*****2026-27 Transfer Portal News*****

[citizenHawk1]

Layla had a couple things going against her. 1. The level of competition she played was much much lower than she had previously played. 2. The post positions are generally the toughest for players to adjust to. 3. The speed was a little fast and she lost some confidence.

For her size she had quite a few blocked shots. A lot of that had to do with some body position tweaks and a lack of hops. My guess is she will have much fewer this year. Continue to work on her footwork and the hands and development of moves and she will be much better than whatever we got out of Goodman - and that is no diss on Sharon.

Yeah, a 6'5 player should never have a shot blocked under the basket by smaller players. That is either poor athleticism or skills. If she can improve that detail, and improve her lateral movement to stop drives into the lane, I can see some better minutes for her backing up the 5. She absolutely needs to learn to use her height and size. Hopefully.

If this isn't a possibility, Iowa will probably look for a more athletic big in the next few classes.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Yeah, a 6'5 player should never have a shot blocked under the basket by smaller players. That is either poor athleticism or skills. If she can improve that detail, and improve her lateral movement to stop drives into the lane, I can see some better minutes for her backing up the 5. She absolutely needs to learn to use her height and size. Hopefully.

If this isn't a possibility, Iowa will probably look for a more athletic big in the next few classes.

So, just to be clear, I am one of those here who believes that Layla wasn't really a functional backup this year, but I also believe that she can make great strides to get much better, but it's going to take some time.

The issue with freshmen like Layla is that she played most of her games in Alaska against non-athletic players who were a foot shorter and 75 pounds lighter than she was, and because of that she was Shaq-like dominant. She didn't need a ton of skills to be successful because she was a unicorn, but she's not a unicorn anymore. She was successful in a couple of early games this year against competition who were more similar physically to those she played against in high school. She still has to learn how to play against bigger, better competition, and hopefully she learns how to shoot a free throw. On that first point I'm relatively confident. On that last one I'm skeptical.

 

[1IHawk]

So, just to be clear, I am one of those here who believes that Layla wasn't really a functional backup this year, but I also believe that she can make great strides to get much better, but it's going to take some time.

The issue with freshmen like Layla is that she played most of her games in Alaska against non-athletic players who were a foot shorter and 75 pounds lighter than she was, and because of that she was Shaq-like dominant. She didn't need a ton of skills to be successful because she was a unicorn, but she's not a unicorn anymore. She was successful in a couple of early games this year against competition who were more similar physically to those she played against in high school. She still has to learn how to play against bigger, better competition, and hopefully she learns how to shoot a free throw. On that first point I'm relatively confident. On that last one I'm skeptical.

You have good reason to be confident. Layla practices against Ava all the time and Jan has a history of making bigs better. On top of that, she has better skills in her hands than some bigs we have had. She should improve this year.

 

[iThinkiWill]

Yeah, a 6'5 player should never have a shot blocked under the basket by smaller players. That is either poor athleticism or skills. If she can improve that detail, and improve her lateral movement to stop drives into the lane, I can see some better minutes for her backing up the 5. She absolutely needs to learn to use her height and size. Hopefully.

If this isn't a possibility, Iowa will probably look for a more athletic big in the next few classes.

I don’t think it’s a matter of “if she can improve…”, but rather how much she can improve. What is her ceiling if she conditions and drills herself in the offseason which I believe she is doing. I am confident that she will maximize her full potential.

Also, if she decides to stay with Iowa, Hays will most certainly be the backup center for as long as Ava is there (which could be for the next two or even conceivably three seasons). She may never start a game in her career, but I project her to be one of the all-time best career backup centers in Iowa Wbb history.

I just think the notion that she is a liability, is just based on her limited experience last season (and lack of high quality prep competition… which also applied to Megan Gustafson) and not giving her any credit for likely progression. She will definitely improve.

Iowa Women's Basketball Recruiting - Page 2 of 4 - WBB Blog

Recruiting summary for Iowa women's basketball, including a scholarship chart (projecting open spots for upcoming classes), commitments, and targets

wbbblog.com

Iowa Women's Basketball Recruiting - Page 3 of 4 - WBB Blog

Recruiting summary for Iowa women's basketball, including a scholarship chart (projecting open spots for upcoming classes), commitments, and targets

wbbblog.com

Regardless, Iowa is not waiting to see her progress to recruit the prep ranks in 2027 and 2028. As you can see from the links above, there are a number of potentially more athletic bigs listed.

