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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa basketball transfer portal target commits to fellow Big Ten foe
Iowa basketball transfer portal target commits to fellow Big Ten foe One of the transfer portal targets that Ben McCollum and Iowa basketball had been tied to announced his commitment to a fellow Big Ten program this past Thursday. High Point transfer Kezza Giffa visited Iowa at the end of April. But, a commitment to the Hawkeyes never materialized following that visit. After a lengthy transfer portal recruitment, the former High Point guard announced his commitment to USC and to head coach Eric Musselman on Thursday afternoon. Giffa averaged 14.6 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game on 44.0% field goal shooting, 31.3% from 3-point range and 85.1% from the free throw line. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 16.2 points per game during the 2023-24 season with High Point and was a first-team All-Big South selection in each of the past two seasons. Giffa joins a group of nine USC transfers that also features former Auburn small forward Chad Baker-Mazara. Musselman and USC are also bringing in UNC Asheville point guard Jordan Marsh, Maryland guard Rodney Rice, Robert Morris guard Amarion Dickerson, Utah forward Ezra Ausar, Samford forward Jaden Brownell, Virginia forward Jacob Cofie and Youngstown State center Gabe Dynes. The Trojans finished 17-18 (7-13 Big Ten) in Musselman's first season at the helm. Iowa did add guard Peyton McCollum to its 2025 class on Friday. But, the Hawkeyes also lost a commitment from former Florida International guard Ashton Williamson on Thursday. McCollum joins center Trevin Jirak and guard Tate Sage as part of Iowa's 2025 recruiting class. Iowa has also landed eight transfer portal additions. The Hawkeyes are bringing in Drake transfers Bennett Stirtz, Kael Combs, Cam Manyawu, Isaia Howard, Tavion Banks and Joey Matteoni, Kansas State transfer Brendan Hausen and Robert Morris transfer Alvaro Folgueiras. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football legend among top 25 coaches of the 21st century
Iowa football legend among top 25 coaches of the 21st century As the 2025-26 college football season is just around the corner, The Athletic's Chris Vannini ranked the nation's top 25 head coaches of the 21st century, with Iowa's Kirk Ferentz making the list among the sport's elite names. According to Vannini's rankings, Ferentz was named as the No. 22 coach on the list. Vaninni shared that the Iowa legend's consistency is underrated amongst other coaches of his stature. Ferentz will pass Woody Hayes as the winningest coach in Big Ten history with two more victories. His consistency is underrated, reaching bowl eligibility in 23 of the last 24 seasons with five top-10 finishes. The Hawkeyes have had five Top 25 finishes in the last seven seasons but no top-10 finishes since 2015. - Chris Vaninni, The Athletic. Regarding the accomplishments that allowed the Hawkeyes' head coach to reside in the No. 22 slot, Vaninni listed Ferentz's two Big Ten championships, five top-10 finishes, three BCS and New Year's Six bowl appearances and eight double-digit-win seasons as evidence to support his ranking. Ferentz took over the head coaching duties in Iowa City in the 1999 season following the illustrious career of College Football Hall of Fame coach Hayden Fry, who retired after a 143-89-6 record over 20 years with the Hawkeyes. Despite struggles in the early years of Ferentz's tenure at Iowa, the Hawkeyes' program eventually found even ground and has now evolved into a well-respected program that has continuously developed NFL-ready talent year after year. Ferentz's recent success with the Hawkeyes also places Iowa in an elite group of programs that have recorded at least eight wins in each of the last 10 seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State. Concerning how other Big Ten coaches fared in the rankings, 10 of the top 25 names listed either currently coach or were formerly involved with a program in the now-18-member Big Ten conference. That lists includes, former Oregon and UCLA coach Chip Kelly at No. 24, former Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio at No. 21, current USC coach Lincoln Riley at No. 20, current Penn State coach James Franklin at No. 15, current Ohio State coach Ryan Day at No. 11, former Washington head coach Chris Petersen at No. 10, former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh at No. 8, former Ohio State coaches Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer listed at No. 7 and No. 2 respectfully, with former USC coach Pete Carroll between the two Buckeyes at No. 3. Due to the recent criteria alteration for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, former Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is eligible for a posthumous entry. Ferentz's 59.8% all-time win record would make him eligible for immediate consideration upon retirement. With Iowa preparing for its upcoming 2025-26 season over the summer, could a particularly successful season in Iowa City constitute a higher ranking for the Hawkeyes' winningest head coach among his peers? Fans can make that judgment once Iowa's season begins on Aug. 30, when the Hawkeyes host Albany from Kinnick Stadium at 5 p.m. CT on FS1. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa baseball bullpen arm enters transfer portal
