff and just say I’m excited to join the #PantherNation 💛💜 pic.twitter.com/4ksTO5jvQg
— Noah Carter (@noah3carter) July 25, 2018
Conner Hill (South Hamilton) – Grand View
Japannah Kellogg (Ames) — We thought the 6’7 wing would have a big July, especially since he played with one of the nation’s best grassroots teams, D1 Minnesota 17U; and he did, picking up three D1 offers from Cal State Poly, Green Bay and NJIT
Jake Hilmer (North Linn) — St. Cloud State, Quincy,
Keegan Murray (Prairie) — Truman State, Upper Iowa
Kris Murray (Prairie) — Truman State, Upper Iowa
Xavier Foster (Oskaloosa) — Things are starting to get really, really serious for the insanely gifted 6’10 forward from Oskaloosa. Foster, a rising junior, added Kansas to his already impressive list of offers. He now got (takes deep breath) ; Iowa, Iowa State, Creighton, Illinois, Texas A&M, Missouri, Baylor, USC, UCLA, St Louis, Rutgers and KANSAS.
Even Brauns (Iowa City West) — Toledo
Collin Lister (Carlisle) — Grand View
Kylan Smallwood (Creston) — Wayne State
Bowen Born (Norwalk) — The extraordinarily skilled Norwalk point guard picked up his second Division I offer recently, this one from Drake. Born’s first offer came in the spring from Northern Iowa.
TJ Schnurr (Bishop Garrigan) — Morningside (committed)
Logan Wolf (Cedar Falls) — A Division I football and basketball standout, Wolf will stay right at home in Cedar Falls for college. He committed to play both sports at Northern Iowa.
Evan Gauger (Indianola) — Truman State, Central Missouri, Wayne State