Prized 2025 recruit Journey Houston commits to Iowa women’s basketball

IOWA CITY — Iowa women’s basketball picked up its first commitment of the 2025 recruiting class, and it’s a big one. Big enough to give Lisa Bluder goose bumps.

Davenport North star guard Journey Houston, one of the highest-rated recruits in the country, committed to Iowa on Tuesday evening.

ESPN ranks Houston as the 19th-best 2025 recruit nationally and the top recruit in the state of Iowa.

Houston told The Gazette the Hawkeyes had “always been at the top of my list.”

“The biggest thing for me that I told all the coaches was how comfortable I felt,” Houston said. “I have a great relationship with not only one member of the staff, but the whole staff.”

Houston competes on the All Iowa Attack teams, which have essentially been a pipeline for the Hawkeyes. Caitlin Clark, Hannah Stuelke and Sydney Affolter are among the All Iowa Attack alumni on the current roster.

The Hawkeyes offered her a scholarship in 2021. Her other offers included Michigan, Iowa State and DePaul.

Iowa’s staff has known Houston for a long time, going well before her offer in 2021. Her older sister Jinaya was briefly on the team in 2017 before leaving the sport.

“I went up there a lot when I was younger,” Houston said. “I’ve known the staff since I was 7 years old, and I’m 16 now.”

Houston called Iowa’s staff Tuesday at about 6:30 p.m. to break the happy news.

“They were very surprised,” Houston said. “Coach Bluder actually asked how I was going about my recruitment process, and then I had told her. … She said she got goose bumps.”

Houston averaged 18.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.8 steals as a sophomore last season for a Davenport North team that went 21-3 and reached the Class 5A state tournament.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com