Iowa forward Melsahn Basabe helped influence Anthony Hubbard's decision

Melsahn

Basabe got his way, and he won't be Iowa's only East Coast basketball player this year.

Anthony Hubbard, who hails from Woodbridge, Va., signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Iowa this fall. He plans to come to Iowa City this summer to acclimate himself with school and his teammates. They are Iowa's only players hailing east of Ohio.

"I want to get with the guys and work with the guys and building chemistry," Hubbard said. "We're trying to win immediately. It's a great group of guys that I play with. It's going to good times in Iowa."

Basabe served as Hubbard's chaperon during his official visit March 4-6. Hubbard said Basabe put on the pressure to get him to Iowa.

"Melsahn, that's my man," Hubbard said. "He texted me every now and then. He's like, 'Look man, whatcha gonna do. Are you gonna come to Iowa? I want you here man. I need you here.' I think he really wants me there, too. I love the way Melsahn plays. He plays hard. That's all that you can ask for from a person."

Hubbard said he's looking forward to working with Iowa point guard Bryce Cartwright, who averaged a league-high 6.8 assists a game in Big Ten play.

"He's a really good player," Hubbard said. "I think we're going to have fun adding on to that assist ratio."

Hubbard, who stands 6-foot-5, transfers to Iowa from Frederick (Md.) Community College. Hubbard averaged 20.7 points and 10.1 rebounds a game last year. He is eligible to play two seasons at Iowa.