RECRUITING

Here are the top 21 Division I basketball prospects at Iowa's junior colleges

Matthew Bain
Des Moines Register

There's a considerable amount of quality junior college basketball programs in Iowa.

In Division I of the National Junior College Athletic Association, you've got Ottumwa's Indian Hills, a perennial title contender that's ranked No. 6 in the latest top 25. Southeastern is a traditionally strong team, as well.

In Division II, DMACC is No. 3 in the country, Estherville's Iowa Lakes is No. 8 and Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids, which won the national title in 2018-19, is No. 20. Iowa Western, which just moved to D-II this year, is also a consistently good program.

All that means there are lots of Division I-caliber prospects at Iowa's junior colleges.

With the NCAA's one-time immediate eligibility rule, the transfer portal filled to the brim and colleges are recruiting from the portal more than ever ... and not recruiting junior colleges as much as usual. But, the top guys are still getting quality looks.

Here's a breakdown of Iowa's D-I juco talent in this odd 2021 recruiting cycle.

Indian Hills

Tyem Freeman, SF

Recruiting interest: Tulsa, South Florida, New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Murray State, Pittsburgh, Iowa State

A former three-star recruit in Missouri State's 2019 class, Freeman, out of Springfield, Missouri, is an explosive, 6-6 wing who's a highlight waiting to happen. So far this season, he's averaging 18 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Iowa State is among the many schools recruiting Indian Hills wing Tyem Freeman.

Chris Payton, PF

Recruiting interest: Iowa State, Southern Illinois, Kent State, Maryland

Payton, a product of Bloomington, Illinois, was originally a three-star recruit in Southern Illinois' 2019 class. He's a 6-7 stretch forward averaging a double-double (12.6 points and 10 rebounds per game) while shooting 58.9% and 36.4% from outside.

Indian Hills forward Chris Payton is receiving recruiting interest from Iowa State and many more high-majors.

Tyrese Nickelson, PG

Recruiting interest: Omaha, Montana State, Youngstown State, UNC Asheville,  Western Michigan, New Hampshire

From Waterloo East, Nickelson has blossomed into as reliable a point guard as you'll find. The 6-2 athlete who oozes effort is averaging 10.8 points, three rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc.

Indian Hills point guard Tyrese Nickelson is receiving low-major and mid-major interest from across the country.

Curtis Jones, PG

Recruiting interest: Buffalo, Colorado State, Missouri State, Bradley

A long, 6-5 point guard out of Minneapolis powerhouse Cretin-Derham Hall, Jones has consistently impressed. He's a quality shooter who's active all over the floor, averaging 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 39.8% on 3s.

DMACC

Willie Guy, PG

Recruiting interest: Committed to North Dakota State

Guy is a 6-foot point guard from Cedar Rapids Jefferson who played mostly off the ball in high school. He has transformed into a high-level pure point guard at DMACC, averaging 12.5 points and six assists per game while shooting 39.3% on 3s.

DMACC point guard Willie Guy has committed to North Dakota State.

Ryan Schmitt, C

Recruiting interest: Omaha, Cornell, Holy Cross, South Dakota, Idaho

Schmitt is a sturdy, 6-11 post player with nice athleticism and footwork. The Van Meter product is averaging 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 59.8%.

DMACC center Ryan Schmitt is a graduate of Van Meter.

Zach Hobbs, SG

Recruiting interest: Omaha, South Dakota, Western Illinois, NJIT, Idaho, Missouri-Kansas City

Hobbs is a 6-5 guard who's knocking down his 3s at a 41.5% rate, averaging 11 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He's a product of Mesa, Arizona.

Goanar Biliew, PF

Recruiting interest: Omaha, SIUE, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, UIC

Biliew, a product of Denison-Schleswig, is a super athlete with quickly developing footwork and technical skills. There's big-time upside for the 6-8 older brother of Waukee five-star sophomore Omaha Biliew.

