Hear that?
That's the sound of Division I college basketball coaching staffsacross the country buying plane tickets, reserving rental cars and hashing out where each coach will go to evaluate prospects or show love to targets throughout July.
Because July's live evaluation periods— the most crucialand helpfuldays in the recruiting calendar, which coaches and prospects missed so dearly last year due to COVID-19— are back.
The Cyclones already have two 2022 recruits in Ames three-star point guard Tamin Lipsey and Minnesota four-star combo guard Eli King. With the NCAA granting all student-athletes one extra year of eligibility in response to COVID-19, Iowa State doesn't have any players whohaveto leave after this 2021-22 season. So,it's still somewhat up in the air how many players the Cyclones will add in the 2022 class.
- MORE:Tamin Lipsey: Here's why I'm committing to Iowa State basketball
It is clear, however, they're looking to add at least one more.
Here's a look at 14 prospects Iowa State coaches will pay attention to during the July 8-11, July 16-18 and July 23-25 live periods. Three are in 2022 (two targets and one potential target) and the rest are 2023 talents, as, with two 2022 guys already in tow, the Cyclones are eyeing an early start in 2023, where they have yet to extend an offer.
Class of 2022
Demarion Watson, SF, Totino-Grace (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
AAU team:Grassroots Sizzle
At least for the 2022 class, head coach T.J. Otzelberger has proven Iowa State will give Minnesota the same kind of recruiting attention it will give its own state. The Cyclones have landed King andLipsey, teammates on D1 Minnesota, so far in 2022.
Demarion Watson is their next Minnesota must-have.
A consensus four-star prospect who combines top-notch shooting and elite athleticism in a 6-foot-7 frame, Watson officially visited Iowa State in late June and Vanderbilt in early July. Schools such as Minnesota and Cal are also heavily involved.
Watson has been right at the top of Iowa State's big board since Otzelberger hired Kyle Green, who recruited Watson at Northern Iowa.The coaches routinely Zoom Watson along with King and Lipsey to give him a feel for his potential future teammates.
- MORE:How Iowa State has positioned itself well with 4-star SF Demarion Watson
Anthony Black, CG, Coppell (Coppell, Texas)
AAU team:3d Empire
Some were surprised when Iowa State landed its late-June official visit with Black, a 6-7 athlete who can play pretty much anywhere on the perimeter. Why was a Texas guy, who had already officially visited Texas and Oklahoma State, seeing Ames?
Well, Black's dad is Terry Black, a Baylor Hall of Fame basketball player who grew upgrew up in Milwaukee (attended Messmer High) and played two seasons at Ottumwa's Indian Hills before heading to Baylor in 1999.Otzelberger and assistant coach J.R. Blount have deep ties in Milwaukee, and Black played at Indian Hills right after assistant coach Daniyal Robinson's two years there.
Since his Cyclones visit, Black has surged in the national recruiting rankings (247Sports gives him five stars and ranks him No. 16 overall in the class) and he's landed offers from Duke, Kansas and Memphis.
Iowa State is still in the mix, though. Blount has been working this recruitment hard ever since Otzelberger brought him onboard. You'd better believe he and Otzelberger will be a regular presence at Black's AAU games in July.
Taj Manning, PF, Bishop Miege(Mission, Kansas)
AAU team:KC Run GMC
Unlike Watson and Black, Manning doesn't currently hold an Iowa State offer. But there ismutual interest here, and the Cyclones hosted Manning for an unofficial visit in June. The Cyclones will continue to evaluate him this month.
Manning is a 6-7 combination forward who has rim-to-3-point-line range and good athleticism. He holds offers from Tulsa, New Mexico, Missouri State and Creighton.
Class of 2023
Pryce Sandfort, SF, Waukee Northwest
AAU team:OSA Crusaders
The 6-6-and-growing younger brother of Iowa freshman Payton Sandfort, Pryce Sandfort has the full attention of Iowa State, as well as Iowa, Northern Iowa andDrake. Several out-of-state programs, including Clemson and Butler, are also eyeing the 45% sharpshooter who can play anywhere on the perimeter. Heck, Iowa is even looking at him as a potential point guard.
