Iowa Signs Nathan Skinner to Basketball Letter of Intent

April 15, 2005

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Basketball guard Nathan Skinner from West Hill Collegiate High School in Toronto, Canada, has signed a national letter of intent to join the men’s basketball program at the University of Iowa. Skinner signed with the Hawkeyes Friday after making a verbal commitment in February.

Skinner is a 6-5, 210-pound wing player who averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game as a senior.

Along with his experience in Toronto, Skinner has gained added experience playing AAU basketball, where he played with, and against, some of the top prospects in the United States. Competing in the National Prep School Invitational in February, Skinner averaged 28 points per game while earning all-tournament honors.

“Nathan adds to the athleticism of our guard court,” said Iowa Coach Steve Alford. “He is a versatile player who can play multiple positions. He’s very athletic and a good, strong defender. His size and strength make him a tough match up, he can create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.”

Skinner becomes the third member of Iowa’s recruiting class, joining guard Tony Freeman and forward Kurt Looby. Freeman (6-0, 180) attended St. Joseph’s HS in Westchester, IL where he averaged 15 points, six assists and five rebounds per game as a senior. Freeman earned second team all-state honors while leading his team to a 28-2 record.

Looby (6-10, 210) is a native of St. John’s Antigua who has played two seasons at Tyler, TX Community College. He averaged 5.3 points and 4.9 rebounds this past season while playing just his fourth season of organized basketball.

“We’ve added two great guards and a promising big man,” added Alford. “We’ve added size, athleticism and toughness with all three players. Kurt is another shot blocker, while Tony and Nathan add to the versatility of our backcourt.”

Iowa returns all five starters and all but one letterman from the 2005 team that posted a 21-12 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.