Recruiting Notebook: Uncommitted Seniors (2021)
The Class of 2021 has been a weird recruiting class to say the least and some kids chose to jump on scholarships early on in the process and others have committed during the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to highlight and…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2021 has been a weird recruiting class to say the least and some kids chose to jump on scholarships early on in the process and others have committed during the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to highlight and update some recruitments of seniors who haven’t wrapped up the process and are hearing from multiple schools with a decision on the horizon:
Karson Sharar Karson Sharar 6'2" | SG Iowa Falls-Alden | 2021 State IA – Iowa Falls-Alden HS
Though Sharar is a top rated basketball prospect in the state in this class, he also has seen his stock rise quite quickly on the gridiron. Though interest has slowed down on the basketball side, there is still interest. His recruitment has started to heat up lately on the football side pulling in offers just yesterday from FCS schools South Dakota State, and Northern Iowa. He also has started hearing Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, though those relationships are in the early stages, to go along with other offers/interest from all levels.
Jack Groeteke Jack Groeteke 6'9" | C Dowling Catholic | 2021 State IA – Dowling Catholic HS
A recruitment that started to take off more and more this summer was Groeteke’s. He is hearing a lot of different levels of schools. Nebraska Wesleyan has offered to go along with interest from DI programs such as Niagara, UNI, Utah State, South Dakota State, UMKC and Cal Poly. Jack has also been talking to DII programs Truman State and Northwest Missouri State. Jack will play out his high school season and see where he fits best when the dust settles.
Ra’mir Scott Ra’mir Scott 5'11" | PG Waterloo East | 2021 State IA – Waterloo East HS
Ra’mir had a good summer season playing with Waterloo Salvation and will look to take that momentum into the high school hoops season. With his play Scott has garnered interest from some in-state junior college programs such as DMACC, Iowa Lakes, and Kirkwood to go along with NAIA program Mount Mercy.
Kieren Nichols Kieren Nichols 5'11" | PG Knoxville | 2021 State IA – Knoxville HS
Someone who was not able to play travel ball this past summer because of an injury to his wrist but was primed for a breakout summer was Nichols. The athletic point guard has an offer from NAIA Morningside to go along with various interest from JuCo program DMACC, and DIII schools Central and Buena Vista. Being a multiple sport athlete Nichols also has interest NAIA and DIII schools for football and track. Kieren will decide after the basketball season as the injury has pushed back his timeline.
Ty Walker Ty Walker 5'11" | PG Valley | 2021 State IA – Valley HS
With the pandemic going on, Walker was one of many recruits who said it’s been hard to get out on visits to schools during the recruiting season. With that being said, he did just recently pick up an offer from DIII program Simpson College. He also has interest from DII programs and some low DI programs to go along with additional interest from other NAIA and DIII programs. He would like to get out of state to visit some schools when allowed to before making decision.
Ben Loverude Ben Loverude 6'6" | PF Dmc | 2021 State IA – Des Moines Christian HS
A prospect who sort of came out of nowhere for me this past summer was Loverude who continuously showed and used his length effectively in whatever competition he was in. His recruitment consists of 4 total offers right now from NAIA programs Morningside, Nebraska Wesleyan, and Dordt in addition to DIII Central. There are other interested programs in the DII and low DI ranks as well that have been in contact and inquired. He has visited all 4 schools that have offered, and is looking to take more visits when he is able to before making a decision.
Wyatt Heston Wyatt Heston 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State IA – Waukee HS
The 6’7 shooter out of Waukee has seen his stock rise this summer after playing with #2 2021 rated player Payton Sandfort Payton Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #138 Nation IA and Kingdom Hoops. Wyatt has visited Northwest Missouri State and Concordia, to go along with interest from DMACC and other in-state DIII, NAIA programs such as Simpson. He will look to make a decision after the high school season.
Carter Janssen Carter Janssen 6'5" | SF Cedar Falls | 2021 State IA – Cedar Falls HS
Having recently picked up his first offer from DMACC, Janssen has a plethora of schools recruiting him as a wing/forward player who can shoot it from the outside and stretch the defense. In addition to DMACC he is also hearing from junior college programs NIACC and Iowa Lakes and DII programs such as Upper Iowa, Wayne State, Nebraska-Kearney, and Bemidji State. He is looking at getting a visit setup to Wayne State, DMACC, NIACC and possibly more depending on the pandemic.
TJ Harkins TJ Harkins 6'0" | SG Earlham | 2021 State IA – Earlham HS
The sharp shooting guard out of Earlham is also apart of a pretty good cross country team in the Fall so he hasn’t had the availability to take visits yet but will be looking to do so in the upcoming weeks leading up to basketball season. He is hearing from DII Northern State and Colorado State-Colorado Springs to go along with NAIA Midland, and DIII schools Simpson and Carthage College. He is looking to make his college decision after the high school basketball season.
Chase Bartlett Chase Bartlett 6'2" | SG Southeast Polk | 2021 State IA – Southeast Polk HS
Though Bartlett told me his recruitment has been a little slow, he has some momentum going into the high school season after he showed off his sharp shooting ability this summer with Kingdom Hoops. Bartlett is hearing from DII Central Missouri and DIII Simpson consistently right now and he plans on taking a visit to both programs in the near future. Chase has no decision date set right now, but will decide after the winter season is over.
Trae Swartz Trae Swartz 6'4" | SF Ottumwa | 2021 State IA – Ottumwa HS
A prospect who has started to heat up in the recruitment department this fall is Swartz. Though that recruitment has been heating up more on the gridiron than the hardwood at the moment. Swartz is a prototypical framed TE at the next level and has offers from a number of schools such as JuCo powerhouse Iowa Western, DII programs NW Missouri State, Central Missouri, Upper Iowa, Minnesota State, Wayne State, Missouri Western State plus NAIA and DIII programs Simpson and William Penn. He does have additional football interest such as DI programs like Iowa State, South Dakota St., and transitioning St Thomas plus others. On the hardwood Swartz has been fielding interest from Air Force, VMI, UNC-Wilmington, and Wofford at the DI level in addition to DII schools Emporia State and Southwest Minnesota State and NAIA programs Grand View and Morningside. Swartz is undecided on which sport he will play at the next level but will look to setup visits in the future in addition to the ones he’s already taken before making a decision.
James Glenn James Glenn 6'2" | PG Sep | 2021 State IA – Southeast Polk HS
Coming fresh off of a summer where Glenn showed why he’s heralded as a top scorer in the 2021 class. Programs are taking notice and Glenn has churned out opportunities from DMACC and NAIA William Penn. He has already visited William Penn and is planning a visit to DMACC this Friday. He has also visited Wisconsin-Platteville, a DIII program. In addition to his visits and offers Glenn has interest from JuCo programs Iowa Lakes and Kirkwood. I see Glenn’s game matching well with the junior college or NAIA scene.