Fran McCaffery: Jordan Bohannon “has recovered” from head injury

The Iowa men’s basketball team held its first day of organized summer workouts Thursday, and the participants included Jordan Bohannon.

“He’s full-go today,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said Thursday. “He’ll practice today.”

On May 24, the university issued a news release stating “Jordan Bohannon was physical (sic) assaulted early Sunday morning in Iowa City. Bohannon is recovering after receiving medical attention to treat a serious head injury.”

A phone video of Bohannon getting struck at DC’s Sports Bar in Iowa City was shared online the day after the incident.

“At the time, it was a serious head injury,” McCaffery said Thursday, “and he’s recovered.”

McCaffery said his sixth-year senior is “in a really good place. Obviously, it was an unfortunate situation that he had to deal with, but I think he’s done really well with how he’s dealt with it and is anxious to get back on the floor.”

Bohannon did so without the other three of Iowa’s top four scorers and top 3-point shooters from last season. Center Luka Garza has moved on to pro basketball after being the National Player of the Year. Guard CJ Fredrick transferred to Kentucky.

Would-be senior wing Joe Wieskamp is trying to work his way onto the NBA draft board. The league’s pre-draft player combine is later this month, and the draft is July 29.

“He’s been in Vegas, training,” McCaffery said.

“He’s working hard to fulfill his dream.”

Bohannon, the Hawkeyes’ career leader in 3-point baskets and assists, remains. He’ll be counted on for more of the former than the latter as things now stand, as the plan is for junior-to-be Joe Toussaint to assume a larger share of the point guard duties and Bohannon to be more of a shooting guard.

“If J-Bo plays a full complement of games he’ll probably make 90 3s,” said McCaffery.

“My thought process is to get him as many shots as we can. Will he never play the point? That’s probably not going to be the case. He’ll play some there, I would think, throughout the course of the season.

“But really, we felt like somebody who was an elite shooter would really help this team and I think he saw the same things we saw and wants to help in any way he can.”

Where do other players fit? As freshmen, forward Keegan Murray played 555 minutes last season while twin brother Kris Murray had but 41.

Keegan was a revelation of sorts, averaging 7.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18 minutes per game, and finishing second on the team in blocked shots and steals for the 22-9 Hawkeyes.

Here comes Kris, apparently.

“He’s going to be a real integral part of everything we do moving forward,” McCaffery said.

“He’s a little bit different than Keegan in terms of what he does. They compliment each other, so they can play together.

“He’s a very good 3-point shooter, something our team needs.”

As the NCAA transfer portal has welcomed over 1,600 Division I men’s basketball players this offseason, Iowa grabbed just one of them. That was Filip Rebraca, who averaged 16.8 points and 7.6 rebounds last season as a junior at North Dakota.

“I think he fits in perfectly,” McCaffery said. “He’s a really skilled 6-9 guy that can rebound, can handle it, can shoot it. He can pass. He gives us a lot of versatility.”

Also new is 6-11 freshman center Riley Mulvey of Rotterdam, N.Y., whom McCaffery called “somebody we can count on this year.”

Toussaint and guard Ahron Ulis are nearly recovered from offseason surgeries. It was an ankle with Toussaint.

Connor McCaffery, who started all 31 games last season at guard, had surgeries on both hips after the season. Fran McCaffery said Connor is “way ahead of schedule,” but probably won’t rejoin the team for all activities until September.

Forward Patrick McCaffery and the Murray twins will be on teams of U.S. college players tentatively scheduled to play in Switzerland later this summer.

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