If Iowa could get just one or two players from each these two next classes, they will be doing good. I agree with the theory that the prep recruiting classes will get smaller on average while many teams will try to load up on proven 3- and 4-year veterans. (Indiana in FB)

Finally, 5 [seasons of eligibility] in 5 [years] will likely become a reality this Friday. That will negatively impact prep recruiting going forward.

 

[Tom Paris]

Yeah, a 6'5 player should never have a shot blocked under the basket by smaller players. That is either poor athleticism or skills. If she can improve that detail, and improve her lateral movement to stop drives into the lane, I can see some better minutes for her backing up the 5. She absolutely needs to learn to use her height and size. Hopefully.

If this isn't a possibility, Iowa will probably look for a more athletic big in the next few classes.

Wemby got his shot blocked last night.

 

[citizenHawk1]

I don’t think it’s a matter of “if she can improve…”, but rather how much she can improve. What is her ceiling if she conditions and drills herself in the offseason which I believe she is doing. I am confident that she will maximize her full potential.

Also, if she decides to stay with Iowa, Hays will most certainly be the backup center for as long as Ava is there (which could be for the next two or even conceivably three seasons). She may never start a game in her career, but I project her to be one of the all-time best career backup centers in Iowa Wbb history.

I just think the notion that she is a liability, is just based on her limited experience last season (and lack of high quality prep competition… which also applied to Megan Gustafson) and not giving her any credit for likely progression. She will definitely improve.

Iowa Women's Basketball Recruiting - Page 2 of 4 - WBB Blog

Recruiting summary for Iowa women's basketball, including a scholarship chart (projecting open spots for upcoming classes), commitments, and targets

wbbblog.com

Iowa Women's Basketball Recruiting - Page 3 of 4 - WBB Blog

Recruiting summary for Iowa women's basketball, including a scholarship chart (projecting open spots for upcoming classes), commitments, and targets

wbbblog.com

Regardless, Iowa is not waiting to see her progress to recruit the prep ranks in 2027 and 2028. As you can see from the links above, there are a number of potentially more athletic bigs listed.

If Iowa could get just one or two players from each these two next classes, they will be doing good. I agree with the theory that the prep recruiting classes will get smaller on average while many teams will try to load up on proven 3- and 4-year veterans. (Indiana in FB)

Finally, 5 [seasons of eligibility] in 5 [years] will likely become a reality this Friday. That will negatively impact prep recruiting going forward.

Of course Iowa is recruiting the position already. Well aware.
Of course Hays will improve throughout her career, but likely never start a game at Iowa (unless Heiden is injured, and that's not a given).
The implication of both of these things would project that, given the opportunity and money for the position, one way or another, Hays won't graduate from Iowa--so we won't ever see the full progression from freshman to senior+ like we have had with past post players.

*Those recruiting offer lists might as well be written on post-it notes, because the information and situation on teams is now in continual flux. The offers might not coincide with any of the active recruiting going on. I wouldn't put much stock in it these days.

 

[citizenHawk1]

Wemby got his shot blocked last night.

Wow, wild. Clearly, he needs to rethink his career choice. Slacker.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

So, just to be clear, I am one of those here who believes that Layla wasn't really a functional backup this year, but I also believe that she can make great strides to get much better, but it's going to take some time.

The issue with freshmen like Layla is that she played most of her games in Alaska against non-athletic players who were a foot shorter and 75 pounds lighter than she was, and because of that she was Shaq-like dominant. She didn't need a ton of skills to be successful because she was a unicorn, but she's not a unicorn anymore. She was successful in a couple of early games this year against competition who were more similar physically to those she played against in high school. She still has to learn how to play against bigger, better competition, and hopefully she learns how to shoot a free throw. On that first point I'm relatively confident. On that last one I'm skeptical.

So, just to be clear, I am one of those here who believes that Layla wasn't really a functional backup this year, but I also believe that she can make great strides to get much better, but it's going to take some time.