Dallas Bear, SF, Cedar Falls
AAU team: Iowa Barnstormers
Bear, a 6-8 combination forward who shot 41.7% from long range as a sophom*ore, holds early offers from Bryant and Augustana (South Dakota), plus interest from Iowa State, Iowa, Marquette, Northern Iowa, Drake, Belmont, Omaha, North Dakota State, Milwaukee,Nebraska, Clemson, South Dakota State, South Dakota andPrinceton.
Blaise Porter, PG, New London
AAU team:Iowa Barnstormers
Porter already holds offers from Bryant and IUPUI, plus interest from Iowa State, Virginia, Northern Iowa, Drake, Belmont, Omaha,North Dakota State and South Dakota. He's a 6-foot bulldog who's been ridiculously productive in high school and could be scary good by the time he's a senior.
Daniel Tobiloba, C, Grand View Christian
AAU team: All Iowa Attack
Tobiloba is a 7-footer who has wreaked havoc on Class 1A Iowa high school basketball the past two years. But he proved he can protect the rim at a high level during the spring AAU season, as well. Iowa State, Missouri and South Dakota are among the schools paying the most attention.
Parker Friedrichsen, SG, Bixby (Bixby, Oklahoma)
AAU team: Tulsa Hawks
The Cyclones hosted Friedrichsen, a 6-4shooting guard out of the Tulsa area, for an unofficial visit in June. He currently holds offers from Montana State, Rider, Oral Roberts, Tulsa, UTSA, Detroit Mercy and Rice. Still relatively under the radar, he's starting to generate more high-major interest. In addition to his Ames visit, Friedrichsen also visited Nebraska and Virginia Tech in June.
Cameron Christie, SG, Rolling Meadows (Rolling Meadows, Illinois)
AAU team:Illinois Wolves
Recognize the last name? Cameron Christie, a 6-3 shooting guard from the Chicagoland area, is the younger brother of Max Christie, a five-star Iowa State target in the 2021 class who signed with Michigan State. Cameron holds early offers from Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State.
Asa Thomas, SF, Lake Forest (Lake Forest, Illinois)
AAU team: Illinois Wolves
Christie's AAU teammate, Asa Thomas is another Chicagoland product. He's a versatile, 6-5 wing who already holds offers from Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, DePaul, Illinois and Marquette. Thomas is supremely skilled and can stroke it consistently from long range.
Colin Hardrick, SG, Wauwatosa West (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
AAU team: Wisconsin Playground Club
Originally a part of the 2022 class, Hardrick told the Register he will reclassify to 2023 because he won't turn 16 until August. A quick, athletic 6-3 guard, Hardrick unofficially visited Iowa State in June and hails from Otzelberger and Blount's home city of Milwaukee. Heholds a Grambling State offer.
Omaha Biliew, SF, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida)
AAU team: MOKAN Elite
Biliew, the nationally sought-after 6-8 wing who is transferring from Waukee to Montverde Academy for his final two high school seasons, unofficially visited Iowa State in June. He also visited Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas. Biliew is the No. 2 player in the country, according to Rivals.
- MORE:Omaha Biliew explains why he's transferring to Montverde Academy
Drew Kingery, CG, Indianola
AAU team: Beyond Ball
Kingery is a well-rounded, 6-4 combo guard who has steadily opened more and more eyes over his freshman and sophom*ore seasons at Indianola. Iowa State is paying attention, as is Iowa,Drake, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State and Omaha.
Chase Henderson, PG, Des Moines Hoover
AAU team: All Iowa Attack
Henderson, a 6-foot point guard with a natural feel for the game, has a chance to follow in Tyreke Locure's footsteps to be the next Des Moines Public Schools basketball product to sign with a Division Ischool out of high school. Iowa State,Omaha, Drake, Arizona State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State andSouth Dakota are paying attention.
Matthew Bain is the deputy sports editor for the Des Moines Register. He still covers some recruiting, too.Contact him atmbain@dmreg.comand follow him on Twitter@MatthewBain_.
