National Praise

Nov. 10, 2011

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Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — After months of anticipation, fall signing day came and went yesterday with five prep student-athletes penning their names on National Letters of Intent to join the University of Iowa men’s basketball program.

Guards Anthony Clemmons (6-1, 185), Mike Gesell (6-1, 180) and Patrick Ingram (6-2, 190) along with forward Kyle Meyer (6-10, 220) and center Adam Woodbury (7-1, 230) all signed NLIs to join the Hawkeyes.

“I’m ecstatic with the class we have coming in, because I believe we’ve addressed the needs of this team as we move forward,” said UI head coach Fran McCaffery.

The five-player class is nationally-recognized by a number of recruiting services, including a ranking of 19 by ESPN. Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s director of basketball recruiting, was very impressed, but not surprised, with the class McCaffery and his staff put together.

“If you know Fran McCaffery and his success at his prior schools, they all went to the NCAA Tournament (Siena, Greensboro and Lehigh),” said Biancardi. “To be successful in this business you have to be able to recruit, and he’s a proven recruiter.”

Biancardi emphatically pointed out that this is a national statement class for the Iowa basketball program.

“This is a class that, as it grows and develops together, will be the foundation for Iowa basketball propelling the Hawkeyes to the next step, which is the upper half of the Big Ten and the NCAA Tournament. This is a class to be excited about.”

Biancardi likes the balance of the signing class, filling every need.

“Coach McCaffery and his staff filled their needs with guys who are going to play his brand of basketball, which is pressing, trapping, playing fast, and scoring the basketball in a full court sense. This class answers a lot of questions. It should get the fans of Iowa very excited not only right now but in the future.”

Biancardi was impressed with McCaffery’s work ethic on the recruiting trail, not just this past summer, but since his days as an assistant at Notre Dame.

“Once Fran establishes you as a priority, you feel his persistence on the trail,” said Biancardi. “He does an unbelievable job of presenting his vision and plan for the Iowa basketball program.”

What impresses Biancardi the most with McCaffery is the fact that he has been successful everywhere he has coached; winning championships and taking those programs to the NCAA Tournament. Biancardi wants fans to understand just how difficult it is to advance to the NCAA Tournament when you aren’t competing in a major conference.

“People have no idea how hard it is to get the NCAA Tournament if you’re not in a major conference,” said Biancardi. “When you win your league you hope for an at-large bid so that means you basically have to win your tournament. For someone to do that at three different spots, as Fran did, is extremely difficult. I don’t think that gets talked about enough. That is a point that gets overlooked when you mention Fran McCaffery.”

Biancardi went on to say, “it is hard enough to get one team in the NCAA Tournament in your lifetime, but to get three is just a sign that the man has a gift to be a head coach. He’s taking Iowa in that direction.”

Hawkeye fans can catch McCaffery talk about this recruiting class on national television Friday at 1:30 p.m. (CT) when he appears on ESPNU’s “Fall Signing Day Show”.