Iowa baseball bullpen arm enters transfer portal Iowa baseball continues to suffer departures in the transfer portal, with one of the Hawkeyes' top bullpen options, Anthony Watts, announcing his entry into the portal on Friday. The Clive, Iowa, native spent the past two seasons with the Hawkeyes after transferring from Creighton. In his two years at Iowa, Watts held a 6-5 record with three saves, a 3.90 ERA, and 103 strikeouts, while allowing 42 runs (37 earned), 52 base-on-balls, and ten home runs in 85 1/3 innings pitched through 45 appearances. Throughout his three-year collegiate career, Watts has an 8-8 record with a 4.33 ERA and 129 strikeouts. He has also allowed 67 runs (62 earned), 77 base-on-balls, and 17 home runs in 129 innings pitched through 59 appearances. Watts was a vital part of the back end of Iowa's bullpen this season as he was able to provide length and stability during the mid-to-late innings of games. Iowa's loss of Watts will sting, as he was one of the more trusted relief options for head coach Rick Heller over the past two seasons, particularly in situations where he was tasked with bridging the gap between the starter and set-up man/closer. While the incoming recruits and the possibility of transfer additions could step up to fill the void left by Watts, the Hawkeyes' offseason has certainly gotten off to a rocky start. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa baseball utility player enters transfer portal
Iowa baseball utility player enters transfer portal After Iowa baseball lost Sam Hart to the transfer portal on Thursday, the Hawkeyes will have to endure another departure as junior utility player Andrew Holub entered his name into the portal on Friday. Holub joined the Hawkeyes program this past season after two years in the junior college level at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh, NC. While with the Eagles, he finished his two seasons with a combined batting average of .393, an on-base percentage of .472, and a slugging percentage of .607, to go along with 101 runs (86 RBIs) and 11 home runs on 118 hits through 300 at-bats in 84 games played. He also recorded 39 stolen bases while only getting caught three times. The 6-foot-3, Bronxville, NY, native did not play a single game for the Hawkeyes during his tenure in Iowa City as an injury sidelined him for the entire 2025 campaign. Due to the season-long injury, Holub utilized a medical redshirt to preserve his two remaining years of NCAA eligibility. While he was a promising addition to the Hwkeyes roster given his JUCO statistics, the loss of Holub to the portal is not much of a concern, as his tangible value was never truly witnessed due to the season-ending injury. As for Iowa, head coach Rick Heller and the Hawkeyes will need to search for more depth pieces to add in addition to positions of need during the offseason as they retool ahead of the 2026 season. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa women's basketball offers highly-touted 2027 recruit
Iowa women's basketball offers highly-touted 2027 recruit As Iowa women's basketball continues to hunt for the next wave of top-tier talent, the Hawkeyes have extended an offer to class of 2027 guard and small forward Madi Mignery. The 6-foot-1 prospect has a 247Sports rating of 95. In 247Sports' rating system, that makes Mignery a four-star prospect in the 2027 recruiting class. The Sarasota, Florida, native is regarded as the No. 2 player in the Sunshine State per Prep Girls Hoops. Given her ranking, Iowa is not alone in the race for Mignery's commitment. Mignery has received offers from other premier programs such as Ohio State, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Kentucky, Florida, TCU and Stanford. According to her MaxPreps statistics, Mignery averaged an impressive 16.0 points per game on 56% shooting from the floor, 36% from 3-point territory, and 77% from the free-throw line through 28 contests in her sophomore season with Cardinal Mooney. Mignery also averaged 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game this past season. Mignery captained the Cardinal Mooney team to a 24-9 record and helped guide the school to a 2025 Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the title game against Bolles. Mignery has also turned heads with her play with Girls Under Armour Association squad FGB. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
