The Sports Desk -- Comings and goings for the Hawkeyes

Scott Dochterman and Marc Morehouse talk Iowa basketball recruiting (the comings) and the Hawkeyes taken in the NFL draft (the goings).

Follow this link to the Sports Desk webcast, sponsored by Jim Miller Subaru.

Of course, Fran McCaffery signed a pair of recruits -- Anthony Hubbard, a 6-5 guard, and Gabe Olesani, a 6-10 F/C.

Olaseni, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound center, is a native of London, England. He came to the United States last summer to play high school basketball for Sunrise Christian Academy, located in Bel Aire, Kan. He averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.2 blocks and 1.2 assists a game. He also shot 72 percent from the floor.

“We're really excited to have Gabe become part of our program,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said in a statement.  “He is a talented athlete, who's 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-2 wing span.  He has great length, is able to run the floor and can block shots. Gabe's someone who will really impact our style of play.  As good as he is, he has tremendous upside. Gabe's a young man with great character and we're looking forward to having him in a Hawkeye uniform.”

Statistically, Hubbard has top-flight talent. He averaged 20.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and shot 64 percent this year for Frederick (Md.) Community College. Hubbard had more than 60 schools seeking his services, and his finalists included Big Ten schools Nebraska and Penn State.

“It's breathtaking for me,” Hubbard said. “I hope that it motivates people to never quit with their dreams, never give up. It's never over. You can do anything that you put your mind to, and I'm a testament of that. I never dreamed that I would playing in the Big Ten or at any school in the nation for that matter a couple years back.”

But he's also a felon. That scared off several schools and brought scrutiny to those who considered him.

Hubbard, 25, was charged with four felonies as a teenager in connection with burglarizing a house, robbing and beating a man on Dec. 13, 2003. Hubbard turned himself in three days later and within four months he pleaded guilty to robbery. He spent 3 years, 11 months in prison.

Six Hawkeyes were taken in the draft, with first-round D-lineman Adrian Clayborn leading the way.

We pondered who landed in, perhaps, the best situation. Really, all six probably couldn't have asked for better spots. Punter Ryan Donahue wasn't drafted, but he will be a highly sought free agent and will have his pick on which team would be the best fit for him.

We could see as many as 10 new Hawkeyes in the NFL next season, if there is a next season.