RECRUITING

Recruiting mailbag: Iowa in mix for Liam Robbins? Tyrese Hunter near a decision on Iowa State?

Matthew Bain
Des Moines Register

Hi, everyone. Welcome, once again, to the recruiting mailbag. 

We've just about reached fever pitch when it comes to transfer recruiting in Iowa.

Iowa State and T.J. Otzelberger are all over the transfer portal. Drake, after losing Joseph Yesufu, is active. Iowa's Fran McCaffery is dipping into the  portal to find some help down low after losing Luka Garza and Jack Nunge. And, despite a pretty full roster, Northern Iowa is talking with a few guys in the portal, too.

Busy times.

So, let's get right into this week's questions, which focus on if Iowa is recruiting Liam Robbins, when Tyrese Hunter might make a decision, if Iowa State recruited Yesufu and what's next for Drake after Yesufu. Plus, I discuss a handful of in-state 2023 and 2024 prospects in both basketball and football that I think you should keep an eye on.

Is Iowa recruiting Minnesota transfer Liam Robbins?

Yes.

I was told Tuesday by a source directly tied into the situation that Iowa has been in contact with Robbins and is recruiting him. Robbins, a 7-footer out of Davenport, is transferring after one season at Minnesota, in which he logged 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no Zoom visits with Robbins had been scheduled yet with Iowa.

Before Minnesota, Robbins played two seasons at Drake. He became a rising star as a sophomore, when he averaged 14.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. He entered the transfer portal following that season and could have played just about anywhere. He chose to play for his uncle, Minnesota associate head coach Ed Conroy, with the Gophers.

Now, Robbins could probably play just about anywhere again.

Minnesota-based recruiting reporter Ryan James reported there's some noise tying Conroy to an assistant coaching job at Vanderbilt. That, in turn, makes Vanderbilt a logical contender to land Robbins. He would get to play for his uncle again, and he'd be able to stay in a high-major conference.

But, yes, Iowa is also involved at the moment.

And it has a strong recruiting pitch. It might go a little something like this ...

So, you grew up in Davenport rooting for the Hawkeyes? Cool. Oh, did you see what kind of success Luka Garza had here? Oh yeah, you saw that? Well, we think you're a similar player who could have similar success in our system. And with Garza and Jack Nunge gone, you'll be our main guy in the paint. 

We'll probably know where Robbins winds up before too long. He didn't waste time making a decision last offseason. I doubt he will this time around, either.

Before Minnesota, Liam Robbins played two seasons at Drake. He became a rising star as a sophomore, when he averaged 14.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.

Iowa is also recruiting North Dakota transfer Filip Rebraca, a 6-9 graduate transfer who averaged 16.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while knocking down 36.6% of his long-range shots this past season. 

The Hawkeyes had a Zoom visit with Rebraca on Monday.

"The staff’s primary thing was trying to show me how I could fit in the offense if I went there," Rebraca told me of the visit. "I was really impressed by the way they play and it seems fun to play that type of basketball."

Virginia Tech, San Diego State, South Carolina, Tulsa and Minnesota are among the other schools recruiting Rebraca, he said.

Both Robbins and Rebraca would have two years of eligibility.

Anything new with Iowa State signee Tyrese Hunter?

Yes.

Things may by finally approaching the finish line with Tyrese Hunter, the four-star Cyclone signee who has been on the fence about sticking with Iowa State since the university fired Steve Prohm and hired Otzelberger last month.

Nick Bennett, Hunter's high school coach at St. Catherine's in Milwaukee, told me Tuesday that the 6-1 point guard is making a decision "soon." I'm under the impression the Iowa State staff feels a conclusion is near, as well.

Beyond Otzelberger's initial Zoom visit with Hunter the day of his introductory press conference, I was told the Cyclones had a Zoom visit with Hunter last week and are potentially planning one for this upcoming weekend, as well. 

Things may by finally approaching the finish line with Tyrese Hunter, the four-star Cyclone signee who has been on the fence about sticking with Iowa State since the university fired Steve Prohm and hired T.J. Otzelberger last month.

The Cyclones have gone all-out will continue to go all-out on Hunter until he makes a decision. He is their No. 1 recruiting priority. No plans will take place for Otzelberger's backcourt until Hunter makes a choice. Iowa State has made that clear.

If there's no news by this weekend, it may come early next week.

Was Iowa State recruiting Drake transfer Joseph Yesufu?

No, Iowa State was not recruiting Drake point guard transfer Joseph Yesufu.

Was he good enough to get recruited? Yes. He just committed to Kansas on Tuesday over an impressive list of suitors that included USC, Georgia, Minnesota, Arizona State, Wisconsin and Nebraska. I'd also heard Gonzaga may have been involved.

But the Cyclones weren't. Really, they couldn't be involved right now.

Yesufu is a ball-dominant point guard. So is Hunter.

Iowa State would've been foolish to recruit another ball-dominant point guard right now. The staff is doing everything it can to show Hunter how vital he is to their plans. Why would they recruit another guy who plays just like him while they're trying to do that?

