Catching up with future Iowa Hawkeyes guard Josh Oglesby

I caught up with Cedar Rapids Washington senior Josh Oglesby, who scored 22 of Washington's 41 points in a 21-point loss to top-ranked Linn-Mar on Friday. Oglesby signed a letter of intent to play at Iowa next fall.

Oglesby averages about 22 points a game and will be Iowa's top outside shooter since at least Anthony Tucker, but Oglesby is probably better. He's tall at 6-foot-5, has range and with space he can hit just about any shot. He's got to bulk up and develop toward the rim, but he's an asset the Hawkeyes could use right now. Oglesby said he attended Wednesday's loss to Wisconsin and will play in the summer Prime Time League in North Liberty.

Here's what Oglesby had to say when I talked to him after Friday's game:

Do you talk often with Iowa's coaches?

"I've been staying in contact with Coach (Kirk) Speraw, Coach (Sherman) Dillard. They can text me now since I officially signed my letter of intent. They text me now to see how I'm doing, keep updated on their season, how they're doing, what they're doing and what I'm going to be doing next year. But not It's been a good relationship and it keeps building with Coach McCaffery is a class act dude. I'm really excited to go down and play for him, especially with how Iowa's been playing. They might be at the bottom of the Big Ten, but I think he's going to turn that thing around.

"They're just right there. They want to go over the hump. I definitely think they can see over the hump, things are clicking. Wisconsin was the 13

^th

-best team in the country and that says something."

Have you attended many Iowa games this year?

"Most of it conflicts with my schedule. I've been to like five games this year so far. I've taken some buddies down and go have a fun time."

What have the coaches told you to work on entering next year?

"I know strength is the biggest thing now. I'm going to go down there for summer school and probably do like a basket weaving class, which should be interesting. But just to be down there working out with the guys, going through workouts and lifting and then come back for the night and do homework. It's the life of college student. I'm starting it in about 3 ½ months. I'm excited for it and ready for the challenge."

Were you in contact with former Coach Todd Lickliter?

"I honestly didn't get recruited by him at all. You know it was a hard decision to come down to Iowa but at the same time I always grew up an Iowa fan. When Lickliter was there I started to get more interested with Minnesota and built a close relationship with them. Then Illinois came into the schedule and everything. You know it was really hard to decide Iowa when it came down to it, but Coach McCaffery, I love him. He's nice. He cares about his team. You saw the locker room video when they beat Indiana. He has fun with the kids, and that's what it's all about, having fun."

Do you talk to many of the current players?

"I went down for my official visit there, and Matt was my host. That was a good time. He showed me around. I hung out with the whole team. I know McCabe kind of well. I've been talking to Aaron White, who's also committed there. He's excited. He's ready to get things going in the right direction. I think I'll build a close relationship when I'm with them all the time around them. That's basically the life at school."