DMACC forward Goanar Biliew is getting recruited by Omaha, SIUE, South Dakota State, North Dakota State and UIC.

Christian Haffner, PG

Recruiting interest: Idaho

A 6-1 point guard out of Gresham, Wisconsin, Haffner has been a lights-out shooter this year with a 44.9% 3-point stroke. He's averaging 12 points and two assists per game.

Iowa Western

Dewayne Vass, PG

Recruiting interest: Western Michigan, Omaha, Utah Valley, Incarnate Word, Cleveland State, New Hampshire

There's a lot to like with Vass, who's from Buffalo, New York. He's 6-3 with good size. He's averaging 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. And he's shooting 40.3% from 3-point range.

Marcedus Leech, SF

Recruiting interest: Coastal Carolina, New Hampshire, Towson

Formerly a part of Iowa State's 2019 recruiting class, Leech has had success at Iowa Western. The 6-5 lefty wing is averaging 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 39.2% from outside. Leech is a good athlete with upside.

Roland McCoy, SG

Recruiting interest: Northern Arizona

A 6-2 guard out of Chicago, McCoy has size and is a good rebounder for his position, averaging 11.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 36.3% on 3s.

Karl Jones, PF

Recruiting interest: Louisiana-Monroe, Western Illinois, Georgia State

Jones is a 6-10 product of Chicago high school juggernaut Morgan Park. He has played limited minutes in 17 games this year, but his size and skill are hard to ignore. He's scoring at a 72.7% clip.

Joe Doyle, PF

Recruiting interest: Arkansas Pine Bluff

Another 6-10 Chicago player, this time from Corliss, Doyle is in a similar situation as Jones: limited minutes, but impressive abilities. He's averaging 2.4 points and four rebounds per game while shooting 66.7%.

Southeastern

Jimmy Beane, SG

Recruiting interest: Big Sky, Summit, Ohio Valley programs

Beane is a 6-5 perimeter player from South Bend, Indiana, with Division I upside. He fought through an injury this year and has played just seven games, but he's averaging 8.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from outside.

Zurabi Zhgenti, PF/C

Recruiting interest: Summit, Horizon programs

A 6-8 post player from the country Georgia, Zhgenti has shown promise as a stretch forward. His stroke is good — 84.6% on free throws — so the 25% clip (9-for-36) from long range should only improve. He's logging five points and 2.7 boards per game.

Kirkwood

Corvon Seales, SG

Recruiting interest: South Dakota State, Missouri-Kansas City, Omaha

Seales, a former North Scott star, played a season at Division II Minnesota State before transferring to Kirkwood. He's a do-it-all, 6-3 guard averaging 13.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 51.6% overall and 32.9% on 3s.

Marshalltown

Nuha Sagnia, C

Recruiting interest: Low- to mid-major programs

Sagnia is a 6-11 post player from Gambia in West Africa, and he's got upside. He averages 9.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 55%. In limited reps, he has also shown potential from 3-point range (3-for-10).

Iowa Lakes

Ryan Hall, SG

Recruiting interest: Wright State, North Alabama, Idaho, Kennesaw State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Hall is a long, 6-5 guard who can play on the ball but has a scorer's touch. The product of Kettering, Ohio, is averaging 13.4 points, four rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while knocking down 43.5% from outside.

NIACC

McKelary Robertson, PG

Recruiting interest: UC Davis

Robertson is a highly productive 6-foot point guard out of Woodbury, Minnesota. This season, he's averaging 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 45.6% overall, 42.6% on 3s and 83.7% on free throws.

Ellsworth

Adam Jackson, PG

Recruiting interest: Division IIs and low-major Division Is

Jackson, a Des Moines Hoover product, is a volume shooter and scorer who is asked to do a lot on offense for Ellsworth. This season, the 6-footer is averaging 22.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 32.2% from long range.

Matthew Bain covers recruiting 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_.