[AHawk1]

I hope your right.

[Drakebulldog93]

Originally Posted by AHawk1

I cant believe she would turn down UCONN.

IIRC, she has family that does live in CT, a grandfather or great uncle. I lived in CT when Geno first was hired. It was like Fennelly at ISU.Only a few dozen fans (family of the players) the first year. Now a UCONN women's game is sold out whether its Gampel Pavilion or the Hartford Civic Center, and every women's game is broadcast throughout CT.

Nothing against Bluder, but I think this comes down to whether she wants to play with friends and be close to her folks, or be challenged like she will never be anywhere else by Geno. Not everyone responds to Geno's methods. He got back to back #1 players in the country in Maya Moore, and followed that up with Elana Delle Donne.

Moore is a three time All American, while Delle Donne left two days after she enrolled at UCONN saying she was unable at the time to uphold the level of commitment required to play for the UCONN Huskies.

I hope she comes to Iowa, as I feel Bluder has things going in the right direction. One thing the Lady Hawk need is size. Stokes would be a four year starter at Iowa, IMO.

[tiggerhawk]

Originally Posted by AHawk1

I cant believe she would turn down UCONN.

Believe it. IF she doesn't play at Iowa for Bluder it will be because she goes to Tennessee to play for Pat Summit.

But bet that she becomes a Hawkeye. She is a big fan, her best friend, Jade Rodgers, joins Bluder's bunch next year, she has a second good friend already on the team in BT FOY Jaime Printy, she has another friend in her same class already committed to Iowa in Virginia Johnson, she loves Bluder, and she attends every Iowa home game, thus knows how very special Theira Taylor is.

Perhaps the more difficult selling job for Bluder is to win the battle with Bill Fennelly and Iowa State for 6-1 combo F/G Taylor Greenfield, another HS junior, from Ballard-Huxley in Central Iowa, and another top 50 prospect in the national rankings. One of her former teammates plays for Moo, and proximity to Ames could be a big factor, but while Fennelly has the basis for another of his usual Big-12 competitive teams, the talent level will be far below that of the Hawkeyes...with or without Stokes (but successfully recruiting Greenfield would be another huge plus getting Stokes to stay home as a Hawkeye--and Fennelly has NO CHANCE with Stokes).

Little doubt in my mind that a team of Morgan Johnson, Stokes, Virginia Johnson, Taylor Greenfield, Printy, Taylor, and the deadly outside shooting PG Kathryn Reynolds (the top 100 girl from Cincinnati who committed as a junior) could/would win BT championships & contend for the national title--size, shot-blocking, great speed, athleticism, excellent ball-handling & passing skills, and shooters unlikely to be matched anywhere.

[BALDIES7980]

Originally Posted by tiggerhawk

Believe it. IF she doesn't play at Iowa for Bluder it will be because she goes to Tennessee to play for Pat Summit.

But bet that she becomes a Hawkeye. She is a big fan, her best friend, Jade Rodgers, joins Bluder's bunch next year, she has a second good friend already on the team in BT FOY Jaime Printy, she has another friend in her same class already committed to Iowa in Virginia Johnson, she loves Bluder, and she attends every Iowa home game, thus knows how very special Theira Taylor is.

Perhaps the more difficult selling job for Bluder is to win the battle with Bill Fennelly and Iowa State for 6-1 combo F/G Taylor Greenfield, another HS junior, from Ballard-Huxley in Central Iowa, and another top 50 prospect in the national rankings. One of her former teammates plays for Moo, and proximity to Ames could be a big factor, but while Fennelly has the basis for another of his usual Big-12 competitive teams, the talent level will be far below that of the Hawkeyes...with or without Stokes (but successfully recruiting Greenfield would be another huge plus getting Stokes to stay home as a Hawkeye--and Fennelly has NO CHANCE with Stokes).

Little doubt in my mind that a team of Morgan Johnson, Stokes, Virginia Johnson, Taylor Greenfield, Printy, Taylor, and the deadly outside shooting PG Kathryn Reynolds (the top 100 girl from Cincinnati who committed as a junior) could/would win BT championships & contend for the national title--size, shot-blocking, great speed, athleticism, excellent ball-handling & passing skills, and shooters unlikely to be matched anywhere.

Good lord. The Women's team looks to become VERY formidable. Only a few more pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.

[joemc1]

It seems that Bluder's recruiting has been improving dramatically in the last few years; what do you attribute that to?

[IATrainMaster101]

Originally Posted by tiggerhawk

Perhaps the more difficult selling job for Bluder is to win the battle with Bill Fennelly and Iowa State for 6-1 combo F/G Taylor Greenfield, another HS junior, from Ballard-Huxley in Central Iowa, and another top 50 prospect in the national rankings. One of her former teammates plays for Moo, and proximity to Ames could be a big factor, but while Fennelly has the basis for another of his usual Big-12 competitive teams, the talent level will be far below that of the Hawkeyes...with or without Stokes (but successfully recruiting Greenfield would be another huge plus getting Stokes to stay home as a Hawkeye--and Fennelly has NO CHANCE with Stokes).

Actually 2 of her former teamates play for Fennelly now (Lacey and Zimmerman). The Dixon Jensen connection from Ballard to ISU is pretty strong. If Bluder could somehow win the Greenfield battle it would be a real victory.

I believe Lisa has a real shot at Stokes with Tennessee and Stanford being the two biggest hurdles.

