Iowa notes: Powell, hoops, tickets and ANF

IOWA CITY - Wide receiver Damond Powell hopes to return to the Iowa lineup soon, perhaps by the season opener, after he had sports hernia surgery.

Powell, a senior junior-college transfer, suffered the injury early in the summer. He noticed a lump and doctors told him he had a sports hernia. He remains uncertain for when he'll return to practice.

'I'm not sure,” he said. 'It depends on my body. It depends on what the coaches have planned for me.”

Powell, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds, was an impactful player for the Hawkeyes last year. He caught 12 passes for 291 yards (a 24.25 yard-per-catch average) and two touchdowns. Powell scored on a 74-yard touchdown pass at Minnesota that gave the Hawkeyes a 17-0 lead.

Right now Powell's regimen includes therapy and movements. He has no plans to red-shirt.

'I try not to think about it and just get ready, just be there for my teammates,” Powell said.

Hoop Dreams

Many Iowa football players spend their off-season shooting hoops at the campus recreation center. The consensus is one player emerged as the team's top basketball talent: senior wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley.

Martin-Manley played basketball as a youth and participated alongside former Hawkeye and current Orlando Magic guard Devyn Marble as a member of Detroit's AAU squad 'The Family.”

'Kevonte, he's a good left-handed shooter,” Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis said. 'He won't drive the lane at all; he'll just pull up and shoot all day. He doesn't miss. For real, I think he could probably play for the men's basketball team if he really focused on it, honestly.”

'I was pretty good in high school coming up,” Martin-Manley said. 'I've got a little skills on the court.

'I like to shoot from the outside, stay safe, stay healthy. We ran a couple of times over the summer but we like to stay away from that so coach doesn't get too mad at us.”

Davis said he'd fit in the starting lineup of top basketball players on the football squad. His 6-foot-5, 315-pound frame belies his true ambition on the court, however.

'I admit it: I can't shoot, but I can get my way to the basket,” Davis said. 'I can give you a little midrange shot, but I can get to the basket. If (there's) enough area, I might be able to dunk on somebody.

'When I go play basketball before I touch the ball everybody says, ‘Hey big man, go get in the post.' I'm like, ‘No. This is not regular league, we're not in high school anymore.' Then when I finally get the ball I push point. They understand when my team's down, I'm going to take over. I don't play. When it's time to go, I take over,”

Tight end Ray Hamilton, a high school teammate of basketball player Aaron White, and defensive tackle Faith Ekakitie also were praised by teammates for their basketball skills.

Iowa resumes tuition giveaway program

Local and state attorneys approved the athletics department's revisions on an $8,000 tuition giveaway, meaning the disputed program is back on.

The program began last week for students who purchased season tickets but was halted over questions about its legality. Johnson County and State of Iowa officials allowed the raffle to move forward, and it now has been extended through 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The department will select random winners from students who buy season tickets or who email their personal information to the athletics department with interest in participating in the drawing.

Students who bought tickets after the initial giveaway began - and before its suspension - and want a ticket refund are asked to email gohawks@hawkeyesports.com by 5 p.m. Friday. Iowa officials say one student has asked for a refund thus far.

Nelson tabbed to ANF Wall of Honor

Former Iowa center Bruce Nelson was named the third honoree for the ANF Wall of Honor, which is located inn the northwest corner of Kinnick Stadium.

Nelson, an Emmetsburg native, captained the 2002 Iowa football team to a Big Ten title and an 8-0 league record. He was drafted by Carolina in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft and played two years before he was sidelined with a career-ending injury.

The award is designed to salute former Iowa football players 'who exemplify the tenacity, work ethic and character of the Iowa farmer.” Previous honorees include center Casey Wiegmann and defensive lineman Jared DeVries.

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