That's why, if you see a point guard include Iowa State in his final of schools on Twitter right now, take that with a grain of salt. Some of the schools you see connected to transfers on Twitter called just once, without any follow-up or real recruitment. 

What is Drake going to do now that Yesufu has transferred?

Before Yesufu transferred, I leaned toward thinking Drake would add a transfer.

Now, I'd be quite surprised if it didn't add a transfer.

Marvin Johnson, a 6-6 guard, is probably the most talked-about target. The Eastern Illinois transfer averaged 15.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals this season. He announced a final four of Drake, Arkansas, Mississippi State and New Mexico State a couple weeks ago.

I didn't hear back from him this week. But, soon after he announced his final four, Johnson told me a few things. First, he loved what Drake wad building. Second, he wanted to play somewhere he could have a point guard role. Third, he wanted to play somewhere "that has all the pieces to win."

Drake is recruiting Eastern Illinois transfer Marvin Johnson.

I'm not sure he would have had enough minutes in a point guard role with Yesufu at Drake. Without Yesufu, more minutes open up for Johnston alongside Roman Penn. And the Bulldogs, more than most teams, have the pieces to win, at least at their level in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Arkansas also just added Miami point guard transfer Chris Lykes. In theory, that eats up minutes Johnson wants and could eliminate the Razorbacks.

Drake is also recruiting Terry Roberts, a junior college point guard out of Florida SouthWestern — which gave Drake the Murphy twins, D.J. Wilkins, ShanQuan Hemphill (after a stop at Wisconsin-Green Bay) and assistant coach Marty Richter. The Bulldogs haven't yet offered Roberts, who holds offers from Bradley, South Florida, St. Bonaventure, Southern Illinois, Southern Miss and Fresno State, among other mid-majors.

Omaha transfer Ayo Akinwole also told me he has been in contact with Drake assistant coach Matt Gatens since he entered the transfer portal March 30. Other schools to make contact include Bradley, SIU, North Texas, Wyoming and Sam Houston State.

Akinwole scored 14 points and shot 4-for-7 from long range in the Bulldogs' 87-66 win over Omaha back in early December.

Who are some of the top 2023 and 2024 prospects in the state?

Let's run through a few talented in-state freshmen and sophomores in basketball and football to close out this week's mailbag. I'll include a few from each class.

Basketball

  • Omaha Biliew, SF, Waukee (2023): Duh.
  • Pryce Sandfort, SF, Waukee (2023): A 6-6 wing who shoots just about 50% on 3s.
  • Daniel Tobiloba, C, Grand View Christian (2023): A 7-footer with promising athleticism who dominates Class 1A basketball.
  • Dallas Bear, PF, Cedar Falls (2023): A 6-7 stretch forward who's a knockdown 3-point shooter. Already holds a Bryant offer.
  • Blaise Porter, PG, New London (2023): A crafty scorer and smart passer who also holds a Bryant offer.
  • Kenzie Reed, PG, Cedar Rapids Kennedy (2023): Quick and smart. Advanced knowledge of the game.
  • Drew Kingery, CG, Indianola (2023): At 6-4, has the length, ball skills and defensive versatility to be special.
  • Tyon Wright, PF, Des Moines East (2024): Wright is a 6-6 (and growing) athlete who averaged 10.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per game as a freshman in the CIML. 
  • Caden Wilkins, SF, Bettendorf (2024): A guard/forward blend who's pushing 6-5 right now. Averaged 5.4 points per game this year and started five of 12 games.
  • Kareem Earl, SF, Iowa City West (2024): Another guard/forward blend, Earl was 6-4 this year and averaged 7.3 points per game while shooting 36.8% on 3s.

Football

  • Kadyn Proctor, OL, Southeast Polk (2023): Not only the best sophomore in Iowa, but one of the best in the country. Offers from just about everywhere.
  • Andrew Depaepe, DE, Pleasant Valley (2023): A big, 6-5, 230-pound athlete with early offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Arizona State, Michigan State and more.
  • Jonathan Humpal, RB, Lewis Central (2023): The next in Lewis Central's growing line of Power Five prospects. Holds Iowa State offer.
  • Alex Mota, ATH, Marion (2023): We'll see what position he plays in college, but a heck of an athlete with an Iowa State offer.
  • David Borchers, DT, North Scott (2023): A 6-4, 250-pound defensive lineman with offers from Iowa State and Nebraska.
  • Jaxon Smolik, QB, Dowling Catholic; J.J. Kohl, QB, Ankeny Centennial; Jamison Patton, QB/ATH, Des Moines Roosevelt (2023): A trio of impressive sophomore quarterbacks who will play on Saturdays.
  • Watts McBride, DB, Cedar Rapids Washington (2023): Highly productive and physical defensive back who flies all over the field.
  • Tono Cornell, DL, Independence (2024): A physical, two-way lineman who is physically way ahead of the curve for a freshman.

Matthew Bain covers recruiting, Drake basketball and pretty much anything else under the sports sun for the Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Network.  Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.