[thejumper5]

Originally Posted by Drakebulldog93

IIRC, she has family that does live in CT, a grandfather or great uncle. I lived in CT when Geno first was hired. It was like Fennelly at ISU.Only a few dozen fans (family of the players) the first year. Now a UCONN women's game is sold out whether its Gampel Pavilion or the Hartford Civic Center, and every women's game is broadcast throughout CT.

Nothing against Bluder, but I think this comes down to whether she wants to play with friends and be close to her folks, or be challenged like she will never be anywhere else by Geno. Not everyone responds to Geno's methods. He got back to back #1 players in the country in Maya Moore, and followed that up with Elana Delle Donne.

Moore is a three time All American, while Delle Donne left two days after she enrolled at UCONN saying she was unable at the time to uphold the level of commitment required to play for the UCONN Huskies.

I hope she comes to Iowa, as I feel Bluder has things going in the right direction. One thing the Lady Hawk need is size. Stokes would be a four year starter at Iowa, IMO.

I'm pretty sure Della Donne said that she was tired of playing basketball and had been for several years, not that she couldn't handle the UCONN system. UCONN is great and amazing, but there is no guarantee, even there. Women's basketball has gone in cycles between UCONN and Tennessee over the last 15-20 years, so I fully expect Tennessee to be the dominant force during the time that Stokes is in college. I think you can't count Tennessee out.

[tm3308]

I'm read on a Tennessee message board a few months ago a linked article in which Stokes was quoted, and she sounded like someone who was leaning towards Iowa. Her final remark was "I've always kind of thought, like father, like daughter". I get the strong feeling she is going to be a Hawk, and that's a terrific thing to think about. I can't even imagine how much fun my senior year here at the university would be if the football team keeps up the success they're having, the wrestling team keeps winning national titles, the mens' basketball team playing competitive again, and the women's team playing national title-caliber ball.

[SPGroth]

Originally Posted by tm3308

and the women's team playing national title-caliber ball.

I know that current Hawk (Jamie Printy) and future Hawk (Jade Rodgers) are working their best to convince Kia to come join them at Iowa. That would be a great "get" for Bluder.

[loesshillshawk]

Originally Posted by SPGroth

I know that current Hawk (Jamie Printy) and future Hawk (Jade Rodgers) are working their best to convince Kia to come join them at Iowa. That would be a great "get" for Bluder.

If and I believe when she gets Kia...Lisa becomes Vivian Cesque....she will have a very stocked cupboard and with Kia on board it will open a lot of doors that would otherwise remain closed.

[tiggerhawk]

Originally Posted by IATrainMaster101

Actually 2 of her former teamates play for Fennelly now (Lacey and Zimmerman). The Dixon Jensen connection from Ballard to ISU is pretty strong. If Bluder could somehow win the Greenfield battle it would be a real victory.

No, "actually" Lacey graduated at Ballard-Huxley before Greenfield got to HS. But it is certainly significant that Fennelly has long-standing ties to the program. Still, it is not that Bluder and the Iowa staff are strangers: Iowa recruited Zimmerman very aggressively and she went down to the last few days before the signing period before choosing Iowa State over Iowa.

Neither Lacey nor Zimmerman were the same atmospheric-level hyped prospect that Greenfield is. And with Alexander graduating out of the Hawkeye lineup the year before Bolte finishes at Moo U, Greenfield would have the opportunity to start as a freshman at Iowa. With the prospect of starting sooner as a Hawkeye, and with Iowa the probable superior team, with a much better chance of winning conference titles and going a long way in the NCAA tournaments IF Stokes stays home at Iowa, Bluder has a very good chance of convincing Greenfield to commit to the Hawkeyes.

My guess is that Stokes' choice will have a great deal of influence on what Greenfield does; that is, unless Stokes waits until very late to decide.

[AHawk1]

Thats good news on Stokes. The Greenfield family is big ISU fans, but maybe we got a shot there also.

[IATrainMaster101]

Originally Posted by tiggerhawk

No, "actually" Lacey graduated at Ballard-Huxley before Greenfield got to HS. But it is certainly significant that Fennelly has long-standing ties to the program. Still, it is not that Bluder and the Iowa staff are strangers: Iowa recruited Zimmerman very aggressively and she went down to the last few days before the signing period before choosing Iowa State over Iowa.

Neither Lacey nor Zimmerman were the same atmospheric-level hyped prospect that Greenfield is. And with Alexander graduating out of the Hawkeye lineup the year before Bolte finishes at Moo U, Greenfield would have the opportunity to start as a freshman at Iowa. With the prospect of starting sooner as a Hawkeye, and with Iowa the probable superior team, with a much better chance of winning conference titles and going a long way in the NCAA tournaments IF Stokes stays home at Iowa, Bluder has a very good chance of convincing Greenfield to commit to the Hawkeyes.

My guess is that Stokes' choice will have a great deal of influence on what Greenfield does; that is, unless Stokes waits until very late to decide.

Agreed, Greenfield is the best of the 3 Ballard girls and you are also correct, Lacey was gone (I was thinking her freshman year overlapped).

Zimmerman committed to ISU as a freshman in HS (youngest ever) Iowa was never in the picture at all.

[hawkdrummer1]

Greg Stokes has some sweet inside moves, but one part of his game was very underrated. He played a mean game of Space Invaders.

Stoker and I would bump into each other at the Union game room often between T and Th midday classes. May be the only time I've beat an athlete of his caliber "one on one". BTW, he was a great guy...kind of a gentle giant.

[edgyhawk]

I tnink that Fennelly is starting to show some chinks in his armour. He has some people bailing on him also, which creates doubt in some of the recruits minds. He might not be the marque coach that he was perceived to be.