The issue with freshmen like Layla is that she played most of her games in Alaska against non-athletic players who were a foot shorter and 75 pounds lighter than she was, and because of that she was Shaq-like dominant. She didn't need a ton of skills to be successful because she was a unicorn, but she's not a unicorn anymore. She was successful in a couple of early games this year against competition who were more similar physically to those she played against in high school. She still has to learn how to play against bigger, better competition, and hopefully she learns how to shoot a free throw. On that first point I'm relatively confident. On that last one I'm skeptical.

Obviously having gone through Hannah's career, its easy to be skeptical about her improving as a free throw shooter. The weird thing is that she actually has a pretty good elbow jump shot. She made a few early on and she has a decent stroke, so my guess is the free throw thing is mostly mental with her, and not as much of a form thing as it was with Hannah. Hopefully she works through that.

 

[Tom Paris]

Wow, wild. Clearly, he needs to rethink his career choice. Slacker.

Totally agree. Just saying…even Wemby can have his shot blocked.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Obviously having gone through Hannah's career, its easy to be skeptical about her improving as a free throw shooter. The weird thing is that she actually has a pretty good elbow jump shot. She made a few early on and she has a decent stroke, so my guess is the free throw thing is mostly mental with her, and not as much of a form thing as it was with Hannah. Hopefully she works through that.

It's not just Hannah. A lot of post players throughout basketball have struggled mightily to become even average FT shooters. People like to act like shooting 70+ percent from the FT line in front of the cameras is easy and something everyone s/b able to do with practice, but it's not. A lot of bigs are on basketball teams only because they are big, not because they possess innate skills that other people don't. If 50% foul shooter Shaq had been 6 foot tall he'd have been coming off the bench of his junior high team instead of becoming a Hall of Famer, and it wasn't because he didn't practice. He just couldn't shoot the ball.

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

Boogie and Sean had a podcast interview today over the portal.

Sitdown with Iowa women's basketball assistant coaches LaSondra Barrett & Sean Sullivan

 

[iThinkiWill]

Boogie and Sean had a podcast interview today over the portal.

Sitdown with Iowa women's basketball assistant coaches LaSondra Barrett & Sean Sullivan

“[Faison] guarded the [opponent’s] best player [including] one of the best players in the SEC…she can play the 2 to the 4… and could be a ‘sleeper’…”

“[Strömdahl] is every bit of [six feet tall]… probably six one, long wingspan… she can play 2 through 4 also…”

“[Medina] could be another ‘sleeper’… backup one spot… can be senior leader…”

“Missed out on one Canadian but is still looking at the next best Canadian…”

Sean says offensively they are “ready to score a lot more.”

 

[hawkbr]

“[Faison] guarded the [opponent’s] best player [including] one of the best players in the SEC…she can play the 2 to the 4… and could be a ‘sleeper’…”

“[Strömdahl] is every bit of [six feet tall]… probably six one, long wingspan… she can play 2 through 4 also…”

“[Medina] could be another ‘sleeper’… backup one spot… can be senior leader…”

“Missed out on one Canadian but is still looking at the next best Canadian…”

Sean says offensively they are “ready to score a lot more.”

When she says “Missed out on one Canadian but is still looking at the next best Canadian…”, what do we understand here? That Iowa is still looking for the 12th player in Portal or is this about 2027 recruiting the class?

 

[Scott559]

One question that I wish would have been asked is how the contact with Stromdahl came about. Guess I’m just curious since Iowa seems to want to get more involved in international recruiting.

 

[Zach Jump]

One question that I wish would have been asked is how the contact with Stromdahl came about. Guess I’m just curious since Iowa seems to want to get more involved in international recruiting.

You really think that is being ignored by those that cover Iowa?

Promise you after the first person writes that story ..58 different people will copy the info and blast it out there

 

[Scott559]

You really think that is being ignored by those that cover Iowa?

I am just curious, Nothing more. I imagine once she gets here it will be asked.

 

[Jonesy5960]

“[Faison] guarded the [opponent’s] best player [including] one of the best players in the SEC…she can play the 2 to the 4… and could be a ‘sleeper’…”

“[Strömdahl] is every bit of [six feet tall]… probably six one, long wingspan… she can play 2 through 4 also…”

“[Medina] could be another ‘sleeper’… backup one spot… can be senior leader…”

“Missed out on one Canadian but is still looking at the next best Canadian…”

Sean says offensively they are “ready to score a lot more.”

When did Ray Romano change his name and get into coaching?