Lickliter thrilled with recruiting class

Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter can finally talk about next year's four recruits and utter their names among a group of reporters.

Cody Larson, a 6-foot-9 forward from Sioux Falls, S.D., 6-2 guard Ben Brust (Mundelein, Ill.), 6-7 forward Zach McCabe (Sioux City Heelan) and 6-5 guard Devyn Marble (Detroit) signed national letters of intent Wednesday. After months - or in the case of Larson, years - of speaking vaguely about a good recruiting class, Lickliter can heap praise on the 2010 class.

“It's really difficult, you receive a commitment then however long that may be - for Cody, that's been quite a while - not being able to express your excitement, not being able to talk about what they bring,” Lickliter said Thursday. “You remain quiet. Now that they've signed, it's great to be able to say that we were really excited when Cody committed.”

Larson picked Iowa before the 2008 Iowa homecoming football game. He's ranked 94th in the class of 2010 according to www.rscihoops.com. Last season, he averaged 17.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 blocks.

“Cody is very versatile,” Lickliter said. “He's comfortable facing the basket; he's comfortable with his back to it. But like the other three guys, he sees the floor so well, and he's so unselfish.”

McCabe, 6-7, played on state champion football and basketball teams as a junior. He quarterbacked the Crusaders and played alongside Iowa running back Brandon Wegher last year. As a forward on the basketball team, McCabe combined with Iowa center Brennan Cougill to help Heelan win a Class 3A title. McCabe averaged 16.1 points, nine rebounds and 5.3 assists last year and set the city record for passing yards in a season with 2,461.

“A proven winner, without question,” Lickliter said.

Marble, 6-5, is the son of Roy Marble, Iowa's leading career scorer. Marble plans to use his middle name, Devyn. He scored 22 points a game last year. Lickliter said he can play three positions.

“(Iowa assistant coach) LaVall Jordan said it best: every time we see him, he'll do something a little extra, a little more special,” Lickliter said. “He just continues to grow.”

Brust, 6-2, scored 27.5 points per game last year before breaking an ankle in January.

“He's explosive, energetic, competitive, combo guard,” Lickliter said. “He can handle the ball, but he can score more than one way. I love his enthusiasm.”